A group of western New York real estate agents are being trained to spot houses that would best meet the sensory needs of those with autism.
Through a partnership with a local nonprofit autism service provider, 14 real estate agents from a group of Buffalo-area Coldwell Banker offices are learning what attributes make a house sensory-friendly. They’re being trained to look at factors like a home’s lighting, colors and floor plan and whether or not a house has sidewalks outside. Moreover, they’re taking note of how much traffic there is in the neighborhood and how accessible the area may be.
Homes with attributes that are conducive to those with autism will be given a designation of “sensory smart environment” from the nonprofit, reports Business First of Buffalo. To read more click here.
This is a start, but the laws themselves need to change to require that all new subdivisions throughout America be built with sidewalks, that most or all of the housing be visitable if not accessible, and a percentage accessible, and, most importantly, that the lift bus can get down the street and has space to turn around or get out. There also needs to be an end to single exit subdivisions for safety reasons. Emergency responders need to be able to get in and out freely.
The idea of autism friendly housing is good, but I think an approach in addition to making them suitable for autistic children needs to be considered. Autistic children become autistic adults. They need sensory friendly housing just as much as the kids do.
If the federal government would offer grants or tax breaks to developers that offer sensory smart and accessible housing, they will appear. If the requirement is that they be integrated into the subdivisions, they will be integrated.
A few years ago a condo complex was being built near me and some of us grilled the developers about accessibility issues. Both the local high school located next door to the development, and the feeder middle school had large special education programs, but the developers seemed totally unaware that there was not room on the streets of the complex for the door-to-door bus service provided for special needs students and thought all the children living there could just catch the buses at the entrance to the gated “community”. A whole lot needs to be done in the area of housing accessibility.