March 21, 2023 - Mayor Tom Henry’s Administration tomorrow will announce a visitability mandate for all federally funded single-family home construction projects in the City of Fort Wayne.
Highlights of the new policy:
-A minimum of one, zero-step exterior entrance
-Doors with 32 inches of clear passage space through interior doors
-One bathroom on the main floor that an individual can get into in a wheelchair
Visitability is a movement to change home construction practices so that virtually all new homes, not merely those custom-built for occupants who currently have disabilities, offer a few specific features making the home easier for mobility-impaired individuals to live in and visit.
The announcement will come as part of the ADA Amplified Symposium that will take place from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 22 at Purdue Fort Wayne’s International Ballroom, Walb Student Union. The City of Fort Wayne is honored to be part of the event led by The Inclusion Institute of The League and Indiana University Fort Wayne, with support from the AWS Foundation.
March is Disability Awareness Month. Fort Wayne and Allen County are committed to providing meaningful opportunities for individuals with disabilities. As a community, we still have work to do, but we’re confident that local government and the general public will continue to recognize the important contributions that are made each day by the local disability community. Individuals with disabilities are making a positive difference in leadership positions on boards and commissions, and at work, school, and home.
Earlier this month, the Allen County Board of Commissioners and Mayor Henry renewed their annual commitment to proclaim March as Disability Awareness Month. The Commissioners and Mayor Henry applauded the work of the Fort Wayne-Allen County Disability Advisory Council, a local community panel established to recommend appropriately inclusive policies procedures, and programs that enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities in our community.