We love challenges

Finding suitable housing can often be one of the major sources of anxiety and stress in the lives of the disabled.

OUR MISSION

Barrier Free Homes is a provider of housing for people with disabilities.

We are committed to building thoughtfully designed homes that eliminate as many barriers as possible for those who are in wheelchairs, use walkers and are visually impaired.

Many single-family homes built today are not accessible. Many builders have forgotten people with disabilities and their families.

Finding suitable housing can often be one of the major sources of anxiety and stress in the lives of the disabled.

Accessibility is usually a low priority when young families are house hunting. Good schools, certainly, a modern kitchen—these features topmost lists. Homes that are environmentally safe, that reduce the chance of injury, and that accommodate all our interests—these features are not even on the radar screen, though they should be! Too often we have gotten used to living in homes that are “good enough.” Barrier Free Homes has now raised the bar. 

When people think of accessibility they usually think of the ADA - Americans with Disabilities. However, there are no requirements to build single family homes that comply with the ADA requirements. Only apartments with four or more units have these requirements or commercial buildings.

When you think of “accessibility” does an institutional setting come to mind?

Accessibility is about fitting the home to the real requirements of those who live and visit there—whether they use a wheelchair, a white cane, bifocals, or hearing aids.

According to the US Census, one in five persons has some kind of disability—mobility and dexterity problems, hearing and vision loss, intellectual limitations and other so-called “invisible” disabilities such as cardio-pulmonary disorders.

By age 65 disabilities affect one out of every two persons. Whether one has a sports injury or an infirm older relative, a progressive illness or simply the wish to “age in place” in one’s golden years, homeowners are warming up to the idea of home accessibility.

The hallmarks of Barrier Free Homes are accessible design with wider doorways and zero-step entrances, whether using a mobility device or pushing a baby carriage. We utilize lever-type handles replacing knobs at sinks and doors—roll under leg space at all wash areas and 60" spin radius for those in wheelchairs as well as roll in showers. No thresholds are used in the interior spaces for the ease of moving around the home. All wall electrical outlets are raised to twenty-four inches from floor for ease of reaching. Electrical switches are toggle type and are 36" high from floor.

Barrier Free Homes utilizes Universal design principles of details that have come to be known as (“inclusive design”). Universal design represents an approach to creating things that can be used by everyone, everywhere.

Barrier Free Homes utilizes big sunny rooms with generous vistas to the outdoors and between activity centers—these features are appealing to everyone, as well as essential to people with a variety of disabilities, hearing loss and low vision included. Universal design is common sense design.