1. Equitable Use - The design can be used by a wide range of body sizes and abilities.
2. Personalization - The design is made for a wide range of individual preferences.
3. Simple and Intuitive - Any user can understand how to operate and use the design.
4. Awareness - The design communicates necessary information to the user, regardless of their surroundings or the user’s sensory abilities.
5. Wellness - The design protects the user from any possible danger.
6. Comfort - The design minimizes the amount of physical effort needed for use.
7. Sufficient Size and Space - The design accommodates different postures and mobility and provides enough space to use assistive devices or personal assistance.

Why should you incorporate Universal Design into your home?

Most homes are built for the needs and preferences of active adults. Often, they are unsuitable, even dangerous, for older adults and individuals with functional disabilities. In most cases, universal design features can be applied to a new or existing home to create a safe and comfortable environment that promotes independence and allows a senior to age in place. These changes can also make it easier and safer for family caregivers to assist their elderly loved ones.

Benefits

• Boosts home value
• Saves on future renovations
• Increases accessibility
• Promotes independent living
• Support people’s diverse needs and abilities
• Provides safer environments
• Encourage “Aging in Place”
• Enhances quality of life
• Community benefit
• Enhances visitability
• Increases market outreach
• Positive public image

General Tips

• Accessible path of travel to dwelling
• Maximum 1/2" vertical change in level at thresholds
• 32" wide interior doors
• Strike edge clearance at doors: 18" interior; 24" exterior doors
• Lever door hardware
• Entry door sidelight or high/low peep hole viewer
• Doorbell at 48" maximum height in accessible location (36")
• Visual fire alarms and visual doorbells
• Switches, outlets and thermostats at 15" to 48" above the floor
• Rocker light switches
• Closet rods and shelves adjustable from 3' to 5'6" high
• Residential elevator or lift

Bathrooms

• Grab bar backing in walls
• 5' diameter turning circle
• 36" x 36" or 30" x 48 clear space *
• Lavatory with lever faucet controls
• Open-front lavatory with knee space and protection panel
• Contrasting color edge border at countertops
• Anti-scald devices on all plumbing fixtures
• 17" to 19" high water closet seat
• Roll-in shower in lieu of standard tub or shower
• Shower stall with 4" lip in lieu of standard tub
• Hand-held adjustable shower head

Kitchens

• Removable base cabinets at sink
• Countertop height repositioning to 28" high
• Lever controls at kitchen sink faucet
• Base cabinets with pull-out shelves
• Base cabinets with Lazy Susans
• Contrasting color edge border at countertops
• Microwave oven at countertop height
• Under cabinet task lighting
• 30" x 48" clear space at appliances or 60" diameter clear space for U-shaped kitchen

Most universal features are standard building features that can be altered through slight manipulation of height placements, careful selection, and re-design. Not all features have to be decided during the initial construction of a home. These features are aimed to make the average home more functional for everyone to use. There are many ways to renovate your home to be more user-friendly at little or no extra cost. Here are some options:

• Create Color Contrast - Connect Center is a great resource for understanding how color contrast affect a visually impaired people. They recommend options on general color modifications for homes and insight on how color affects the way one moves and interacts with their home. Contrast and Color - ConnectCenter (aphconnectcenter.org)

• Layer Lighting - Not all people who are visually disabled are completely blind, some may be able to detect light to dark areas. By having multiple sources and varying bulbs colors it can reduce glare and help navigate areas and objects easier. Consider placing light sources near grab bars, door knobs, or walkways. LED lights are a great source for light as they are seamless with its surface and can be placed anywhere.

• Alternative Storage - Consider using pull-out storage or open shelving to store items. This makes it clearly visible and easier to reach daily household items.

These features may not accommodate for every specific physical limitation but they do provide access for a wider demographic.

Visitability is a single-family design concept that creates ease for people who have difficulty with steps. Whether its friends or family visiting or the owner/renter of the home, ensuring an easy access entry to all, regardless of their situation, is the goal.

People who use wheelchairs, parents who have children and use strollers, delivery services dropping off appliances and packages to ones home, and people moving are all examples of beneficiaries of visitability.

A house is visitable when it meets three basic requirements:

Advocacy groups, also known as advocacy organizations or interest groups, are organizations formed with the primary purpose of advocating for specific causes, issues, or policies. These groups are typically composed of individuals who share a common concern or goal and work collectively to influence public opinion, government decisions, and social change in line with their objectives. Advocacy groups can take various forms and may operate at local, national, or international levels. There are a number of organizations that advocate for universally designed homes. Their goals are to increase the supply of accessible and inclusive housing and educate others about its benefits. 

