Collaboration Services for Housing Industry Professionals

Design & build a universally accessible home (or development).

Universal design is a population-level approach to usability. This is challenging because there’s a lot of variation in how people perform everyday activities at home, especially when physical or mental impairments are present. How do you design a home that accommodates a wide range of people with health-related accessibility needs? Involve a licensed occupational therapist (OT). You get one shot when building new. Let us help you get it right.

About UD Homes ↓
About OTs ↓
What We Offer ↓
Photo of a universally accessible home under construction

What is a universally accessible home?

A universally accessible (or universally designed, i.e., UD) home is a home that’s as usable as possible by as many people as possible. The design will integrate over 150 accessible elements to make the entire home accessible for a wide range of individuals with any impairment of the body or the mind. This is why it’s important to involve an occupational therapist (OT).

About OTs ↓
What We Offer ↓

Things to keep in mind:

  • UD isn’t one-size-fits-all, but it will be usable for all people.
  • UD isn’t a design style. It’s about usability and can be applied to many different types of homes.
  • UD won’t look institutional or clinical if done well.
  • UD future-proofs homes for any accessibility needs experienced later in life.
  • UD isn’t about disability, even if people with disabilities find it a good fit for their needs.
  • UD allows households with specialized needs to use assistive technology without costly modifications.
  • UD can add costs but is direly needed, especially in spec homes & new developments.
  • UD isn’t ADA-accessible. The ADA doesn’t apply to most privately owned homes.

Occupational therapists are key to the universal design process.

No one on this planet truly understands every possible individual’s needs to create housing solutions that work for everyone. However, licensed occupational therapists (OTs) have broad, high-level perspectives about variations in human function related to many health conditions and physical & mental impairments that you’ll be hard-pressed to find from anyone else.

OTs help people learn to perform everyday activities when a health condition prevents them from doing things “normally.” One way OTs do this is by helping optimize home environments. This requires a deep understanding of (1) many health conditions that affect the body and mind and (2) how the home impacts how effectively and efficiently people carry out the tasks that make up their daily lives.

Our objective is to help you optimize the design of homes before they’re built so more people can live without unnecessary struggles.

What we offer ↓
Photo of a home designer and an occupational therapist working on a home design together.

We offer collaborative assistance through the entire process. And we stay in our lane.

There’s a big difference between a universally accessible home vs. a home with some universal design features. The goal should be for the entire home to be usable by all people. We bring the perspective about human function and health. You bring the expertise about building. Working together will be a win-win.

Let’s get a conversation started.

Pre-Design Research

Photo of a diverse group of people sitting around a table reviewing design standards.

Fast-track your design process. Our Residential Universal Design Building Code is a resource of 150+ design elements vetted by nearly 200 advisors. Know what to include in your construction documents.

View the Residential Universal Design Building Code

Pre-Construction Accessibility Review

Photo of a man standing outside of a home under construction, holding an accessibility report.

Identify costly accessibility mistakes before a hammer is lifted. Design using our Residential Universal Design Building Code. Send us your plans for review. Includes a scored report and one resubmission if necessary.

Remote Co-Design & Construction Support

Photo of two home builders huddled over a laptop with construction drawings on the table.

Engage with an occupational therapist through the universal design process, get help with product selection, and ensure accessibility is implemented effectively during the build. Fully remote, using Basecamp.

Post-Construction Accessibility Certificates

Photo of a family on the porch of their new home, holding a certificate that reads "Universally Accessible."

Get a certificate that confirms that your completed build is universally accessible. Use it for marketing, future sales, or to help investors understand your efforts. Requires photo verification or a walkthrough by one of our partners.

Discounts are available for developments and multifamily projects.