Housing and Community Development

A disability is defined, in part, as a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities; a record of having such an impairment; or being regarded as having such an impairment.

A Public Housing resident may request a change in his or her current unit or trnsfer to a unit that has already been changed (in the resident's development or another development). An applicant, resident, or program participant may request assistance with, or change in, a HCD practice, rule, policy, procedure, program or service.

HCD will work with the applicant, resident or program participant to determine how to provide the reasonable accomondation request. HCD may require documentation to suport the reasonable accomondation request(s).

1. The following is the name of the household member with a disability who needs a reasonable accomodation:

2. Because of the above household member's disability, the following change(s) or assistance (reasonable accoodation) is necessary so that the individual can participate in a Housing and Community Development (HCD) housing assistance program as easily or successfuly as other program participants. 

Note: Individuals may obtain a copy of the HCD Reasonable Accomodation Policies and Procedures, upon request, from Applicant and Leasing Center Eligibility Interviewers, Public Housing Site Managers, Section 8 Leasing and Contract Specialists, and the Section 504/ADA Coordinator. You may also get additional copies of this request from the Section 504/ADA Coordinator:

Section 504/ADA Coordinator

Overtown Transit Village

701 NW 1 Court, 16th Floor

Miami, FL 33136

Telephone: 786-469-2155 Fax: 786-469-4117

Florida Relay Service TDD/TTY: 800-955-8771

E-mail: ada.coordinator@miamidade.gov

ASC/05/5110

EXAMPLES OF REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS

The following list of reasonable accomodation methods are examples that may constitute reasonable accomodations for individual Housing and Community Development (HCD) applicants, residents, and program participants. These accomodations may not necessarily be "reasonable" for all individuals. In addition, each accomodation may not be aaivilable to every applicant, resident in every unit and/or in every development, and program participants.

Examples of Modifications Which Constitute a Reasonable Accommodation

Section 504 states that the design, construction or alteration of buildings in conformance with §§ 3-8 of the Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards (UFAS) Appendix A to 24 C.F.R. § 40, shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of 24 C.F.R. $$ 8.21; 8.22; 8.23 and 8.25. However, the UFAS citations noted below are provided as a reference to assist in providing a reasonable accomodation and are not intented to govern every request for a modiciation. In order to meet the inidividual's specific disability-related need(s), HCD may need to deviate from the UFAS. In asstion, the reference to a UFAS section does not require all elements in that section to be made accessible. Rather, only the specific reasonable accomodation ite requested is require to be assible per the needs of the inidicual requesting the reasonable accomodation.

However, some modfications may not be structurally feasible in all units or all developments; in addition, some moficiations may represent an undue financial and administrative burden. In such situations, the requirement to provide a reasonable accommodation is not alleviated, but must be provided by some other means such as transferring a family with a disabled member to a unit/development where the reasonable accomodation can be provided. Nevertheless, HCD will work with each qualified resident with a disability who requests a reasonable accomodation in order to identify a reasonable, effective and appropriate accomodation.

Common Areas1 -

• Add edge protection to ramps and ramp landings with drop-offs

• Widen doors

• Provide accessible, lever-type door hardware

• Re-hang door to lay flat against a wall when opened

• Re-hang door to swing outward instead of into the accessible space

• Provide accessible or adjustable closet rods and shelves

• Provide lever faucets in public restrooms

• Provide grab bars in public restrooms

• Provide accessible toilets in public restrooms

• Lower mirrors in public restrooms

• Provide extra electrical outlets for TDD/TTY equipment

• Provide heavier electrical circuits to accommodate higher wattage bulbs for individuals with visual impairments

• Provide visual alarms for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing

• Provide accessible cabinets and countertops in public kitchens

• Provide accessible appliances [i.e., refrigerator, oven, stove] in public kitchens

• Elevators shall be located on an accessible route

• Residential or fully enclosed wheelchair lifts may be used, when appropriate, and when approved by local administrative authoritis. See UFAS §§ 4.10.1; 4.11

Elevators (2)

 

1. Common Areas include, but are not limited to: PHA offices, including management and regional offices; private management company offices; community room; senior center; meeting room; mail room; laundry room; trash disposal; and, day care facilities.

