Universal Design, Handicap Access, and Aging-in-Place

I have been interested in Universal Design for some time, now. I have collected some of the ideas that I have posted and that others have posted in Design Dilemmas such as yours.

Please take from this whatever is helpful. Best wishes.

Houzz
1.) Go to Houzz Ideabooks and enter "Universal Design" in the search box.
2.) Go to Houzz.com/Handicap-accessible
3.) Go to Houzz Design Dilemma and enter "handicapped" in the search box.

Universal Design
1.) www.universaldesignstyle.com
2.) www.schaefferconstruction.com specializes in Universal Design

Handicap Access
1.) The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) site has specific measurements for wheelchair turning radius, placement of grab bars, everything.
www.ada.gov/adast94.pdf
www.ada.gov/

2.) ADA Ramps : ADA Code 4.8
[Thanks to contributor S. Thomas Kutch for finding this.]

Aging-in-Place
1.) Consult with a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist. You can find one through the National Associataion of Home Builders (NAHB) website.
www.nahb.org
[Thanks to dallasstudent13 for this link.]

2.) Go to Houzz Professionals and enter Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist in the search box.
One that I know of is
www.brickwoodbuilders.com.
[Thanks to Houzz contributor Deborah Butler for this information.]

Bathrooms
1.) For decorative grab bars that do not look institutional, look at
www.faucets.efaucets.com
[Thanks to Houzz contributor Sense of Space for this link.]

2.) For accessibility products for bathrooms, go to www.arcfirst.net
[Thanks to Houzz contributor Megan McDevitt for this link.]

3.) Commercial Bathroom Handicap Guidelines.
www.ehow.com#ixzz2Og8qlff
www.houselogic.com#ixzz2OgAPANpb

4.) Here are some Houzz Ideabooks about Universal Design in Bathrooms:
741559 The No-Threshold Shower: Accessibility in Style
4492518 How to Design an Accessible Shower
2504909 Doorless Showers Open a World of Possibilities
5008400 Make a Powder Room Accessible with Universal Design
1061289 Bathroom Safety Features that Support your Style
1562246 Houzzers Say: Dream Features for the Bath and Closet
2507115 Houzz Tour: Universal Design in a San Francisco Home

Kitchens
1.) America's National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)
2.) Guidelines for rules for accessibility in kitchens and baths:
www.starcraftcustombuilders.com

3.) National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Enter "Universal Design" in the search box.
4.) www.ergonomics.about.com/od/kitchen/qt/Galley_design.htm

Elevators
1.) You might not be considering installing an elevator at this point, but planning for where one could go makes sense. Leave an area large enough for an elevator shaft. The space can be used as closets in the meantime.
[Thanks to Houzz contributor orangecamera for this comment.]

Low vision
1.) Consider the American Foundation for the Blind as a resource. They should be able to point you in the direction of local resources or an occupational therapist who specializes in low vision.
www.afb.org.
[Thanks to Houzz contributor dallasstudent13 for this link.]

2.) Contrast light and dark surfaces wherever there is a change. For example, light countertops and dark appliances in the kitchen. Also wherever there is a change in flooring material. For example from hard to carpet, you will want one dark and one light, so that the transition is easy to see to help prevent tripping and falling.
[Thanks to Houzz contributor orangecamera for this comment.]