The reconstruction project following Hurricane Katrina will require local expertise in Universal Design.
Done correctly, results could be economically positive and inclusive for people with disabilities. Participants in the Santa Cruz, California Universal Design Conference reported that fastidious monitoring of reconstruction for ADA compliance after the Loma Prieta earthquake had direct impact on the economic upturn of the Santa Cruz, Soquel, Aptos region.
The systematic application of Universal Design -- and a subsequent shift from ADA compliance to the economically sustainable Unniversal Design model -- will be the cornerstone of Inclusive Destinato Development efforts in New Orleans.
Meanwhile, the blog Katrina Disaster Relief specializes in a housing database to meet the immediate disaster recovery needs of people with disabilities and the Minnesota Manufactured Housing Association supplies premade, universally designed homes.
Posted by rollingrains at September 8, 2005 07:40 PM