Universal design is the design of environments and products to be used by people of all ages and abilities. The goal is to use design to reduce physical effort, regardless of some of the frailties that may be acquired due to an accident, health, or age. EasyLiving Homes[R] is a non-profit organization that advocates making all homes visitable and…

This article describes how Beverly and Martin Ryfa, working with an architect who specializes in accessible design, were able to build a house that is handicap accessible for their 9-year-old daughter, Danielle, who suffered an intraventricular hemorrhage when she was three days old. The article describes the features of their house that make…

When the author was a boy growing up in Van Nuys, California, during the 1950s and 60s, he remembers waiting patiently by the curb so he could help his mother, who suffered from polio and was on crutches, get up on the sidewalk. The world they lived in back then certainly was not designed to meet her special needs, but a lot has changed since…

A photographic analysis of racing wheelchairs used by cerebral palsy class four athletes and amputee athletes at the 1984 International Games for the Disabled was undertaken in order to analyze seven wheelchair construction variables in relation to performance outcome, distance raced, and type of disability of the user. (Author/MT)

The brochure provides suggestions for adapting or building approaches and entrances to the home to provide full accessibility to persons with mobility limitations due to disability or age. Briefly described are modifications for ramps, landings at the top and bottom of a ramp, and door openers and locks. This publication lists 13 sources for…

Discusses the Americans with Disabilities (ADA) and Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) regulations regarding public facilities' crowd control stanchions and queuing systems. The major elements are protruding objects and wheelchair accessibility. Describes how to maintain compliance with the regulations and offers a list of additional…

Two brief fact sheets for people with disabilities provide information on: (1) modifying a trailer to make it accessible for persons with mobility impairments, especially those in wheelchairs, and (2) accessibility considerations for home buyers or home owners with mobility impairments. The first fact sheet identifies inherent problems in…

The document presents uniform standards for facility accessibility by physically handicapped persons for Federal and federally funded facilities. The standards are to be applied during the design, construction, and alteration of buildings and facilities to the extent required by the Architectural Barriers Act of 1968, as amended. Technical…

Skiing is a rewarding form of exercise for the disabled, including amputees, the blind and deaf, parapalegics, and those with neuromuscular disorders and spinal cord injuries. The article discusses equipment adaptation for the disabled, as well as training techniques for and special considerations in instructing handicapped skiers. (JL)

Discusses how to create or refocus a transition plan for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Steps include documenting needs, documenting solutions, prioritizing needs, and creating a schedule. Also briefly addresses accessibility requirements, the concept of undue burden, finding help, and summarized Title II requirements.…

Describes requirements for existing educational facilities under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and addresses issues such as guidelines for children, wheelchair-accessible and ambulatory stalls, areas without their own section in the standards, assistive listening devices in auditoriums, ramp slope, emergency evacuation planning,…

This booklet presents a compilation of ideas and illustrations intended to solve many accessibility problems of physically handicapped persons using older buildings and facilities which were built before legislation and regulations mandating accessibility for disabled persons were passed. The solutions pictured in the booklet are intended to meet…

Presents an interview with Stephen McCarthy, co-partner and president of Equal Access ADA Consulting Architects of San Diego, California, about designing schools to naturally integrate compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). (EV)

Discusses the design and budgetary impact of new national guidelines requiring public school playgrounds to be accessible to all students. Areas discussed cover accessible surfacing and designs of ramps and transfer points. Concluding comments highlight planning alternatives. (GR)

The brochure provides suggestions for adapting or building living quarters to accommodate persons with physical limitations. Encouraged is barrier-free universal design to allow all persons, disabled or able bodied, to move freely, independently, and safely in their surroundings. Illustrations and text provide guidance for design of ramps, front…