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Australian Network for Universal Housing Design

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25.01.2022 At last, two economists support what ordinary Australians wanta home where they can be included in family and community life, and age in place! The Dalton/Carter report (see below) recommends LHD Gold level to be mandated in all new housing. The benefits to society outweigh the costs. It further recommends a subsidy program to encourage availability of accessible rental properties to address the problem of the many people that have insufficient income to compete for accessib...le housing as it enters the marketplace. disability.unimelb.edu.au//DaltonCarter-Economic-Report-v9 See more

25.01.2022 What do home-buyers think "visitability" is worth? Well, it seems they think it is worth a "bit extra". A research project in Ohio aimed to get traction from authorities and industry did a three part survey. As usual, everyone thinks its a good idea - but will they make it happen....

24.01.2022 The is an article Jane Bringolf wrote for Sourceable about why we must mandate for universal design in housing. Unfortunately, the original picture chosen by the editor showed a bathroom specifically for a wheelchair user with high support needs. This classically happens when they search image stock for an "accessible bathroom". So the original piece went out with a picture that is NOT about universal design. The picture shown now was added later but not embedded in the original post. Makes it difficult to share.

23.01.2022 Nice bathroom! https://momento360.com/e/u/24fb0af66280448ebac21c8a23c31396

21.01.2022 What do government representatives think is the best way to supply homes suitable for people with disability? A research study by an occupational therapist and an architect found out. Mandating accessible features in all new mainstream housing is the way to go. That means both owners and renters would benefit. Plus it would suit ageing in place and not be detrimental to the rest of the population. One participant suggested that the Livable Housing Design Guidelines should be turned into an Australian Standard. That would also help guide home renovations. The research also looked at technology and support issues.

21.01.2022 This is another reason to have universal design features in all new homes. At least it would be one problem solved - a safe place to age. This article tackles the one issue that is so often missed in these research projects - the SOCIAL value of home. https://theconversation.com/older-and-poorer-retirement-inc

20.01.2022 Housing for one and all https://renew.org.au//adaptable-design-and-why-youll-keep/

20.01.2022 Note to ANUHD members! Kieran ODonnell, Senior Project Officer, Australian Building Codes Board will present on the Consultation Regulatory Impact Statement for accessibility standards for housing in the National Construction Code Dr Margaret Ward PSM, Co-convenor of ANUHD will present on Universal Desgn in housing: Reporting on Australias obligations to the UNCRPD

18.01.2022 Pity there is not much mention of the actual design of homes in this book chapter, but architects will be interested in the housing typology discussion. Not sure about the idea of including stairs as a way to stay fit. See link for more.

17.01.2022 For everything you need to know about the ABCB consultation on an access standard for all new housing, read this post.

15.01.2022 Heres a good example of UD in a bathroom and shows you dont need to make it huge to make it work. The twin shower area can mean two people showering at the same time, or one person being assisted in a shower chair. Good colour contrasts as well. However, I cant spot any storage space. Perhaps a pull-out arrangement under the bench might work. Thats the creativity of UD!

14.01.2022 A Roy Morgan study into what Australians Think of Ageing and Aged Care has some very interesting insights. It supports previous research that people want to stay home as they age. The interesting bit is how younger people view ageing and care and assume its all about health care, while older people just want help with housework. Younger people are agreeable to going to aged care, but as people get older, they change their minds about it. See link for more on this fascinating study.

13.01.2022 Why do we keep building homes as if we are never going to grow old? The perceptions of developers, designers and builders gives us some insights. A Brisbane study collected data from site-visits, building documents and interviews with industry stakeholders. Four key themes emerged showing why nothing has changed: voluntary approach, otherness, immediacy, and inertia. The link gives more on industry attitudes to people with disability and older people.

13.01.2022 The Australian Building Codes Board (ABCB) has recently issued a Consultation Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) in relation to accessible housing, based on a cost-benefit analysis undertaken by the Centre for International Economics (CIE). Melbourne Disability Institute is urgently undertaking a survey of for adults with any mobility limitation (including people with disability and older Australians), followed by interviews, to identify qualitative benefits to people with di...sability including improved quality of life, well-being and mental health outcomes and greater independence and empowerment. If this is about you, please do the survey: https://melbourneuni.au1.qualtrics.com//form/SV_ai6nqENSX9 The survey closes on 24 August 2020 For more information, Contact Dr Ilan Wiesel, University of Melbourne on [email protected] See more

13.01.2022 FREE e-learning. Sort the facts from the fiction about universal design in housing and why it is important for all of us, not just for ease of living, and equity, but also for the nations productivity levels. http://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/home-coming-housing/

12.01.2022 The HoMe Coalition in the UK is making similar demands for all new homes to be accessible for everyone. The UK experience with accessibility as Part M of the building code shows how the absolute minimum, that is a level entry and a toilet on the ground floor, is insufficient for being able to live safely and comfortably as people age. So a review is needed. http://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/housing-timebomb-t/

12.01.2022 One needs to ask, "How did they get it so wrong?"

11.01.2022 An excellent report by Per Capita that challenges existing policies and notions about what older people want and need in housing. "This policy brief is intended to restore the idea of home as both a psychological and social asset to our discourse on housing, rather than just a financial asset." "Yet this fundamental notion of home as something so intrinsic to the human condition is all too often overlooked when it comes to the role of the home in modern society, and to the development of policies that support the provision of housing and the sustenance of life." The link takes you to the resource download button. https://apo.org.au/node/276671

08.01.2022 This is an important point in time for this strategy especially as Livable Housing Design and the National Disability Strategy are absent from the strategy. But theres a nod to SDA. Get your submissions in by 24 July. Theres good info to help in CUDAs online learning, Home Coming. Find it on the CUDA website. https://www.planning.nsw.gov.au//A-Housing-Strategy-for-NSW

05.01.2022 Shame on the HIA for their outdated policies and ableist attitudes. The dinosaurs of the housing industry.

05.01.2022 https://www.washingtonpost.com//accessible-design-is-gro/

04.01.2022 The event is free to everyone who registered for the original UD2020 conference. You will automatically receive the link to join the event. Its also free to CUDA members who will also get the link sent to them. Otherwise you can register for a small fee on the conference website. See link for more.

04.01.2022 The conclusion that younger people look for different design elements in a home than older people is somewhat obvious. However, it is good to have a study that shows this. Surveying people in three age groups, researchers found some key elements that should help designers design across the lifespan. Younger people have a different design focus because they rarely consider the impact of unexpected events, even ageing, on the functionality of the home. After all, accidents happen to other people, dont they? And no-one aspires to growing old or developing an impairment or chronic and disabling condition. http://universaldesignaustralia.net.au/views-housing-desi/

03.01.2022 Heads up all you brilliant home designers. Enter the Vic Govt housing design competition. The Vic Govt likes to see UD in public buildings - lets see if they like it in dwellings as well. This is a great opportunity to design homes for one third of all Australian households (people with disability and older people arent all living alone - they live in families!) Check the ABS stats if you dont believe me and I havent even factored in people with long term health conditions (22%) like arthritis. ABS counts those separately. Then there are pregnant women, and access for emergency personnel.... and... and... Now looking at around 50-60% of homes. Is universal design in housing mainstream? You bet! https://architectureau.com//vic-govt-launches-500k-housi/

02.01.2022 Accessible Housing is more than wheelchairs and mobility. It is also more than individuals with disability today. Housing is about households and families - and it is about tomorrow. ABCBc cost benefit analysis does not measure outcomes. These are important. The link below takes you to a page with a bit more explanation. ANUHD will be finalising a draft for circulation soon.