City of Salina Booklet - What Do You Require When Looking For Accessible Housing

1. What Do You Require When Looking For Accessible Housing?
Introduction
There are three (3) federal laws that relate to the protection of people with disabilities from
discriminatory housing practices.
They are:
1. The Fair Housing Act
The Fair Housing Act prohibits discrimination based on disability by prohibiting discriminatory
housing practices;
Requiring reasonable accommodations and reasonable modifications be made; and
Requiring certain construction standards for multi-family dwellings built for first time occupancy
after March 1991.
2. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act
Any public housing or public assisted housing provider that receives federal dollars is covered
under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
3. The Americans with Disabilities Act Title II and Title III
Title II of the ADA covers all “public entities” state and local governments regardless of whether
they receive federal funding.
Title III of the ADA covers offices, public areas and parking lots,
A. Title III of the ADA covers any location open to the public, including but not limited to
parking lots, management office and public meeting rooms.
B. There are standards for building and design, but each person with a disability has unique
needs to allow them equal access to living independently. It could mean accessibility on a
certain level to someone with mobility impairment, and accessibility on a very different level to
someone with a visual impairment. It means something different to someone who uses a
wheelchair that to one who uses crutches. It means something different to someone who is blind
than to one who has a visual impairment.
People who are not disabled and people with disabilities may look for the same thing; the
location and availability of good public transportation for example or the cleanliness or safety of
the neighborhood.
It is for you to decide what is at the top of your priority list and which issues are of lesser
importance. Ask yourself if location is more important that affordability. Combining

2. accessibility, affordability and location is not an easy tack. You may decide to spend your own
money to change door knobs, put in an electric stove or add lighting. Where there is federal
funding is available, it maybe the landlord’s responsibility to make the needed modifications to
the unit.
C. Generally, you are responsible for any reasonable accommodation you want to make to the
unit in order to have full use of the apartment. However, you should get approval for any
physical changes prior to making them from your landlord.
What follows are descriptions and lists of housing-related elements important to people with
disabilities who wish to find and live in accessible housing. Read all of the following sections.
Add to them if you wish, for these lists are not complete.
Use this guide as a tool to assist you in making an informed housing choice.
For People with Mobility Disabilities
Neighborhood
Public transportation and safety:
If you use public transportation, is it close to the complex? Is there a transportation stop? Are
the streets and sidewalks in good repair and at least 36” wide? Are there steep slopes and cross-
slopes around the vicinity of your complex? Are there adequate curb cuts around the complex?
If you have your own vehicle, is there a parking space with an access aisle close to your
apartment? Does it connect to the building’s accessible route? Is the parking space designated
by the international symbol of access? If not, you can request one. This is called a reasonable
accommodation to policies and practices.
Building/Unit:
Is the entrance door to your accessible unit 32” wide? Is there a level or ramped entrance? Does
the ramp have handrails? Are the doorknobs the lever type? Does the elevator car have a 60”
turn radius?
Are the hallways and common use areas such as the laundry room and recreational facilities
accessible? Does the laundry equipment have controls in the front of the machines? Is there a
pathway of at least 36” between equipment? Are the trash cans useable? Could these elements
be easily made accessible?
Can you use the bathroom and kitchen facilities? Are the grab bars installed or a place to install
them next to the toilet of shower? Are the appliances in the kitchen at an accessible height from

3. your wheelchair? Do you want to make reasonable accommodations to the unit at your expense?
Does the landlord have an obligation to pay for any of the modifications? (Does the landlord
receive federal funding?)
Do the bedroom closets have lower shelves or a lowered rod for hanging clothes? Can you open
the windows easily? Do you have the ability to reach the light switches, plugs and other utility
switches? (Garbage disposer, thermostat, etc…)
For People with Vision Disabilities
Neighborhood
Public transportation and safety:
Is public transportation close to the complex with a defined accessible route to the bus stop? Is
the area well lit? Are the streets and sidewalks in good repair? Is traffic light or heavy?
Building/Unit:
If there is an elevator to your unit, can you use it? Is the elevator controls raised, brailed or have
audio sound to indicate which floor you are on? Is there directional signage in hallways,
stairways and common use areas?
Are stairways well lit? Do the stairs have a non-slip surface? Do the stairs have contrasting
color strips at the base of each stair? Are there protruding objects in the halls, common use
areas, or in the lobby?
For People with Cognitive Disabilities
(Learning disabilities and head injury)
Neighborhood
Public transportation and safety:
Is public transportation close to the complex? Is there a clearly identifiable route from work,
community programs, shopping and doctor offices? How far are the grocery store or
community recreation facilities?
For people with Environmental Disabilities

4. Neighborhood
Public transportation and safety:
Is the traffic light or heavy? (This affects the pollution level). How close are dry cleaners, gas
stations, Laundromats, auto shops, factories, power lines? Are there active wood burning stoves
in the area?
Building/Unit
Is the manager or landlord willing to work with you on the control of pesticide use, safe cleaning
and construction products and materials? Is the manager or landlord willing to post “No
Smoking” signs in the lobby and in other common use areas in the complex?
Are fireplaces, wood stoves and barbecues used and how close to your nit will they be? What is
the heat source in your unit? Is the cooking source in your unit electric or gas?
How close to your unit are garages and parking areas? How close is the laundry room? Do
windows in your unit open onto areas that are toxic for you such as garages and parking lots?
Has foliage been treated with pesticides?
Service Animals
The Fair Housing Act (FHA) bans discrimination based on a disability. IT requires the landlord
to make reasonable accommodations to rental rules, policies, or practices to give residents with
disabilities an equal opportunity to use and enjoy their rented homes.
The best known example of a service animal is a guide dog that helps a blind resident navigates.
But service animals don’t have to be dogs and a service animal’s function can even be to lend
comfort and emotional support to a resident with a disability.
Five suggestions when requesting to keepa service animal in your apartment:
1. Keep accommodation requests reasonable and indicate how the animal assists with your
disability.
2. Request the landlord notifies you in writing of their decision regarding you request for service
animal accommodation.
3. Pet deposits are no allowed by the landlord for service animals.
4. Expect to abide by all pet rules that are aimed at health and safety issues including licensing
and up to date shots.
4. You need to clean up after walking dog. Any damage caused by support animal is your
responsibility.

5. Where to find help
There are many places you might look to for help when seeking accessible housing or for help
with other housing issues.
One good place to start is your local center for independent living. Not all areas have
independent living centers, and their services may vary. In the white pages of most phone books
there is a section for “Community Services”. Look under housing, services for people with
disabilities, disability services and legal services.
You may also call the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regional field office
in your area.
Contact the Salina Human Relations Department
City-County Building
300 W Ash, Room 101
Salina, KS 67401
Office: 785-309-5745
Fax: 785-309-5769
TDD: 785-309-5747
www.human.salina.org