Letter: Don't forget seniors and those with disabilities

I commend the DuPage County Board for creating a committee to look into and promote affordable housing throughout the county. I also appreciate that the Daily Herald Editorial Board spoke out in support of these efforts in their March 28 editorial. However, in their listing of people who could be positively impacted, there was a glaring omission: individuals with mobility or sensory (vision/hearing) disabilities, who often struggle to find accessible affordable housing.

Individuals with disabilities are vital, contributing members of our community and should be afforded the opportunity to live full, productive and independent lives. Accessible affordable housing will be a big step in this direction.

Accessibility in affordable housing should also be a consideration for seniors. As people age, they may need mobility or sensory aids to continue living full, independent lives. Senior housing should be built with accessibility adaptations in mind. Hallways and doorways should be wider, transitions between housing units and the outdoors smooth, and bathrooms adaptable to various grab bars, among other things.

For the hearing-impaired, using strobe lights instead of sounds for doorbells, smoke detectors and other alarms helps ensure their safety. For the visually impaired, many of whom can see some light, dark and even colors, ample light is a must.

These are just a few of the accommodations accessible housing should be able to offer.

When these kinds of accommodations can be planned for prior to building new housing units, they will be less costly in the long run. Having accessible affordable housing will allow a much broader segment of our community to be engaged and successful for many more years.

Jamie Smith

Wheaton