Aging: Universal Design, which aired August 24 on All Things Considered, focused on the increasing desire of people to remain in their homes as they age. The online coverage of this report links to UD&C’s Home for the Next 50 Years project. Another resource to help those looking to adapt their homes to better allow them to age in place is The Do*Able, Renewable Home, a brochure authored by UD&C Founder and President John Salmen, and published by AARP.

In the article, Salmen discusses two Universal Design projects he and UD&C have been involved with, at both ends of the spectrum: The Home for the Next 50 Years, the remodeling of his own home to make it more livable as he and his wife age, and The Do-Able Renewable Home, a book Salmen wrote, published by AARP, which offers ideas for simple changes you can make to your home to help it adapt as you grow older.

The full article can be accessed at: http://www.networx.com/article/adapting-entryways-an-thresholds-for-dis.

On July 26, the Department of Justice issued rules to update its ADA regulations and implement new accessibility standards for facilities.  During this webinar, DOJ representatives will highlight what is new in the revised Title II and Title III regulations, including requirements for existing facilities.  Access Board staff will review major changes in the new ADA standards, which are based on accessibility guidelines established by the Board.  A significant portion of the program will be reserved for open Q&A with presenters.  The webinar is free, but registration is required; visit http://www.accessibilityonline.org for more information or to register.

The rules will become affective six months after publication in the Federal Register.  Eighteen months after publication, compliance with the 2010 Standards will be required for new construction and alterations.  In the period between the effective date and the compliance date, covered entities may choose between the 1991 Standards and the 2010 Standards.  Covered entities that should have complied with the 1991 Standards during any new construction or alteration of facilities or elements, but have not done so by 18 months after the date of publication of the final rule, must comply with the 2010 Standards.

For further information, including the final rules, fact sheets and analysis, visit http://www.ada.gov/regs2010/ADAregs2010.htm.

• Accessibility of Web Information and Services Provided by Entities Covered by the ADA;
• Movie Captioning and Video Description;
• Accessibility of Next Generation 9-1-1; and
• Equipment and Furniture

Comments will be accepted for 180 days.  For more information, visit http://www.ada.gov/anprm2010.htm.

The DOJ recently entered into settlement agreements with several universities that used the Kindle DX in the classroom as part of a pilot study with Amazon.com, Inc. (The Kindle DX lacks an accessible text-to-speech function.)  The universities agreed not to purchase, require or recommend use of the Kindle DX or any other electronic book reader unless or until the device is fully accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, or the universities provide reasonable accommodation or modification so that a student can “acquire the same information, engage in the same interactions, and enjoy the same services as sighted students with substantially equivalent ease of use.”  Consistent with the relief obtained by the DOJ, the ED also resolved similar complaints against (which) colleges and universities.

For the full text of the letter, visit http://www.ada.gov/kindle_ltr_eddoj.htm

The final rules were previously sent to OMB in late 2008 and withdrawn in January 2009 when then President Bush’s Chief of Staff directed Executive Branch agencies to defer publication of any new regulations until the rules were reviewed and approved by Obama Administration officials.

OMB has 90 days to respond to the submission.

To date, the draft final regulation has not yet been submitted to the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA) for review, which is the final step in the review process and which can take up to 90 to 20 days to complete.

The survey also showed that 69 percent of buyers who are 55 years and older wanted a master bedroom on the first floor, where as only 16 percent of buyers, in general indicated that as a preference. Of the buyers who are older, 54 percent wanted grab bars in the bathroom and 46 percent wanted an entrance without steps. For more information, visit: www.housingeconomics.com