HOUSING FOR PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURY: APARTMENTS

Located in a bustling urban area, the apartment complex houses many essentials for living, such as a grocery store, cleaners, restaurant, small shops, and a bar for socializing. The complex has a personal care attendant on site, hired by the people with disabilities who live in the high rise.Discrimination based on disability in renting, purchasing housing, or obtaining financing is illegal. Under the Fair Housing Amendments Act, a landlord cannot have two different rental agreements, one for people with disabilities and one for those without.Most people with disabilities require some environmental changes so that they can carry out the activities of daily living. What are “reasonable accommodations” (a term used in the Americans with Disabilities Act) to achieve this independent living? Someone who uses a wheelchair needs room under the kitchen sink to fit the chair. Someone who uses crutches needs a parking space close to his apartment entry. Another person needs a curb-cut to move from the parking lot to the sidewalk in her wheelchair. Other modifications might be needed in various rooms. Some common needs are raised toilet seats, bathroom grab bars, roll-in showers, widened doorways, door levers or automatic door openers, lowered kitchen cabinets, appliances with reachable controls, and lowered call-buttons in elevators.All such alterations are charged to the renter, unless the landlord receives funding from the federal government. According to the pamphlet Fair Housing: How to Make the Law Work for You, available from the Paralyzed Veterans of America, the renter has to agree to restore the unit to its original condition (allowing for normal wear) on leaving; to give a fair description of the changes to be made; and to assure that the work is done well and that necessary permits are obtained.Buildings with four or more living units must have basic accessibility for people with disabilities. Entryways, public areas, and common-use areas must be accessible. Doorways must be wide enough for wheelchairs.
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