Maximum Accessible Housing of Ohio

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Creating the best accessible home

When Mike unexpectedly found himself paralyzed and needing an accessible home, he and his wife Mary Ann contacted MAHO. Steve Hansler, Executive Director, helped them evaluate their options and assisted them as they embarked on an extensive renovation project to make their house accessible.

The added accessibility features include a lift to carry Mike from the first to the second floor. Steve recommended creative solutions so Mike can easily enter rooms: relocating the bathroom entrance and using a curtain instead of the door, and adding width to other doorways with swing-away hinges.

These renovations have allowed Mike and Mary Ann to remain in and enjoy their home. Mary Ann reports that their home has impressed Mike’s physical therapists: “They were amazed at the thought and planning that went into the details. This is due to MAHO!” With a permanent location for the Accessible Housing Resource Center, we will be able to assist more families in creating the best accessible homes for them.

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Accessible Housing Resource Center

This program allows us to advocate for and educate about accessible housing outside of the Vistas Apartment Communities. There is a great need for accessible housing: 8.2% of Americans have a physical disability, and this number will increase as baby boomers get older. And yet, over 90% of housing stock is inaccessible to people with mobility disabilities. People with disabilities need advocates and educators who help ensure that appropriate housing is available to them.

We have held many training seminars on accessibility, universal design, and visitability for both consumers and housing professionals. However, all of our activities to date have been based upon the availability of temporary funding. At Cotman Vistas (New Circle Vistas), we can provide an actual home for the Accessible Housing Resource Center and provide training and education on a regular basis.

The Accessible Housing Resource Center benefits people with disabilities, seniors, parents of children with disabilities, caregivers, advocates, architects, contractors, government officials, and other non-profit organizations.

Training Suite

Cotman Vistas will feature a model suite to be used as a physical location for our Accessible Housing Resource Center. The Training Suite will adjoin the community room (doubling as a kitchen for tenant use) and be a place to provide training on accessible housing, universal design, and visitability. The Accessible Housing Training Suite will feature the same accessibility features as the apartments, as well as additional features and materials.

At Cotman Vistas, Northeast Ohio will have a place in which people with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers can learn about and see accessible housing. We can provide the much-needed training that will help people with disabilities access the information they need to stay in their homes and will give caregivers the resources they need to help their loved ones have a safe place to live.