Designing Accessible Housing in New York State -- A Commitment to Supportive and Inclusive Housing
Release Date: 06/12/2023
Making Homes More Accessible for Disabled Children in Tennessee – How Tucker’s House transforms Houses into Homes
Accessible Housing Matters
How can the design of a home transform the daily life of a child with disabilities and have a lasting impact throughout their lifetime? How does this transformation affect their family and caregivers? This episode features Marcel Hernandez Development Director of Tucker's House, a nonprofit in Tennessee that customizes homes for disabled children. They focus on creating accessible spaces that cater to each child's needs, considering their future growth and independence. Marcel emphasizes the importance of a holistic and therapy-informed approach, not only making physical adjustments but...
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Here’s an idea: Make homes more accessible in an affordable way AND create jobs for marginalized groups at the same time!
Accessible Housing Matters
What if we could bridge the gap between accessible housing for the aging population and job creation for marginalized communities? Join us for an inspiring conversation with Kat Kabat, Director of Construction Operations at Hope Renovations, a non-profit organization transforming lives through accessible home renovations and construction training for women and genderqueer individuals. Discover how Hope Renovations is breaking down barriers, building safe living spaces, and creating a more inclusive world, one home and one career at a time. Learn how to support initiatives that...
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Living Safely in Your Home – Making Your Space More Accessible and Aging in Place
Accessible Housing Matters
Why is early and effective planning crucial for long-term home safety and independence? In this episode, Stephen interviews Janet Engel - an occupational therapist, certified aging-in-place specialist, and an executive certificate in home modification holder - to share her expertise and help people understand the importance of making their living space more accessible and safer for them to navigate. She explains how universal design features can help make life easier and stresses the importance of automation systems for those who don't do well with technology. Stephen and Janet discuss...
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Your House is “The Hub of Your Happiness” -- How Architect Aaron Murphy Empowers Housing by Advocating for “Aging in Place” for his Clients and by Coaching Other Professionals
Accessible Housing Matters
Why is it crucial to make homes more accessible for everyone? Today, Aaron Murphy, the founder of ForeverHOME, discusses how to create a safe and comfortable space for aging in place. Learn what universal design is and why it is vital to creating accessible homes for everyone. Hear how Aaron has been helping people age in place through his program and how to help those with limited financial resources access quality care. Discover what it’s like to be part of the sandwich generation and how Aaron’s own experience drives him to help others access the best care possible. Tune in...
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A Passion for Building Accessible Homes in South Florida – Meet Mike Donnelly and Garrett Mayersohn
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How do you envision a future where every community prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity in their housing options? Join us as we explore the inspiring story of Michael Donnelly and Garrett Mayersohn, two people working together to provide accessible housing for people with disabilities and seniors. They discuss their plan to market barrier-free housing as well as the Certified Aging in Place (CAP), which helps people understand how to design for accessibility in the home. They also touch on solutions that can help disabled people live more independently and have better access to...
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Designing Accessible Housing in New York State -- A Commitment to Supportive and Inclusive Housing
Accessible Housing Matters
How can you make housing more inclusive and accommodating for people with disabilities? This episode explores Ari Aufgang’s journey into creating supportive and inclusionary housing, his challenges, and the lessons he has learned along the way. He covers topics such as accessibility features for people with disabilities, how to manage public perception of inclusionary housing, and how to choose economical yet attractive elements when designing a building. Join us as we dive into understanding the needs of various populations and creating community within their designs! ...
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Accessible Housing Through Medicaid? How California’s CalAim Program Has the Potential to Change the Way We Think about Health Care Benefits
Accessible Housing Matters
Are you looking for a game-changer in healthcare and housing support? In this episode, Jacey Cooper – the California State Medicaid Director – talks about the changes being made to Medicaid in California to provide a broader range of services related to housing and accessibility. From providing community supports such as medically supportive housing and home modifications to recuperative care and rental assistance, she explains how these services are designed to help those in need remain safely housed. Hear how the CalAim initiative has successfully changed the trajectory of people’s...
