Development of a housing design features checklist for the disabled consumer with an evaluation of twenty-five apartments in Tucson, Arizona

Abstract

This study develops a checklist of accessibility housing design features to aid the wheelchair user in evaluating apartments. It also evaluates relationships between accessibility and price, size, location, age, and subsidy of 25 apartments in Tucson, Arizona. Apartments were rated based on their adoption of the standards as set forth by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the City of Tucson. Category A is those features specified by both agencies, Category B is those specified by ANSI only and Category C is those not specified. Category D is features not rated. A Total Rating Score is also given. A score of 80 was considered a minimum acceptable rating. Twenty percent of the apartments tested were found to be in compliance with the requirements of Category A, those features required by statute. Sixteen percent were in compliance with Category B and only four percent were in compliance with the other two categories. No significant relationships were found between accessibility and the five housing factors.