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From: Ron.Rothenberg@f460.n101.z1.fidonet.org (Ron Rothenberg)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Accessible Apartment Hunting Hints
Message-ID: <18487@bunker.isc-br.com>
Date: 3 Apr 91 21:37:49 GMT
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Index Number: 14614

Here's the final text for "Acessible Apartment Hunting Hints."
Thanks to everyone who sent suggestions.

When looking for an
accessible apartment:

*    State your needs clearly  -  use concrete terms.  Say: "I need 18 inches
     on either side of the toilet," not "I need a big bathroom."  Don't be shy
     when describing why you need a certain feature.  Knowing why helps the
     other person know if the apartment fits.

*    Don't sweat the small stuff. Be reasonable in your requirements. No home
     is perfect immediately.  Even non-disabled people must make changes to
     make a house a home.  Make sure the expensive modifications are there -
     ramping, hallway size, bathroom size, etc.  Doors can be widened and light
     switches adapted cheaply.  Under the new Fair Housing Laws, the landlord
     must allow you to make your own reasonable adaptations.

*    Opportunity knocks -  Check with your rehab commission  or independent
     living center.  Landlords often call in search of tenants.  Check display
     ads in the Sunday paper for the universal wheelchair symbol.  This symbol
     means that there are some accessible apartments in that building.  Look
     for ads in disability-related publications.

*    Get professional help -   Speak to several real estate agents.  Work with
     only one, so there is an incentive for that agent to find you a home.
     Call the office manager and ask for an agent who may have experience with
     wheelchair accessible housing.  Divide your requests into "musts" and
     "would-be-nice" features.

*    Know your rights - If you encounter discrimination, inform the landlord of
     your rights in a helpful way - don't be adversarial unless necessary.
     Disabled persons are among the newest protected classes.  Many landlords
     do not know that a companion or guide dog is not considered a pet, or that
     you're entitled to make reasonable changes to make your apartment more
     livable.  If you don't tell them, they may never know.

*    New Construction = More accessibility (usually).  Most rental housing that
     recently went into service must have some units built to accessible or
     adaptable standards.

*    Need a lift? - If you live in a high-rise building, it's good to have more
     than one elevator so that you don't get stranded if one breaks.

*    How's the neighborhood? - Check out curb-cuts and access to stores &
     transit in the area.

*    Be kind to your landlord - Appreciate enlightened landlords who maintain
     accessible housing.  Though it's the law, it's nice to have a few strokes
     for being a good, accessible landlord.  If there are other vacant
     accessible units, let people know.  If accessible homes were always
     rented, more would be built.

*    In case of emergency - Is there an alternate accessible exit?

*    Change of season - When looking at a home in summer, consider the
     accessibility when there is ice and snow on the ground.

*    Choose carefully! - so you won't have to go through this again soon.  If
     you're pleased with the home, consider a long-term lease.

*    For an accessible home, call *HomeBase Real Estate* at
     (617) 489-4812.

(c) Copyright 1991 Ronald S. Rothenberg.  The copyright holder
grants the right to reprint and distribute this article to any
non-profit group or disabilities-related newsletter.  Editors
may remove the final point, as long as credit is given in the
byline.  Please send copies of all publications including this
letter to Ron Rothenberg, P.O. Box 212, Waverly, MA 02179.

For a typeset master of a brochure of these points, send a SASE
to the address given above.

... Question Authority!  Why should I?

--
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