Home modifications and the fair housing law 1

Abstract

On 24 April 1996, a Special Interest Forum (SIF) was held in Washington DC, on the topic of ‘Home Modifications and the Fair Housing Law’. Its purpose was to promote innovation in the design of home modifications and to examine related aspects of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. The Amendments move toward making housing more accessible and usable by a diverse population, including people with disabilities. This report captures the main points raised by the presenters and elaborates on many of the issues. The SIF was organized by the Association of Safe and Accessible Products (ASAP). Funding was provided by the Center for Inclusive Design and Environmental Access (IDEA Center), State University of New York at Buffalo, as part of a grant from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development entitled ‘Fair Housing Means Universal Design’.