So you’ve found your property and know that you want to build a Universally Designed structure on it. Maybe you’re building your custom dream home and want to know that you’re going to be able to stay in it as you age. Maybe you’ve just been told you have a progressive condition and you’re going toContinue reading “Universal Design: Zero Barrier Entry”
Monthly Archives: January 2020
Why We Need to Rethink Our Relationship With Pain
[Image description: a colorful assortment of pills fill a counter] Given the amount of pain medication we consume on an average annual basis (Americans received more than 300 million pain prescriptions in 2015 alone – not including over the counter usage) it’s very quickly obvious that we in North America have a pain problem. InContinue reading “Why We Need to Rethink Our Relationship With Pain”
Affordable, Accessible Second Suites
First views of the first accessible, affordable second suite in Barrie. Every day I hear stories of families and individuals who are not only trapped in the unaffordable rental market, but trapped while dealing with major accessibility needs for themselves or a family member. The level of increased disability these situations cause – both forContinue reading “Affordable, Accessible Second Suites”
Pain
We’re getting our house ready to put it on the market and we’ve made a lot of progress this week, but I’ve still got a long way to go before we’re ready to list. Unfortunately I’ve done more than I should in the process and I’ve been tired and in pain physically. Time for someContinue reading “Pain”
Why it’s Time to Change our Perspective on Wheelchairs
The movie Wall-E doesn’t paint a great picture of people using wheeled devices to move around. In fact, it sort of suggests that wheelchair usage – especially from power wheelchairs – is just a great way for people to get fatter and lazier than they already are. Unfortunately, the confusion about wheelchair usage isn’t limitedContinue reading “Why it’s Time to Change our Perspective on Wheelchairs”
Deep Breaths and Baby Steps
And the walls came tumbling down! Our accessibility build involves connecting an existing, older structure to a new extension. Part of making that possible requires that some of the walls of both the original foundation and the original structure get moved/removed to allow flow from one space to the next. It was really interesting toContinue reading “Deep Breaths and Baby Steps”
Under the Surface
Work continues on the #accessiblehouse although you wouldn’t know it from above! All of the work the past two weeks has been underground, but when I sent someone down to take pictures it turned out that @communitybuildersbarrie has been very busy! As impatient as we are to get into this new house, we are working hard toContinue reading “Under the Surface”
“Perfection”
I struggled with the word perfect for years and years and years. It felt like this impossible state that I had to somehow already have achieved with a password, able body and infinite bank account I didn’t have. That is, until one day I was talking to my sister-in-law, who has her Ph.D. in OldContinue reading ““Perfection””
Accessibility and Universal Design
I talk a lot about the value of building Universally Designed homes and communities from the beginning. That’s because the cost of modifications to our existing, inaccessible buildings is incredibly high! But until we change the world, we still have to shift from inaccessible to accessible, and the idea I think in most people’s heads is thatContinue reading “Accessibility and Universal Design”
Heather R. Morgan 