2. Accessible elevators shall be on an assile route and shall comply with UFAS § 4.10 and with the American National Standard Safety Code for Elevators, Dumbwaiters, Escalators and Moving Walks, ANSI A17.1-1978 and A17.1a-1979. See UFAS § 4.10; Figures 20 22 and 23. An "accessible route" is a continuous, unobstrcutered UFAS-compliant path as prescrived in 24 C.F.R. §§ 8.3 and 8.32 and UFAS § 4.3.

Building Entrances and Accessible Routes (3) -

• Accessible signage;

• Add edge protection to ramps and ramp landings with drop-offs

• Widen doors

• Provide accessible, lever-type door hardware

• Re-hang door to lay flat against a wall when opened

• Re-hang door to swing outward instead of into the accessible space

• Add or adjust door closures

• Provide lever faucets in public restrooms

• Provide grab bars in public restrooms

• Provide accessible toilets in public restrooms

• Lower mirrors in public restrooms

• Provide extra electrical outlets for TDD/TTY equipment

• Provide heavier electrical circuits to accommodate higher wattage bulbs for individuals with visual impairments

• Provide visual alarms for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing

• Providing contrasting paint on doors, around doorways, at windows, baseboards and/or stairs/risers for individuals with visual impairments

• Provide an accessible route into a building

3. At least (one) 1 accessible route complying with UFAS § 4.3 shall be provided within the boundary of the site from public transporation stops, accessible parking spaces, passenger loading zones, if provided, and public streets or sidewalks to an accessible bulding enterance. See UFAS §§ 4.1.1(1); 4.3. In ddition, UFAS requires that at least one (1) accessible route complying with UFAS § 4.3 shall connect accessible building or facility enterances with all accessible spaces and elements within the building or facility. See UFAS §§ 4.1.2(1); 4.3.

Trash Disposal Facilities –

• Provide accessible route into and through trash disposal facilities; or, provide an equally-effective accommodation such as personal trash disposal by housing staff

Laundry Facilities -

• Provide accessible route into and through common-use laundry facilities. Provide at least one (1) front loading washer and one (1) front-loading dryer in public-use laundry facilities4; or, provide an equally effective accommodation such as the provision of a front-loading washer and dryer in resident’s unit; or, provision of laundry services at PHA’s expense

Mail Delivery/Mail Boxes - • Provide accessible route into and through mail boxes/mail facilities. Provide mailbox at lower height, upon request; or, provide equally effective accommodation such as home delivery.5

Apartment Entrance and Interior Doors –

• Widen doors

• Provide accessible, lever-type door hardware

• Re-hang door to lay flat against a wall when opened

• Re-hang door to swing outward instead of into the accessible space

• Add or adjust door closure speed

• Adjust door opening force required for pushing/pulling the door

• Provide lower peep holes or “telescoped” peep holes

• Provide a visual door knocker for individuals with hearing impairments

• Providing contrasting paint on doors, around doorways, at windows, baseboards and/or stairs/risers for individuals with visual impairments

• Provide ramp from accessible route to accessible entrance into unit

4 If laundry equipment is provided within individual dwelling units, or if separate laundry facilities serve one or more accessible dwelling units, then they shall meet the requirements of UFAS §§ 4.34.71 through 4.34.7.3.

5 “Cluster boxes”, common in multi-family housing developments, are routinely placed in sequential order. However, if a customer is unable to access his/her mailbox due to a disability, the customer may submit a request under the U.S. Postal Service’s “Hardship Clause” and request the relocation of the mailbox to a lower, accessible level. According to § 631.42 of the U.S. Postal Service “Postal Operations Manual”, the customer submits the “Hardship Clause” request directly to his/her postal delivery person; the delivery person then submits the request to his/her manager. The manager evaluates the individual request and takes appropriate action. If the postal service is unable to relocate the mailbox, the postal service may provide an alternate accommodation such as door delivery.

