The World of "Off-Site" Homes
By Weinstein, Laurence; PN: Paraplegia News, Vol. 61, No. 12, pp. 32-38Publication Date: December 2007
Article discusses accessible factory-built homes. The advantages of “off-site”, or factory-built, home construction over traditional on-site building are discussed in terms of materials quality, elimination of subcontractors, and considerably shorter completion time. The author, who is an architect, describes his work developing off-site homes that incorporate Universal Design features including (1) a zero-step main entry; (2) hallways of 42-inch minimum width and 36-inch-wide doors; (3) lower kitchen and bathroom cabinets with full-extension drawers and wheelchair-accessible spaces underneath sinks and cooktops; (4) front-load dishwasher and clothes washer/dryer mounted on elevated platforms; (5) five-foot-diameter open spaces in all rooms; (6) curb-less shower; (7) electrical outlets, switches, and thermostats mounted at accessible heights; and (8) high-output fluorescent lighting throughout the house. The author also describes launching a program to build accessible homes that meet the needs of servicemen and women with severe injuries and disabilities, along with Americans of all ages with some form of permanent disability. A web link, http://www.homeloans.va.gov/SAH, is offered to obtain information about loans for purchasing a modular fully-accessible home extended to eligible veterans with a severe disability incurred during active service. A website is also given, http://www.livablehomes.org, for information about the Manorwood Universal Lifestyle Series and the Champion Generation Series homes.
Published by: PVA Publications (Website:http://www.pvamagazines.com)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (Web Site: http://www.pva.org )
Link to text: http://www.pvamagazines.com/pnnews/magazine/article.php?art=2313
