Futureproofing with Universal Design

If you don't build with Universal Design from the start at least build thinking of it as a possible future option:

Russ Glickman, president of Glickman Design Build,... reached a ... crossroad more than 20 years ago when he learned that his son, Michael, has cerebral palsy. Although a highly-regarded professional with over 33 design awards to his credit, the North Potomac remodeler suddenly realized that there were considerations to universal design -- a specialty building discipline -- that he hadn't mastered, and that even the most experienced professionals were still learning.

"Every special-needs scenario is unique," Glickman points out. "Accessibility planning, aging-in-place, universal design ... each area has distinctive protocols and a lot of professional literature to absorb. But, beyond this, you want a plan that is appropriately rationalized for every member of a household."

"On that score, a new model home is difficult to retrofit -- mainly because developers aren't prepared to plan for these kinds of contingencies."

Source:

http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=345108&paper=70&cat=104