An annual thing DAC NW does is present to University of Idaho students of Art and Architecture about universal design and inclusion. This year we presented something new – Accessible Tourism.
As baby boomers age the population of people with disabilities is expected to grow by 2030 and represents about $64 billion of economic impact from this populations disposable income for things like travel. We wanted to address the accessibility issues of lodgings as part of their interior design planning. Incorporating visitability at the planning stages will only increase costs by around 1%.
Hotels and motels are public accommodations and have to comply with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). But Air BnB type lodgings are typically in a private home and do not have to comply. Out of 1.5 million short term rentals only about 1500 are fully accessible.
As the trend grows to build Air BnB’s into their homes as a fund generator enabling people to age in place, we provided examples of how to do so and make them accessible too. We provided detailed information on accessibility for all kinds of disabilities, not just mobility.
We started with accessible off street parking for a van and a ramp for access to a zero
threshold entrance. On the interior we included tips for an accessible kitchen with various counter heights, roll under sinks and stoves and appliances within the 48″ height limit. Bathrooms were included with accessible roll in showers, grab bars and reachable shelving.
It extended to considering anxiety and autism with tips for muted colors, dimmable lighting, fragrance free, and noise machines in the bedrooms.
“You taught the students lessons about not only physical access and choices in Airbnb but also the logistics and ethics of the practice, and you facilitated a meaningful conversation about the meaning of what we do or allow to be done,” said Dr. Rula Awaad-Rafferty. “Above all, you stressed the importance of access and inclusion from humanistic, social, physical, and economic points of view.”
For more information you can visit BecomingRentAble.