Single-stair reform is gaining momentum across the U.S., with the possibility of reshaping housing accessibility, affordability, and design. By allowing taller residential buildings with a single staircase for exiting (referred to as “egress” in design), this reform could lower construction costs, create more flexible floor plans, and increase housing supply. But what does it mean for people with disabilities? While some critics raise concerns about accessibility and safety, advocates argue that well-designed single-stair buildings—equipped with elevators, fire suppression systems, and safe locations for people to gather (referred to as “areas of refuge”)—can improve housing options for disabled individuals. With cities like Seattle and New York leading the way, this movement is sparking important conversations about the future of urban housing and inclusivity.

The purpose of this Learn Center resource is to give you tangible tools to make the most of the time you have with participants in your inclusive community workshops. We’ll get into the details and best practices of running community meetings, including sample agendas and the types of activities you can include in your meetings.

Affordable housing developers must surmount an array of hurdles to bring their projects to fruition, including land use politics, funding shortfalls, rising construction costs, and layers of funding requirements. The call to also make affordable housing accessible and inclusive to people with disabilities strikes some as one leap too many. But contrary to assumptions, building with disability-forward design principles in mind makes developments more appealing to a broader range of residents, extends the usefulness of a space, and can attract new funding partners and supporters.

One in four Americans lives with a disability, yet it’s estimated that less than 6% of the national housing supply is designed to be accessible. As housing communities are created, they don’t often meet the diverse accessibility and inclusion needs of people with disabilities. While basic code and compliance measures require specific features, no holistic set of guidelines and standards define an implementable, progressive approach to design truly accessible and inclusive housing communities. Equipping designers, builders, and developers with a set of standards and a new framework for disability-forward design, that highlights accessibility and inclusion, can drastically improve housing quality and housing options for all people.

This overview walks you step-by-step through hosting your own inclusive community workshops for your housing project. It covers the type of workshops, who and how to invite participants, and accessibility of process and materials with tips and best practices throughout. This resource will give you practical insight into anchoring community workshops in inclusion and helping participants feel comfortable, welcomed and valued.

26% of people have a disability, yet it’s estimated that less than 6% of the national housing supply is designed to be accessible. The Housing Design Standards for Accessibility and Inclusion consist of over 300 Elements, which reflect design operations and choices that include development strategies, building features, or operational policies that support accessibility and inclusion. The Design Standards organize elements by Design Categories, Impact Areas, and Additional Benefits. Click to download the standards and a self-certification tool.

A home's level of accessibility affects each person’s ability to live healthy, meaningful lives. As disability-forward housing advocates, it is important to understand how housing is designed and how it is made accessible. Key topics include: how housing is designed, Building Codes, building codes and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Universal Design, and Human-centered design.

The Kelsey embarked on a nine-month organizing and predevelopment process called Together We Can Do More that focused on a clear lack of funding, strategies, and operating models to address the housing needs of adults with disabilities around the Bay Area. Cross-sector stakeholders participated in a three-part workshop series that defined the problems driving disability housing shortages, identified interventions, and designed what new solutions could and should look like in the Bay Area and beyond. The Together We Can Do More process is one that can be implemented in your own community.