Online Materials

Barrier-Free Design Guide (PDF File)

Access Design Standards (PDF File)

People with Physical Disabilities and [In]appropriate Housing in Calgary (PDF File)

For information on funding for home renovations, potential contractors, or lift and elevator vendors, please email ot@ahscalgary.ca or call 403-735-2428.

Books

The below books are available at the Society’s main office located at #215 1212-31st Ave NE.

High-Access Home: Design and Decoration for Barrier-Free Living Charles A. Riley II, 1999. An architectural and design movement called Universal Design promotes high access – making a single space accessible to everyone. Practical advice for converting your home for accessible living is offered room by room.

Gracious Spaces: Universal Interiors by Design Irma Dobkin & Mary Jo Peterson, 1999. With more than 150 illustrations and numerous case studies, this book explains how aesthetically pleasing universal design can accommodate the least able user, provide physical access to most, and be used to create homes that can serve across life stages and express their owners’ personalities.

Accessible Housing by Design Steven Winter Associates, 1997. A practical implementation guide to designing residences that offer all the important features of universal design and barrier-free access for modest or no additional cost. Included are 100 colour photographs, architectural plans, and detailed line drawings of residences of all types and in all price categories.

Building Sight by Peter Barker, Jon Barrick, & Rod Wilson, 1995 A handbook of building and design solutions to include the needs of visually impaired people.

Housing Options for Disabled People by Ruth Bull, 1998 Describes the process for modifying existing housing or relocating, identifying professionals involved with emphasis on the role of the occupational therapist. It also describes effective planning of new housing projects, principles of good practice for adapting existing homes, problem solving, and empowering the client.

Aging in the Designed Environment by Margaret A. Christenson Describes age-related physical and sensory changes and how to compensate for these changes through environmental design.

Flex Housing: Homes That Adapt to Life’s Changes This magazine developed by Canada Mortgage and Housing is packed with information about interior and exterior FlexHousing features. Richly illustrated with colour photographs and detailed drawings. More information on renting, buying, building and renovating homes is available on the CMHC website.

The 1995 Accessible Building Product Guide by John Salmen, AIA, and Julee Quarve-Peterson Lists products and manufacturers for barrier-free design to accommodate individuals with mobility, hearing, or sight impairments. Each category describes the product, how it is used, and criteria to help determine the most suitable product for you.

Housing Interiors for the Disabled and Elderly by Bettyann Betticher Raschko Provides information on barrier-free design, assistive devices and equipment to enable individuals with mobility, hearing or sight impairments to function independently and safely in their own home.

See also some AHS Library picks for accessible traveling.

To access information about the AHS Library, contact AHS at (403) 282-1872.