Rep. Schakowsky Introduces the Inclusive Home Design Act

Press Release

Rep. Jan Schakowsky reintroduced the H.R. 2352 Inclusive Home Design Act today:

"Today, I proudly introduced the H.R. 2352 Eleanor Smith Inclusive Home Design Act, which will require new homes built with federal dollars to meet accessibility standards. Currently, 95 percent of federally-built homes do not require access features that make it possible for people with mobility impairments to live in or even visit the homes. Many towns and states have already incorporated accessibility standards into their building codes and the Inclusive Home Design Act would build on that momentum.

"Accessible design features -- including a zero-step entrance, wheelchair accessible doorways and bathrooms, and climate controls that are at a height reachable from a wheelchair -- add a few hundred dollars to the cost of construction but save tens of thousands of dollars by eliminating the need for homeowners to retrofit their homes.

"When homes are accessible, it benefits not only people with disabilities, it benefits all of us who have friends and family with limited mobility. Accessible housing makes it possible for more seniors to age in place and avoid the cost of prematurely moving into nursing homes -- an issue that is increasingly important as the population grows older. It would also ensure that our veterans who have suffered debilitating injuries on the battlefield are able to more easily find an accessible home. This is a commonsense piece of legislation that would benefit all Americans."

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