Disabled people are one of a number of groups who find it difficult to access suitable housing. By setting up a co-op, you have the opportunity to shift this trend and not only create a house which is more accessible, but also allows a wider variety of folk to participate in co-operative living. Creating accessible spaces can seem daunting or overwhelming, but it is worth the effort of doing some research and implementing modifications to allow more people to get involved with co-ops.
When considering accessibility, remember that no single place will be accessible for all disabled people. Sometimes something which is good for one kind of disabled person actually makes things harder for someone with a different disability. For example, one person may rely on a service dog, while another person has a fur allergy and cannot live in the same house as a dog. This is known as competing access needs. In situations like these, it’s best to either try to find a compromise which involves alternating the priorities of different folks, or if that is impossible, to attempt to meet the needs of as many people as possible, especially those of folk who are already involved in your co-op.
Here are some suggestions to make housing co-ops more accessible. Again, it would be impossible to implement them all, and the suggestions themselves do not cover every single eventuality for every type of disability. When thinking about accessibility, it is always a good idea to consult the people directly affected. If you have a disabled co-op member, or potential member, ask them about their access needs – they may tell you about things you had never even considered. At the same time recognise that it is not the sole responsibility of disabled people to make spaces accessible – think about all the things you do know and can offer to others. Making places accessible should be a collaborative effort between disabled folk and their allies; making disabled people’s lives easier and widening access should be a priority for anyone seeking ways to live differently, in a co-op or otherwise!
Before buying or building a property
Consider:
- General structure of the co-op and how the living spaces are laid out. Although many housing co-ops resemble house-shares on a surface level, this might not be the most accessible way to live for some disabled people. Cohousing, where individuals have their own self-contained living quarters, may be better for some.
- What kind of property you plan on buying, and whether structural adjustments can be made to make it more accessible. If you are self building, it is much easier to build a property that is accessible from the start, as opposed to later having to retrofit accommodations.
- Location of the property or the land that you are planning on purchasing. Does it have good public transport links, and is there a parking space, or the possibility for one? Is it on the side of a very steep hill? Where are the nearest food shops, doctors surgeries, and other amenities? All of these factors can make a place more or less accessible to its inhabitants.
- When setting your rent level, it’s a good idea to choose an affordable amount which can be fully covered by housing benefit. As disabled people are more likely to be unemployed, finding affordable rent can often be tricky.
- Can you allow disabled members to pay their rent on a different day of the month to account for their benefits schedule?
Physical considerations
There are many physical adaptations and modifications which can be made to a building to increase accessibility and to ensure that disabled members can fully participate in using the space.
Modifications for wheelchair users include:
- widening doorways
- installing grab bars
- installing a lift
- level access across the ground floor, including a bathroom and bedroom
- adapted bathroom with walk-in bath
- lowered work surfaces in the kitchen
- step-free access into the house and garden
- installing ceiling hoists
- smart-controlled gas and electric systems
- off-street parking space
- installing an intercom with video and/or remote door opening
- lowering the height of switches/ outlets
- low-level windows and window handles
There are some good guides online about making houses wheelchair accessible, such as the Lifetime Homes Design Guide and the Wheelchair Housing Design Guide by Habinteg
There are many other ways to make a space physically accessible for non-wheelchair users.
Chemical sensitivity can be triggered by cleaning products, paint, perfume, carpets, furniture and more – can some of these items be removed from the house or swapped for less offensive versions? Is there mould present? If so, can it be permanently removed and the building damp-proofed? Which known allergens are present and can any of them also be removed?
Lever door handles are better for those with reduced grip.
A light-up doorbell is useful for D/deaf and hard-of-hearing folk.
Can you offer the quietest bedroom in the house to your autistic member, or anyone else with noise sensitivity?
Could you provide written information about the co-op in large-text font, Braille, or a dyslexia-friendly font ? OpenDyslexic is a good open source choice for this.
Other things to think about include: can the co-op provide room for an overnight or live-in carer? How would this carer fit in with the daily life of the co-op? Does the co-op allow animals? Some disabled people may need service or support animals to live with them.
Member recruitment
State in all adverts for new members that you particularly welcome disabled applicants and folk in receipt of benefits. In fact, it’s good general practice to encourage applications from all groups of people who are disadvantaged in finding housing, whether due to immigration status, race, gender and sexuality, having children or pets, and so on.
At all stages of the application process try to make things as accessible as possible.
Though it is unlikely that you can meet everyone’s needs all the time, making the effort greatly improve the experiences for disabled folks.
Adverts for potential co-op members should provide a summary of the accessibility topics covered in this guide, including:
- Proximity to amenities
- Physical layout of the building and possibilities for modifications
- Any known allergens in the house (including pets
- How food and cooking is organised
- How many hours members are expected to work on co-op activity each month: include meetings, work days, and any scheduled social activities
- Your commitment to prioritising disabled folk and working with them on these issues.
Be clear about what kind of information people should write about themselves in their introductory email. This helps everyone start their applications on an equal footing.
When offering visits to the co-op, try to organise a few different dates and times – weekdays, evenings, weekends – so that as many people as possible can attend. How much flexibility can you offer for these visits? Consider doing one-on-one visits for disabled applicants as this may make things easier for them. Can you provide BSL interpretation for open days?
During interviews, make sure to discuss the general vibe of the co-op: is it a quiet house or more social? Are there parties and do you have guests staying? If so, how often? When is it ok to veto these events? Are drugs and alcohol used in the space? The busy-ness of a house and the presence or absence of substances are both accessibility issues for a variety of disabled people.