Disability Advocates and AES help advance ZeroStep™ universal residential design

Disability Advocates of Kent County (DAKC), developers of ZeroStep certification, and the Alliance for Environmental Sustainability (AES) have teamed together to promote ZeroStep, a universal design certification for home and building accessibility. Their goal is to influence home construction throughout the U.S.

Twenty percent of Americans have accessibility needs, and that number is growing. Through training, education, design review, and third-party verification/certification of proper construction, ZeroStep encourages design, development, construction, and use of new and existing homes that accommodate people's needs for their entire lifespan. Thus, as people's needs change, their home remains accessible and family friendly.

ZeroStep encompasses the art and science of creating environments that are attractive, marketable, and user-friendly for people of all ages, desires, and abilities. The concept is designed for use by all family members -- young or old. The design consciously accommodates peoples' differences, not their similarities. Some aspects of ZeroStep include no-step entries, wider door widths, lower sill heights, and lower light switches.

According to DAKC Executive Director David Bulkowski, J.D., the ZeroStep certification takes "an approach to creating environments and products that are usable by all people to the greatest extent possible."
    
Disability Advocates of Kent County is a nonprofit disability rights organization whose mission is "to advocate, assist, educate, and inform on independent living options for persons with disabilities and to create a barrier-free society for all."

AES is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization with a mission of "working collaboratively to provide awareness, education, and access to sustainable building resources for individuals, experts, and leaders to encourage sustainable choices."

Get involved:

- Volunteer at DAKC.
- Donate to DAKC.
- Learn more about ZeroStep on their website.
- Learn more about AES on their website.

Sources: Jocelyn Dettloff, Development Director, Disability Advocates of Kent County; Brett Little, Executive Director, Alliance for Environmental Sustainability
Writer: Victoria Mullen, Do Good Editor

Images: Courtesy of Disability Advocates of Kent County; Alliance for Environmental Sustainability