HOUSING RESILIENCE

CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICES

Alex Ghenis, a quadriplegic who uses a wheelchair for mobility, is an Oakland-based climate and disability justice advocate and disability rights consultant.

“There’s a huge benefit to developers to ensure that new apartment buildings have units with accessibility features.

Building can be done in a way that convenient features can easily become accessibility features.

A walk-in shower can be converted to an ideal roll-in shower.

Modified sinks can work well for wheelchair users and all residents,” said Ghenis, who publishes deep dive articles in accessibility and the environment.

“I think there is a market-based argument to developers having more accessible features — such as Universal Design throughout apartments,” he said, noting the huge demand for barrier-free and age-friendly units as the U.S. Census forecasts that by 2034 there will be more people 65 years and older than under the age of 18 for the first time in history.