Apartment Light Switches & Electrical Outlets -

• Lower electrical switches and/or raise electrical outlets6

• Provide extra electrical outlets for TDD/TTY equipment or other equipment utilized by individuals with disabilities

• Provide heavier electrical circuits to accommodate higher wattage bulbs for individuals with visual impairments

• Lower thermostat controls

• Lower circuit breakers, when located in unit

Apartment Interior -

• Provide extra electrical outlets for TDD/TTY equipment or other equipment utilized by individuals with disabilities

• Provide heavier electrical circuits to accommodate higher wattage bulbs for individuals with visual impairments

• Provide visual and audible alarms for individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing; and, provide visual alarms in each room of unit (7)

• Provide windows which requires five pounds or less of opening force; provide crank type opening mechanism with large levers, when feasible

• Provide accessible storage spaces, including lowering clothes rods and/or adjustable closet shelves. Accessible storage spaces shall comply with UFAS § 4.25; Fig. 38

Apartment Kitchens (8) -

• Lower kitchen sink

• Provide lever type hardware on kitchen faucet

• Provide accessible kitchen cabinets; provide accessible hardware on kitchen cabinets

• Provide accessible kitchen counters and work space

If the following items are provided to non-disabled residents in a development:

• Provide accessible refrigerators. See UFAS § 4.34.6.8

• Provide accessible ovens. See UFAS § 4.34.6.7

• Provide accessible dishwashers. See UFAS § 4.34.6.9

6 The highest operable part of all controls, dispensers, receptacles, and other operable equipment shall be placed within at least one of the reach ranges specified in §§ 4.2.5 and 4.2.6. Except where the use of special equipment dictates otherwise, electrical and communications system receptacles on walls shall be mounted no less than 15” above the finish floor. See UFAS § 4.27.3

7 If emergency warning systems are provided, they shall include both audible alarms complying with UFAS § 4.28.2 and visual alarms complying with UFAS § 4.28.3. See UFAS § 4.1.2 (13)

8 Accessible or adaptable kitchens and their components shall be on an accessible route and shall comply with the requirements of UFAS § 4.34.6. However, the PHA will not be required to make all elements of the kitchen accessible, unless requested by the resident with a disability. Rather, the resident may request specific accessible kitchen elements.

Apartment Bathrooms (9) -

• Provide wider door

• Provide lever type hardware on lavatory faucet

• Lower wash basin

• Lower mirror

• Provide accessible toilet

• Relocate toilet paper dispenser

• Provide grab bars at toilet

• Provide grab bars at bathtub and/or shower

• Provide seat in bathtub or shower

• Provide hand-held shower device

• Relocate bathtub and/or shower controls

• Provide roll-in shower or shower/bathtub seat

Examples of Non-structural Reasonable Accommodations

• Offering documents in accessible formats (e.g., large type, computer disk or Braille) and in plain language.

• Permitting rent payments and required communications to be mailed rather than delivered in person.

• Providing another housing offer if an applicant, resident or program participant can demonstrate good cause that the rejection of the initial housing offer, for example, was because of the disability of an applicant, resident or program participant’s household member.

• Providing auxiliary aids, such as pencil and paper for those with speech difficulties, Telecommunication Device for the Deaf (TDD), Assisted Listening Device (ALD), a qualified sign language interpreter, or a reader, when necessary for effective communication between PHCD and an applicant, resident or program participant.

• Sending mail or making phone calls to a person designated as a contact person by the person with disabilities.

• Allowing the use of assistive animals.

• Allowing a live-in aide to reside in an appropriately-sized dwelling unit.

• Permitting an outside agency or family member to assist an applicant, resident or program participant in meeting screening criteria or meeting essential lease obligations.

9 Accessible or adaptable bathrooms shall be on an accessible route and shall comply with UFAS § 4.34.5. However, the PHA will not be required to make all elements of the bathroom accessible, unless requested by the resident with a disability. Rather, the resident may request specific accessible bathroom elements.