# Presentation: 076849

## SYMPOSIUM ON HOUSING FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIESUnderstanding Universal Design and Access ModificationLocal and State Level Activities

**June 30, 2004  ********  Washington, D.C.  **
**Developed by:**
**Richard Duncan****	****	****	****Michael Morris**
**The Center for Universal Design****	****National Disability Institute**
**Raleigh, NC****	****	****	****	****Washington, D.C.****	****	**

## HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES OFFICE ON DISABILITYCo-Sponsored with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Fannie Mae Corporation, NCB Development Corporation, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development 

## UNIVERSAL DESIGN

**Action Steps**

## Organizational Support

**Take a leadership role in creating a Universal Design Work Group that involves all key stakeholders:**

## Universal Design Work Group Key Stakeholders

- Housing Developers/Builders
- Housing Finance Agency
- Architects/Designers
- Centers for Independent Living (CIL)
- Public Housing Agency Representatives
- State Legislator or Staff
- Leader/Appraisers/Realtors/Inspectors
- Representatives of Aging and Disability Related Organizations
- Local Housing Agency (e.g., CDBG funded programs)
- Others

## Organizational Support

**Take a leadership role in creating an Action Plan that responds to challenges and leverages opportunities:**

## Action Plan

- Consumer and Professional Education
- Policy Development
- Demonstration Projects
- Financing Options

## Sample Action Steps

## 1. Education

- Target media and consumers for open house and home tours that increase awareness of universal design features.
- Target developers and public housing agency representatives for open forum to increase awareness and understanding of universal design features and benefits.
- Create annual universal design awards program for single and multifamily development projects at a local and state level.

## 2. Policy Development

- Adopt universal design standards for all publicly financed projects at a local and state level.
- Create development tradeoffs for new development in local jurisdictions in exchange for construction of affordable housing with universal design features.
- Enforce Fair Housing Requirements.
- Support federal UD/Visitability legislation of federally funded housing projects.

## 3. Demonstration Projects

- Apply UD features to a variety of housing types: single family detached; affordable market rate; modular; medium density 2-story; Fair Housing projects, etc.
- Use local and state housing finance resources to support pilot projects that adopt universal design standards for affordable housing development.
- Engage Federal Home Loan Bank members to support affordable housing development with universal design features.

## 4. Financing Options

- Encourage leaders to offer financial incentives for buyers of homes with universal design features (reduced rates).
- Add universal design as a contributing feature for application review criteria for tax credits and other public financing streams for affordable single and multifamily development.

## Contact Information

**Richard Duncan, MRP, Senior Project Manager**
**The Center for Universal Design**
**College of Design**
**North Carolina State University**
**50 Pullen Road, Brooks Hall Rm. 104**
**Campus Box 8613**
**Raleigh, NC  27695-8613**
**Phone:  919-515-8557**
**Information Line: 800-647-6777**
**Fax:  919-515-7330**
**Email:  **_[rc_duncan@ncsu.edu](mailto:rc_duncan@ncsu.edu)__ _
- _[http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/](http://www.design.ncsu.edu/cud/)__ _

## Contact Information

**Michael Morris, Director**
**National Disability Institute**
**NCB Development Corporation**
**1725 Eye Street, N.W.  Suite 600**
**Washington, D.C.  20006**
**Phone:  202-521-2930**
**Fax:  202-218-7297**
**E-mail:  **_[mmorris@ncbdc.org](mailto:mmorris@ncbdc.org)_
- _[http://www.ncbdc.org/](http://www.ncbdc.org/)__ _