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Remembering Bill Pelter, a Lifelong Disability Advocate, 1948-2023
Accessible Housing Matters
Remembering Bill Pelter Last month, our community lost one of our most beloved members. Bill Pelter was a life-long advocate for the civil rights of people with disabilities in the San Francisco Bay Area. He was wise, passionate, and tireless in his advocacy. He was also my friend. In recent years, he frequently spoke about how an aging society meant that many family members are “aging out” of their ability to care for loved ones who rely on their support and whom they have supported their whole lives. I had the immense privilege of interviewing Bill for this podcast in 2021. It was a...
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Housing Unlimited – Helping Hundreds of People in Mental Health Recovery Live Independent Lives
Accessible Housing Matters
How does providing affordable, independent housing through Housing Unlimited improve the quality of life for adults in mental health recovery? In this episode, our guest is Abe Schuchman, CEO of Housing Unlimited, a Maryland-based nonprofit that provides housing services to individuals with mental health challenges. Abe breaks down their unique shared housing model and focuses on the importance of natural support in shared living environments. He touches on the benefits of portable vouchers and stresses why focusing on people's strengths rather than weaknesses is vital. Join us in this...
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The Corporation for Independent Living – Developing Housing Opportunities for People with Disabilities in Connecticut & Massachusetts for More than 40 Years
Accessible Housing Matters
People and families thrive best when they have a place to call home and are fully included in the community. In this episode, Chris Canna dives deep into the challenges faced when providing accessible, safe housing for people with disabilities such as staffing needs and the cost of housing. He touches on CIL's work in Massachusetts & Connecticut and discusses how this is leading the way in providing accessible housing for people with disabilities, and their families and the importance of funding services. Let's dig into it! Chris Canna is the Vice President of Real Estate Development - an...
info_outlineHow can you make housing more inclusive and accommodating for people with disabilities? This episode explores Ari Aufgang’s journey into creating supportive and inclusionary housing, his challenges, and the lessons he has learned along the way. He covers topics such as accessibility features for people with disabilities, how to manage public perception of inclusionary housing, and how to choose economical yet attractive elements when designing a building.
Join us as we dive into understanding the needs of various populations and creating community within their designs!
Ariel joined his firm at 18 while still a student at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. As a close, personal consultant to Aufgang clients, Ariel provides a full range of services, including land use consultation, peer review, design services, planning, and construction administration.
[00:01 - 08:17] Opening Segment
• Designing inclusive and supportive housing in New York City
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A design firm focused on architectural design, in-house engineering, and sustainability
• 5-10% of units are adapted before opening for wheelchair accessibility
• Preference is given to disabled people for accessible units
[08:18 - 15:26] Exploring the Needs of Different Populations
• How working with nonprofit developers has educated for-profit developers
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Almost half of the clients are not-for-profit developers, bringing people with special needs
• Learning from both market-rate rental and supportive/low-income rental
• Unique design considerations for luxury housing in New York City
[15:27 - 22:23] Overcoming Challenges in Inclusionary Housing
• How Ari learned to choose economical yet functional and attractive elements for low-income housing
• The challenges of inclusionary housing in NYC
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Cultural issues and public perception
• How diverse community within the building serves everybody
[22:24 - 27:40] Understanding the Needs of Residents
• Ari's experience in residential high-rise construction
• The importance of understanding the needs of potential residents
• Ari's mother encouraged him to get a title, and he became an architect.
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Why housing has always been important to Ari
[27:41 - 31:40] Closing Segment
• Big firms are now getting into housing, which was not seen before
• Interacting with potential residents is essential to understand their needs
Key Quotes:
“Anytime we work with a particular population, one of the greatest parts of the process is learning the needs because it's never what you think it might be." - Ariel Aufgang
"You never know what people need. We have guidelines you could follow, which are great, but they are just the average. You never know what the average is." - Ariel Aufgang
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