ACCESSIBLE HOUSING (14)

PLANNING BEST PRACTICES CAN ACCOMMODATE MORE WHEELCHAIR USERS

Builder groups often oppose visitability mandates, claiming they'll halt construction of new homes. 

But Smith says the notion is patently false.

She points to Pima County, Arizona; the village of Bolingbrook, Illinois; and other municipalities where accessible and visitable homes have held and increased in value, and new home starts have not been stifled by existing visitability ordinances and requirements there.

While it is unclear exactly how many homes have been constructed with visitability standards across the country, Smith says more than 60,000 were built under the regulations she championed in these areas and others in the last 30 years.