{"id":4943,"date":"2025-02-18T12:30:04","date_gmt":"2025-02-18T12:30:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/?p=4943"},"modified":"2025-04-09T10:23:04","modified_gmt":"2025-04-09T10:23:04","slug":"building-a-better-future-the-importance-of-accessible-housing-for-all","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/building-a-better-future-the-importance-of-accessible-housing-for-all\/","title":{"rendered":"Building a Better Future: The Importance of Accessible Housing for All"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"4943\" class=\"elementor elementor-4943\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fb4f78c elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-items-middle\" data-id=\"fb4f78c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-background-overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-cf8a0bc\" data-id=\"cf8a0bc\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-721af21 elementor-invisible elementor-widget elementor-widget-theme-post-title elementor-page-title elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"721af21\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;_animation&quot;:&quot;fadeInUp&quot;,&quot;_animation_delay&quot;:300}\" data-widget_type=\"theme-post-title.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Building a Better Future: The Importance of Accessible Housing for All<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-26c6a31\" data-id=\"26c6a31\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-714ee7a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"714ee7a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-94ef759\" data-id=\"94ef759\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-01b39e6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"01b39e6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b36c1ee elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-info\" data-id=\"b36c1ee\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-info.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-inline-items elementor-icon-list-items elementor-post-info\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item elementor-repeater-item-5b4e2a4 elementor-inline-item\" itemprop=\"datePublished\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/2025\/02\/18\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-calendar\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text elementor-post-info__item elementor-post-info__item--type-date\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<time>February 18, 2025<\/time>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-98088e9 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"98088e9\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d1715c6\" data-id=\"d1715c6\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8932b4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"e8932b4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-1024x768.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4945\" alt=\"A Modern Accessible Bathroom Design with Safety Features including contrasted handrails.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-1024x768.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-300x225.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-768x576.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-1536x1152.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_1035329293-2048x1536.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-92e8715\" data-id=\"92e8715\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-efc6e79 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"efc6e79\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ever since the pandemic occurred half a decade ago, the way we use our homes has shifted significantly. That is to say, in addition to being our nest, the global shift in attitude towards working from home has transformed our personal sanctuaries into workplaces. For<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">\u00a0disabled people across the country, this has been a great leveller has opened up access through increased online activity in a way the built environment has not. In 2025, it is no longer necessary to visit banks, supermarkets, or the high street to do everyday tasks such as shopping, financial management, or indeed working within the confines of a large office.<\/span><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight ); color: #000000;\">With companies everywhere adopting home working as a cost-saving measure, accessibility within the home has never been more crucial. It has highlighted the importance of accessible environments for not only disabled people, but also the elderly, as well as individuals with sensory disabilities, who might struggle in traditional environments.<\/span><\/p><p>Alarmingly, despite the importance of an accessible home to the majority of disabled people, it is estimated that there are 400,000 disabled people in England alone living in homes that are neither accessible nor adapted to suit their specific requirements. With global housing and disability employment crisis in effect, the severity of the issue cannot be understated.\u00a0<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">(Habinteg: The Hidden Housing Market, 2016) has even highlighted links between the lack of accessible housing provision and unemployment of disabled people, highlighting p<\/span><span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">otential economic benefits.<\/span><\/p><p>So what do we mean by an accessible home?<\/p><p>What comes to mind first is normally wheelchair accessible housing. While there is certainly a demand for this, accessible &#8220;future&#8221; homes encompass much more; embedding basic accessible design features from the outset and saving building managers from adding costly modifications after the fact.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd56615 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd56615\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1ffec78\" data-id=\"1ffec78\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb90a54 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bb90a54\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>For the resident, they offer attractive, sustainable environments with good space standards &#8211; regardless of disability. Accessible housing can contribute to improved mental health and overall well-being by providing individuals with a sense of stability and security. Having long-term accommodation that meets their needs fosters a consistent and supportive living environment.<\/p><p>Direct Access has collaborated with various local councils to enhance accessible housing, ranging from renovated care homes on the Isle of Man to the City of London&#8217;s entire list of housing estates, as well as consultation on new developments like the Benwell Deane Housing Estate in Newcastle. Below, we have listed a handful of some of the most frequently occurring recommendations we make to building owners looking to develop inclusive and accessible housing (and much of it can also be applied to creating accessible hotel rooms and accommodations).<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e9e6cb4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e9e6cb4\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2b7b458\" data-id=\"2b7b458\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-834b18d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"834b18d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Kerbless Shower<\/strong><\/p><p>Wheelchair users require significant turning space in order to maneuver throughout their households, with wider approach routes and overall space than the average apartment or house provides. One of the key areas that require this is the shower, which we recommend is kerbless as standard. A permanent seat within the shower as well<span style=\"font-family: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-family ), Sans-serif; font-size: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-size ); font-weight: var( --e-global-typography-text-font-weight );\">\u00a0as a contrasted, vertical 600mm grab-rail should be fitted to the shower with its lower end no higher than 800mm from floor level. This particular design feature benefits elderly individuals who may not be comfortable standing for too long, as well as individuals with more severe mobility impairments.