Accessible Residential Dwellings

Designing homes to be accessible, universal, and tailored to the unique needs of their inhabitants poses unique challenges. For people with special needs or disabilities—whether from birth, illness, or accident—traditional homes can present many barriers. For architects designing residential environments, the design process can find some guidance in access codes and the principles of universal design. State and Federal access codes applicable to residential facilities establish minimum requirements. Universal Design expands on the definition of accessibility to create environments that are easy to use by everyone.

This seminar recognizes that neither is truly sufficient alone to meet the needs of and optimize access to people with special needs. We will explore design solutions in the context of these issues. The intent of this seminar is to raise awareness about federal and California state accessibility requirements in residential design, highlight common design errors and appropriate solutions, underscore the legal consequences of non-compliance, and provide resources for additional information.

Learning Objectives:
• List critical design issues and resources in creating homes for people with special needs
• Identify best practices in the design process for creation of homes for people with special needs
• Recognize the value of raised sensitivity levels, skills, and knowledge to better serve clients with special needs in a variety of architectural settings

Topics covered will include:
1) regulations that apply to residential projects
2) most promising practices
3) design guidelines and standards
4) universal access and home design

1/25/11
Accessible Residential Dwellings
Presented by Craig Williams, CASp.
Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm
Location: AIA East Bay Chapter Office, 1405 Clay Street, Oakland
Contact: 510/464-3600
Cost: $50 for AIA Members; $75 for non-members. Registration required. Click here to register.
2 CES/HSW/MCE LUs

For more information: 510/464-3600