Advocacy Groups 

The UD Project

The Institute for Exceptional Care

The Institute for Exceptional Care (IEC) was established in 2020 by healthcare professionals with a personal commitment to individuals with disabilities. They advocate for universal design, similar to the concept of targeted universalism, which acknowledges diverse needs. IEC involves self-advocates in all its projects, working collaboratively with the IDD community and healthcare leaders to promote inclusive values, problem-solving, and sustainable change. Dr. Mai Pham, IEC's founder, emphasizes the importance of a liberating model that removes barriers and normalizes different needs, even in healthcare settings. This approach allows for greater autonomy and improved outcomes, transcending traditional healthcare values to achieve greater efficiency, resilience, and flexibility. URL: Institute for Exceptional Care (ie-care.org) 

The RX Foundation

The DO-IT 

The concept of Universal Design has its roots in the 1970s and was pioneered by architect Ronald Mace, who was deeply committed to creating barrier-free environments. Mace's personal experiences as a wheelchair user gave him firsthand insight into the challenges faced by people with disabilities when navigating the built environment. His passion for making spaces accessible and usable by everyone led to the founding of the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University in 1989.

At the Center, a multidisciplinary team of architects, designers, engineers, and researchers collaborated to develop and refine the seven principles of universal design. These principles, formulated in the early 1990s, have since become the foundation of the movement. They were the result of extensive research, case studies, and consultations with experts from various fields, including architecture, interior design, occupational therapy, and disability rights advocacy.

The publication of these seven principles in 1997 marked a significant milestone in the universal design movement, providing a clear and comprehensive framework for designers and architects to create environments that were truly inclusive. These principles have been widely adopted and adapted across different industries and disciplines, ranging from product design to urban planning.

Since the establishment of the Center for Universal Design, the concept has continued to evolve, incorporating new technologies and responding to changing societal needs. Today, universal design has become an essential aspect of modern architecture and design, with an ever-growing number of professionals embracing its principles to create spaces that are not only accessible but also highly functional and aesthetically pleasing for all users.

Assembly Bill 2787 (Chapter 726, Statutes of 2002) required the Department to develop guidelines and at least one Universal Design Model Ordinance (PDF) applicable to new construction and home modifications for voluntary adoption by local governments.

The Department’s New Home Universal Design Option Checklist identifies rooms and denotes features which must be offered by a builder in residential units subject to the ordinance that are being newly constructed or substantially rehabilitated. These features would only be installed if requested by the buyer/owner and would not cause an unreasonable delay or significant non-reimbursable costs to the developer or builder. Contact the State Housing Law Program at (800) 952-8356 to obtain a copy of the checklist.

In general, the model ordinance provides:

• Definitions for critical terms
• Local option as to types of units (owner-occupied and/or rental), and number of units
• Specific exemptions and enforcement mechanism

New Home Universal Design Checklist (AB 1400)

Assembly Bill 1400 (Chapter 648, Statutes of 2003) requires HCD to develop guidelines and adopt a New Home Universal Design Option Checklist. HCD developed the first checklist in 2005 and an additional checklist in 2007. Both checklists cover the requirements of the law; however, the 2007 New Home Universal Design Option checklist may be considered more user friendly for consumers and builders. Contact the State Housing Law Program at (800) 952-8356 to obtain a copy of either checklist.

The statute specifically requires:

In 2002, the California State Legislature determined the State’s population was aging, and most aging persons prefer to stay in their homes and neighborhoods as long as possible. In addition, many households share their homes with parents, children, spouses, and other household members who have a range of temporary or permanent mobility disabilities. For all of these people, the social and financial costs of residential care facilities often are excessive and impose additional costs for government assistance program recipients. Furthermore, the legislature found that some California households seek to have their homes constructed or modified to allow for full life cycle use, available for visits or residence by parents, grandparents, and others who have difficulty entering or using these homes due to barriers resulting from traditional home construction methods. Adding home modifications after construction far exceeds the cost of including barrier-free standards at the time of construction and often results in temporary displacement until modifications are complete. As a result, the CA Legislature passed Assembly Bill 2787, which requires the Department of Housing and Community Development to develop guidelines and at least one Universal Design Model Ordinance that could be used by municipalities for implementing Universal Design with new residential construction and home modifications.

In June 2023, the Vacaville City Council adopted a comprehensive update to the Housing Element, which established goals, policies, and programs to facilitate and encourage the provision of safe, adequate housing for its current and future residents of all income levels. As part of their action, the City Council adopted Program HE-2.b, which requires the City to encourage all new units to be universally designed so they are accessible for both occupants and visitors and/or be easily adaptable to accessibility modifications. In addition, the City is tasked with disseminating information to residents, property owners, and homebuilders about universal and adaptable design. The following sections discuss staff’s research and proposed informational content for complying with Housing Element Program HE-2.b.

Universal Design Model Ordinance. California Department of Housing and Community Development: www.hcd.ca.gov/building-standards/state-housing-law-program/universal-design-model-ordinance.