4 Questions to Ask Prospective Housing If You Have a Disability

According to the Centers for Disease Control, 25 percent of Americanshave a cognitive or physical disability that impacts major life activities. When you have a disability, finding suitable housing can be difficult.

While the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has accessibility requirements that apartment complexes must meet, these requirements only apply to common areas, not the individual units themselves. Additionally, older government-subsidized apartments are not required to followspecific accessibility requirements, such as the requirement that 5 percentof total units must be fully accessible.

Thankfully, the internet, as well as your phone, can be extremely useful in your apartment search. Here are four questions to ask to determine if a property might be right for you before you visit in person.

If you have a service animal, you need to find a place to live that allows your service animal as well. The ADA defines a service animal as a dog that performs tasks for people with sensory, physical, intellectual, psychiatric, or mental disability. People who are seeing impaired, hearing impaired, have a seizure disorder, or have autism often have service dogs.

Emotional support animals are not protected under the ADA guidelines, however. They provide companionship and may comfort those with emotional difficulties, but they do not typically perform tasks for you as a service dog would.

While emotional support animals do not qualify under ADA guidelines, they may under the Fair Housing Act (FHA). This act protects people with disabilities from being discriminated against. Under the FHA, a landlord cannot refuse to house someone with a service animal. In most cases, the landlord will ask for documentation that proves you have a certified, qualifying service or support animal.

If you need an apartment that can accommodate a wheelchair, you will need a barrier-free unit. This is a unit that either has everything you need on the ground floor, including ramps, or has an elevator you can use to get wherever you need to go in the complex.

A barrier-free unit also has things like a modified kitchen so you can pull your wheelchair up to the sink. They also have wide hallways, doorways, and large enough bathrooms to accommodate a wheelchair. Light switches, outlets, and the thermostat must also be accessible to someone in a wheelchair.

If you are seeing or hearing impaired or have another type of disability, you need an accessible unit. This is a unit that meets or exceeds the ADA requirements for disabled persons, such as grab bars in the bathtub. Many apartments qualify as both barrier-free and accessible. Carefully consider your abilities as well as limitations when considering available housing options.

Onsite amenities aren't important to everyone but for some, having certain amenities on the premises can make life a lot easier. For example, if you have mobility issues or are vision impaired, accessible laundry facilities on the grounds will make washing your clothing far less a chore than having to go to a commercial laundromat .

Some apartment complexes have scheduled outings, recreation centers, community centers, beauty salons, and even small grocery stores. These options can provide you with socialization opportunities, make exercising and grooming easier, and ensure you always have the bare necessities without hassle.

Many people with disabilities are unable to drive. If this describes you, be sure to check if the prospective complex is on the city bus route or is close enough to the places you need to go to that a taxicab or rideshare is affordable. Some communities also offer special transportation for those with a disability.

If you are disabled and looking for a place to call home that fits your unique needs, Robert Cottingham Property Management Co. has many properties that may accommodate your requirements. Contact us today to learn more or schedule an appointment to view one of our units.