The Universal Design Project is a nonprofit organization in Virginia and is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN: 81-1119582). Our mission is to increase demand for universally accessible homes. Housing is a complex industry with many moving parts. The homes built are designed in response to what people want (and can afford) and what local governing authorities decide is best for their communities.We focus on community education and collaborative design that integrates the healthcare perspective into the home design process. By bringing more attention to the need for universally accessible housing and showing people what universally designed homes look like (and how they’re attainable), we believe we can increase the demand for universally accessible housing.Our vision is for every community across the US to have a surplus of universally accessible homes. In a perfect world, every community would have a surplus of homes that “just work” for anyone, no matter what type of health condition(s) exist.Universally accessible homes consider the impact of all possible types of health-related impairments that people may experience throughout life. They provide as much functionality as possible. They’re not tailored toward any specific demographic and are usable by all people.Everyone should be able to (1) live well in their own homes, (2) live in their preferred locations, and (3) be able to socialize with friends and families in other homes.

My husband (a certified therapeutic recreation specialist) and I owned a consulting firm based on the concept of universal design, which is a process of ensuring that design is as functional as possible for as many users as possible. The most demand for our services has been from people who have experienced a significant health event who need to make changes to their home environment. We also provide architectural plan reviews and often speak with colleges, universities, and community organizations.

Primary Occupational Therapist on the spinal cord injury team on the inpatient rehabilitation unit.