From the Columbus [OH] Dispatch:

Rosemarie Rossetti and husband Mark Leder are building a universal design home outside Columbus, Ohio, which will double as their residence and a laboratory showcasing the latest accessible features. Rossetti, 56, was paralyzed from the waist down in an accident in 1998. The couple became frustrated when they couldn’t find a home that was suitable for someone in a wheelchair.

“I want it to be a catalyst for change in the building industry,” said Rossetti, a motivational speaker and writer.

The home, which will include features such as an elevator to the basement, extra-wide hallways, and lever handles on doors and faucets, will be available for tours and gatherings for architects, builders and others interested in universal design.

“Our intent is to have small groups for learning,” Rossetti said. “I want builders to recognize a need for universal design — that it is a design whose time has come for them to embrace it.”

This entry was posted on Saturday, September 26th, 2009 at 7:26 am and is filed under accessibility, design. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.