Updated on August 8, 2024
What is Accessible Accommodation?
Accessible accommodation means homes with special built-in features to make daily living and mobility easier for residents with disabilities.
These features can be as simple as having wheelchair ramps to more complex indoor modifications like handicap grab bars and accessible bathrooms and kitchens.
What is Accessible living?
Accessible living is a concept designers use for homes that can meet the varying needs of people with all abilities. Things such as wider doorways and passages, location and accessibility of amenities, and the interaction of people with the space are prioritised.
By default, an accessible home is niche; highly customised towards the specifications and particular ability of the client. An accessible home meets Australian Standard AS 1428.1-2009 Design for access and mobility.
Livability measures how a house can meet the needs and requirements of the occupants throughout its lifetime with little to no changes. Generally, these are two different approaches to building a home for special needs.
The Accessibility Landscape in Australia
4.4 million Australians live with a disability, representing 17.7% of the population. 1.9 million Australians with disability are aged 65 years. The likelihood of living with disability increases with age. Half the population (49.6%) aged 65 years and over have a disability. This reflects both an ageing population and the increasing life expectancy of Australians. Hence, Australia places a lot of importance on accessible housing.
The National Construction Code (NCC) outlines liveable housing design regulations. However, these design regulations are not mandatory for new buildings. This creates a challenge for people with disability to find readily accessible properties.
What is the Australian standard for adaptable housing?
Australia has specific standards and compliance legislation that apply to built spaces, ensuring that they are accessible to people with a disability. These standards vary on several factors, which include building class type, and the disability type that is being accommodated; mobility, vision, or sensory.
An adaptable home is a liveable home that meets Australian Standard AS4299-1995 Adaptable housing; and is easily adapted to become accessible for wheelchair users if the need should arise.
What is AS1428 in Australian Standards?
The AS1428 is the minimum design standard for new and existing buildings, to ensure they are accessible to people with disabilities.
These standards look at wheelchair access ways and their ability to move around the space — from an underlying assumption that creating room for the vertical and horizontal space occupied by a standard wheelchair will benefit all users. Accessible standards are helpful, as they set the minimum dimensions for circulation spaces and ramps, and for the placement of structures and fixings.
How to Find Accessible Accommodation
1. Public and Community Housing: The Australian State and territory governments offer accessible housing options through public housing programs. However, there are usually waiting lists to prepare for due to high demand.
2. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA): This is an NDIS program that provides funding for eligible participants with high support requirements to live in accessible housing. SDA providers manage the property directly.
3. Rental Market: Look out for properties advertised as “accessible” or “mobility-friendly”. Contact real estate agents with a list of your specific requirements readily available.
Modifying Your Existing Home
If finding an accessible home to rent or buy seems to be taking longer than expected, maybe consider adapting your current home to SDA requirements–especially if it’s yours. Several government grants and funding programs are available to cover all or some of the modification costs. You may need help with the following professionals if modification is the option available to you; Occupational Therapists (OTs), National Association of Building Designers (NABD) and Specialist Disability Advisory Committees (SDACs)
Financial Assistance Options for Accessible Housing
1. Home Modification Grants: These are federal and state government grants that help applicants cover the costs of modifications to their current homes. Eligibility criteria and application processes vary by state/territory. HomeBuilder Grant in Victoria and Home Renovation Grant are examples.
2. National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
3. Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA)
Can Anyone Stay In An Accessible Room?
Yes. Australia’s standard building regulations ensure hotel or accommodation rooms are built with accessibility for persons with limited mobility, at the minimum. This means the average hotel room or accommodation has accessible facilities and will naturally serve persons of all abilities.
What Is The Difference Between Accessible Room And Standard Room?
Generally, accessible rooms should include the following features:
- Wider Bedroom door for wheelchair access
- All items will be situated lower down than they would be in a standard room
- Handrails in shower and toilet
- Roll-in shower or drop-down shower chair
- Some accessible rooms may have emergency assistance buttons or cords located in the bathroom.
- Standard bed, not a fold-up one
- Situated on the ground floor
- For rooms not on the ground floor, there’s a lift or stairlift access
What Is The Difference Between Handicap Accessible And Wheelchair Accessible?
Handicap means there is some type of mobility impairment. It is usually used to refer to people who are upright and mobile but need assistance to walk with a cane or walker or a railway on a ramp at least. Note that not all handicap-accessible locations are wheelchair-accessible.
Looking for reliable and trustworthy care services?
At Centre Disability Support, we offer tailored support services for individuals with disabilities throughout Australia. We offer housing options in Logan, Ipswich and Brisbane areas, where we provide independent supported living or assist individuals in finding suitable options for individualised living.
Additionally, we provide day-to-day support for individuals with mental health issues, complex behaviour and other types of disabilities. We also have support coordinators available to assist with planning, navigating NDIS plans, and offering casework support.
Whether you’re seeking support for yourself, or a loved one, or simply wish to learn more about our services, we’re here to help.
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