The Accessible Kitchen
Barrier-free design and resources - Page 1

by Leon A. Frechette

Barrier-Free Design

Barrier-free design can make life easier, more convenient, and more pleasant for those who are aging or disabled. Whether it's a child in a wheelchair because of multiple sclerosis or an older adult with arthritic joints, the disabled have a variety of special needs that can be met by barrier-free design and construction.

Contractors who are knowledgeable and prepared to market barrier-free design and construction services will find growing opportunities in both commercial and residential markets. I encourage you to keep abreast of barrier-free issues, designs, regulations, trends, products—and the needs and wants of your customers.

A good starting point is a clear understanding of "barrier-free design." Basically, "barrier-free design" means "an architecture which does not inhibit access or use by all people, disabled or nondisabled." In other words, there are no obstacles to restrict freedom of movement throughout the home.

Resources

Products that conform to your customers' needs will play an important role in your kitchen design. It's important to stay on top of barrier-free kitchen products—keep your personal library up to date and visit supply houses and home shows to learn about the newest and latest products.

Begin with your local building department for regulations your state or municipality may have adopted for residential and commercial barrier-free facilities in both remodeling and new construction.

The Internet offers a wealth of information, much of it free, on the ADA and accessibility issues. I encourage you to check out the sites mentioned here and to spend time researching information about the ADA and about products and appliances you can use to help your customers.

The Americans with Disabilities Act Handbook from the U.S. Department of Justice is an excellent resource. Now out of print, it is still available through various sources on the Internet.

One excellent resource is the ADA Home Page (www.ada.gov) which offers information and technical assistance on the Americans with Disabilities Act. They offer a variety of publications, but check out the ADA Standards for Accessible Design, available as a .pdf file.

There is no better way to learn more about accessibility than through the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). In fact, some of the information contained in this article is from the Kitchen Industry Technical Manuals published by the NKBA. The NKBA promotes professionalism, helps to establish good ethical business practices, and provides leadership and direction for the kitchen and bathroom industry. Certification by the NKBA as a kitchen and bathroom designer (CKD/CBD) will put you a step ahead of the competition, and this certification can only build confidence in your knowledge and skills. In addition, you can enjoy financial rewards by increasing the fees for your professional services. For information on NKBA membership, contact NKBA at 800-843-6522 or go online at www.nkba.org.

To learn more about products that will meet ADA requirements, check out the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) website at www.nahb.org. They offer a variety of publications for sale to nonmembers, and a number of publications available exclusively to NAHB members.

Another good source for ADA information is the NAHB National Research Center (www.nahbrc.org).

Accessible Environments, a large supplier of accessibility products and equipment, has years of experience in creating barrier-free environments in the home and workplace. Check out their website at www.accessibleenvironments.net.

While researching this article, I discovered the ProMatura Group, a division of the Institute For Technology Development. Two of its key staff members, Margaret Wylde, Ph.D., President, ProMatura Group, and Adrian Baron-Robbins, Chief Architect, along with Sam Clark, a designer/builder, authored Building For A Lifetime, The Design and Construction of Fully Accessible Homes (The Taunton Press, ISBN #1-56158-036-8, 1994).

This book is about building houses to meet the needs of people throughout their lives. As the Introduction says, "Building for a lifetime means designing and constructing living environments that conform with the needs and abilities of the occupants at any age." This book is a complete guide to building living environments, both interior and exterior spaces, for people of different abilities. It features a great chapter on kitchens that is well worth reading. This excellent resource is now out of print, but you may be able to locate a copy at your library or through an Internet search.

Copyright © 1994, 1998, 2006, & 2011 LAF/C.R.S., Inc. All rights reserved. The previous article,
in whole or in part, appeared in the December 1994 issue of Building & Remodeling News.

Looking for home improvement Q&As? Click here!

[ Back to Top ]