Your university’s logo here Craig Ravesloot & Lillie Greiman Question:  How many people with mobility impairments have poor access to their homes and transportation? The American Housing Survey–2009

Your university’s logo here Results There are 7.3 million American households that have someone age with a mobility impairment. – Over 50% have steps at the entry of their home – 28% live in a multistory apartment building and over 40% of these people climb a flight of stars to get home (almost 1 million people) – 11% have no access to transportation Over 37 million housing units occupied by people age have a no step entry (42%)

Your university’s logo here Policy Implications Home is the onramp for community living. For the majority of people with mobility impairments, it is not easy to leave home and for 15% it is either difficult or impossible. Theoretically, there is enough housing stock that can be accessed, but people with mobility impairments don’t have access to it. How can we get more people with mobility impairments into the housing stock that has at least “front door” accessibility?

Your university’s logo here Practice Implications Don’t assume people have basic access in and out of their homes Many interventions (e.g., vocational rehabilitation, physical therapy) will be more successful when basic housing access is assessed and problems addressed Behavioral economics suggests that as the cost of leaving home increases, treatment adherence may decrease

Your university’s logo here Consumer Implications There probably is enough accessible housing, but people must be good self-advocates to get into it. Section 504 of the Rehab Act has provisions for moving people out of accessible apartments when they are needed by someone with a disability. This provision should used. This may be a good provision for reauthorization of the Fair Housing Act.

Your university’s logo here Questions to Address What is the impact of not having easy access out of your home on other variables like need for personal assistance services and health conditions including mental health? How can we get more people with mobility impairments into our accessible housing stock? Who should be helping people evaluate their need for accessible housing?

Your university’s logo here Steps at entrance

Your university’s logo here No Transportation available or nearby

Your university’s logo here Cars available for household use

Your university’s logo here Urban (inside MSA)Rural (outside MSA) Urban-Rural Comparison of Transportation Access.