<\/span><\/p><p><strong>Lever Style Taps<\/strong><\/p><p>Traditional push or twist style taps require significant physical input on part of the user to operate, particularly when the tap is tight-fitting. The best practice solution to this we recommend is to simply provide lever style taps instead, which allows individuals with arthritis or dexterity impairments to manually operate the taps with the least amount of physical effort. Additionally, all taps should provide clear indication of which tap is hot and cold.<\/p><p><strong>Flooring and carpets<\/strong><\/p><div class=\"WaaZC\"><div class=\"RJPOee EIJn2\"><div class=\"rPeykc\" data-hveid=\"CAMQAQ\" data-ved=\"2ahUKEwismteYlM2LAxVWVaQEHfdhA9sQo_EKegQIAxAB\"><p>&#8220;Flush flooring&#8221; refers to a flooring installation method where the floor is installed so that it is level with the surrounding surfaces, like walls or other flooring, creating a seamless and even transition. For ambulant disabled people and wheelchair users, this style of flooring is preferred as it results in no obstructions which could otherwise cause a disabled homeowner to trip and have an accident. For any doormats and carpets, we frequently recommend that these also be flush with the floor (or fitted if this is not possible) to ensure resident safety.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><p><strong>Lowered beds and lifts<\/strong><\/p><p>For accessible beds, we recommend that the mattress height aligns as much as possible with a standard wheelchair cushion height, as bed height is crucial for a smooth and comfortable transfer for wheelchair users. This also reduces strain and helps prevent injury. Furthermore, installing a ceiling or portable lift can provide additional assistance where the transfer may be more difficult, offering both more independence and safety for the user. Providing adjustable beds can also assist in this.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc1fab0\" data-id=\"fc1fab0\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-156f7c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"156f7c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2279346473-600x600.jpg\" class=\"attachment-gform-image-choice-lg size-gform-image-choice-lg wp-image-4949\" alt=\"A fully wheelchair accessible hotel bathroom with a shower, pull-down seating, lowered hand wash basin and a flush threshold.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2279346473-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2279346473-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2279346473-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/shutterstock_2279346473-400x400.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c442686 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c442686\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b43918b\" data-id=\"b43918b\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ba7f545 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ba7f545\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" src=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-1024x683.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4950\" alt=\"A close up of a white light switch with an adjustable light diming switch.\" srcset=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-1024x683.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-1536x1024.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/AdobeStock_568038458-2048x1365.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-50 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-043b3f4\" data-id=\"043b3f4\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ecf59c5 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ecf59c5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><strong>Split Height Kitchens and Worktops<\/strong><\/p><p>We spend a significant portion of time throughout our lives preparing and eating meals in the kitchen, yet many worktops and tables are inaccessible to wheelchair users and people of short stature due to their high height. As standard, we recommend split height kitchen worktops and tables offer a section of a lowered height with a clear recess underneath. This allows wheelchair users to easily approach and also accommodates children and shorter individuals in general. Kitchen areas should feature a worktop at 850mm height that includes an 800mm long section with a clear space beneath the depth of the work surface and at least 700mm in height.<\/p><p><strong>Adjustable lighting<\/strong><\/p><p>Living rooms should be designed with a variety of design options that are customisable to the individual\u2019s sensory needs, particularly individuals with neurodivergent conditions such as hyperacusis or autism. Each design aspect should have both low and high stimuli options to accommodate both hypersensitive and hyposensitive needs. Lighting can therefore be taken into consideration through the installation of adjustable lighting with switches that require the least amount of physical effort to operate.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ea8707a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ea8707a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b5b3935\" data-id=\"b5b3935\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0e53612 elementor-post-navigation-borders-yes elementor-widget elementor-widget-post-navigation\" data-id=\"0e53612\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"post-navigation.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Post Navigation\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__prev elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/news\/driving-inclusion-how-greater-manchesters-bus-network-is-leading-the-way-in-accessible-transport\/\" rel=\"prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-prev\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-left\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Prev<\/span><\/span><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__prev\"><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--label\">Previous<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__prev--title\">Driving Inclusion &#8211; How Greater Manchester\u2019s Bus Network is Leading the Way in Accessible Transport<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__separator\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-post-navigation__next elementor-post-navigation__link\">\n\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/directaccessgp.com\/uk\/case-studies\/zero-emissions-vehicles-ireland\/\" rel=\"next\"><span class=\"elementor-post-navigation__link__next\"><span class=\"post-navigation__next--label\">Next<\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__next--title\">Zero Emissions Vehicles Ireland &#8211; Accessibility Audits &#038; Consultation<\/span><\/span><span class=\"post-navigation__arrow-wrapper post-navigation__arrow-next\"><i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i><span class=\"elementor-screen-only\">Next<\/span><\/span><\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section data-particle_enable=\"false\" data-particle-mobile-disabled=\"false\" class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e728e73 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e728e73\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88c3afb\" data-id=\"88c3afb\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ever since the pandemic occurred half a decade ago, the way we use our homes has shifted significantly. That is to say, in addition to being our nest, the global shift in attitude towards working from home has transformed our personal sanctuaries into workplaces. For\u00a0disabled people across the country, this has been a great leveller [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":4944,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[27],"class_list":["post-4943","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-accessibility-guidance"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Building a Better Future: The Importance of Accessible Housing for All - Direct Access<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The importance of accessible housing cannot be overstated. 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