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Housing

UCP’s Housing Channel provides information on housing options, legal and policy issues, and resources on the civil rights of people with developmental, cognitive and physical disabilities regarding housing issues.

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Housing

Home Modification

One-Two-Three-A-B-C for Bathrooms

How to Get Residential Modifications Done for a Person with a Disability

STEP ONE: SCOPE THE PROBLEM

  1. Evaluate extent of bathroom modification needed for person with disability. (e.g., roll-in shower, bathtub seat, grab bars, non-slip surfaces, type of toilet, door widening, sink-shower controls, etc.)
  2. Get a prescription of "medical necessity" or a well-written recommendation from a professional (OT, PT, ST/rehabilitation specialist/engineer). Get the medical order or recommendation to be specific to the need.
  3. Get three estimates of what the work will cost from a contractor and figure out how to pay for it (public and private funding or a mixture).

    GO TO STEPS TWO AND THREE--------------->

    IF renting, work with landlord or management company. Get some kind of approval in writing to do the work. If the landlord or management company flatly refuses to do the work or won't give permission, get the denial in writing. Meet with your regional Fair Housing Act (FHA) agency people if necessary. Note that it is legal to make disability accommodations within a rental but landlords can require restoration of apartment to pre-accommodation status when disabled tenant leaves. IF you are about to rent or about to buy a place, negotiate with builder/seller to have bathroom modified in the lease or condo or purchase agreement.

  4. Conduct "been there, done that, this is what works locally" trainings afterwards naming the agencies & persons who helped. Charge a fee for the service.
  5. Get positive publicity or news stories for landlords, contractors or funders who do it right or who contribute/donate resources.

STEP TWO: FIGURING OUT HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE

Note that currently few individuals or companies know how to do this as it is "a custom job."

  1. Contact local Center for Independent Living or a UCP Affiliate or similar disability services organization to obtain advice and referrals on designing and contracting for a modification.
  2. Contact any of the funding sources recommended in Step Three and see who they suggest might be able to do the job locally.
  3. Ask other people with disabilities, or families that have a person with a disability, who they have used, or who they would use, to accomplish the task.
  4. Contact a Builders' Association or Building Owners & Managers Association to locate qualified home modification contractors or subcontractors familiar with Americans With Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG) standards, or state building code rules and regulations, for such modifications.
  5. Contact contractor directly. Ask for three references for similar work and check them out. Work out a written contract (typically, 1/3 paid up front, the rest in installments but if publicly funded, explain to them how payment will work). It may require paying upfront and getting reimbursement or an out-of-pocket deposit.
  6. Supervise the work.

STEP THREE: HOW TO PAY FOR IT

  1. Private Funds
    • Personal funds: Save up for it out of earnings or SSI/SSDI check (upt to $2,000 resources limit).
    • Take it is a medical deduction on Schedule A of income tax form at end of year.
    • Take it as an Impairment Related Work Expense on Form 1040 income tax return at end of year if work-related.
    • Get contributions/donations/in-kind work from others (family members, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club, other private foundations or community service groups, churches, sorority/fraternity service organizations or craftsmen's unions).
    • Private Health Insurance: Read policy and/or call to see if they will pay for it. Show them the prescription. If they say no, get a written "letter of denial" to take to public or other sources.
  2. Public Funds
    • Vocational Rehabilitation: Get on VR's "independent living" case load. Present modification as "needed for being on the job".
    • State Tech Act program: Ask for assistance on evaluating equipment and what, how and who in the state can fund, build or demo this. Follow the trail!
    • Independent Living Center: Contact them for Information & Referral on funding & resources that support "independent living in the community".
    • Medicaid Funding/Social Services: If on Medicaid, check to see if this is a covered item in the state's plan and if provider will allow. Contact county or city welfare/Social Services case worker for Medicaid eligibility (e.g., a WAIVER) even if not on SSI.
    • Housing Agency: Contact public housing authority (Office of Community Services, Supportive Services, Section 8, etc). Ask "is there low income assistance for housing modifications for people w/disabilities?"
  3. Combine Private/Public Funds
    • Personal $$ can be used along with public money. Leverage one for the other.

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