From time to time, someone from one of our churches will ask a member of the Nebraska Conference Disabilities Ministries Committee if we have material about designing or renovating a home for an older individual or for anyone with a disability.
In earlier columns we have spoken about the principles of universal design. Universal design is the design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Recently, Jo Clare Hartsig, Co-Chair of the UCC Disabilities Ministries Committee, sent a news release from the architect Charles Schwab, AIA. In his book, Universal Designed “SMART” Homes for the Twenty First Century, the architect, Charles Schwab, presents plans for 83 unique, completely accessible stock homes. Home construction blueprints and stock home plan revisions can be ordered as well as arrangements made for custom architectural services. Interviewing and listening to the needs of persons with disabilities led to several innovative features that had not been addressed earlier by universal designers.
One of Schwab’s unique features is clean indoor air. Several people also requested a safe room: a place of refuge in the case of natural or human-made disaster. As a result, Schwab designed a universal design bathroom that would also serve as a safe room accessible to a person using a wheelchair or anyone with limited mobility.
Excerpts of the press release read: “This is the first Stock home plans book that combines Universal Design, Energy efficiency and Green building practices as well as optional SafeRooms™ in every home plan. Thirty of the home plans are less than 2000 square feet and are affordably designed in the New Urbanism style for narrow lots for urban infill as well as retirement housing communities. We specify sustainable and low maintenance materials. The remaining homes are mostly less than 4000 square feet. Home types include in-law additions, empty nester, single family and duplexes.
“The plan book also has an informative room-byroom description of features and benefits in the UD Smart home. This is a checklist and is included in an effort to be of use to advocates, agencies, builders and homeowners alike. This resource will be of use for those making home modifications and Universal designed home additions.”
Many of Schwab’s ideas, based on the seven principles of universal design, can be used in church buildings as well as homes and businesses. The web site, www.universaldesignon-line.com contains sample designs. For additional information about the book of plans, contact Schwab by phone at 563-359-7524 or through email:charless-chwab@universaldesignon-line.com.
Reading the Signs…A Can-Do Forum about accessibility for the whole church family, Dee Brauninger, Editor. Nebraska Conference
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