[4alabama] Birmingham Enacts Visitability Ordinance

[Judy R. Roy]

Today, Birmingham became the first city in Alabama to pass a Visitability
ordinance.  Passage of this ordinance, introduced by President Pro Tem
Miriam Witherspoon
(http://www.informationbirmingham.com/citycouncil/witherspoon.htm) has been
one of Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham's (www.ilrgb.org)
top priorities for several years.  According to the agency's Executive
Director, Dan Kessler, this ordinance has the potential to transform
Birmingham's neighborhoods.



People often mistakenly assume that the Americans with Disabilities Act
requires all housing to be fully accessible.  It doesn't! The Federal Fair
Housing Act contains accessibility guidelines for multi-family construction
but not for single-family units nor townhouses.  Birmingham's new ordinance
applies to new single-family homes and town homes constructed with federal
or city support.



Visitability, a concept coined by Eleanor Smith, founder of Concrete Change
(www.concretechange.org), provides for a basic level of access to make a
home welcoming to a friend or family member.  A visitable home is one that
has:

-                     One zero step entrance on an accessible path of travel
from the street,   sidewalk or driveway.  A "zero step" entrance with no
threshold to block a wheelchair or trip a person using a walker or cane.

-                     Doorways that provide 32 inches of clear space and
hallways that are 36 inches wide on the main level (the Birmingham ordinance
goes further to require 36" wide doors)

-                     Basic access to a bathroom on the main floor.  A
bathroom with "basic access" has sufficient length and width for a person
using a wheelchair to enter and close the door.



Visitable homes incorporate features that market research indicate add value
and desirability to a home.  A visitable home means that you can continue to
live in your home as you age.  A home constructed with visitability features
adapts to individual and family needs.  For more information, e-mail Judy
Roy at bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net.

Judy R. Roy
Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham
206  13th Street S.
Birmingham, AL  35233-1317
Phone  205.251.2223  ext 102
Email  bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net
There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been
caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be
caregivers; those who will need caregivers. - Rosalynn Carter

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Today,
Birmingham
became the first city in
Alabama
to pass a Visitability ordinance.
 
Passage of this ordinance, introduced by President Pro Tem Miriam Witherspoon (
http://www.informationbirmingham.com/citycouncil/witherspoon.htm http://www.informationbirmingham.com/citycouncil/witherspoon.htm
) has been one of Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham's ( http://www.ilrgb.org/ www.ilrgb.org
) top priorities for several years.
 
According to the agency's Executive Director, Dan Kessler, this ordinance has the potential to transform
Birmingham
's neighborhoods.
      
 
People often mistakenly assume that the Americans with Disabilities Act requires all housing to be fully accessible.
 
It doesn't! The Federal Fair Housing Act contains accessibility guidelines for multi-family construction but not for single-family units nor townhouses.
 
Birmingham
's new ordinance applies to new single-family homes and town homes constructed with federal or city support.
 
Visitability, a concept coined by Eleanor Smith, founder of Concrete Change ( http://www.concretechange.org/ www.concretechange.org
), provides for a basic level of access to make a home welcoming to a friend or family member.
 
A visitable home is one that has:
-
                    
One zero step entrance on an accessible path of travel from the street,
  
sidewalk or driveway.
 
A "zero step" entrance with no threshold to block a wheelchair or trip a person using a walker or cane.
-
                    
Doorways that provide 32 inches of clear space and hallways that are 36 inches wide on the main level (the
Birmingham
ordinance goes further to require 36" wide doors)
-
                    
Basic access to a bathroom on the main floor.
 
A bathroom with "basic access" has sufficient length and width for a person using a wheelchair to enter and close the door.
 
Visitable homes incorporate features that market research indicate add value and desirability to a home.
 
A visitable home means that you can continue to live in your home as you age.
 
A home constructed with visitability features adapts to individual and family needs.
 
For more information, e-mail Judy Roy at bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net.
  
Judy R. Roy
Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham
206  13th Street S.
Birmingham, AL  35233-1317
Phone  205.251.2223  ext 102
Email  bhamilc1 at bellsouth.net
There are only four kinds of people in the world: those who have been caregivers; those who are currently caregivers; those who will be caregivers; those who will need caregivers. - Rosalynn Carter