Universal Kitchen Design

The Center for Real Life Kitchen Design at VirginiaTech is a great place to start exploring potential kitchen layouts.

GE has examples of appliances for universal kitchen design.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation has a range of guides on universal design. This fact sheet about accessible kitchen design is part of the About Your House — General Series Accessible Housing by Design — Kitchens

The Canadian Human Rights Commission made public a report on international best practices in universal design at the World Urban Forum in Vancouver.
To request a copy of the report please visit visit the web site.

The Center for Universal Design (CUD) is an American information, technical assistance, and research center that evaluates, develops, and promotes accessible and universal design in housing, commercial and public facilities, outdoor environments, and products.  Their mission is to improve environments and products through design innovation, research, education and design assistance. For more information please visit the web site.

Interior Design

Twiques (http://www.twiques.com/) is a North Vancouver based company specializing in staging, redesign and decorating services. If you are planning on redesigning your existing living space or staging for sale, Twiques provides expert advice to provide the home design you need.

Home Assessment

CMHC has published a self-assessment booklet, Maintaining Seniors' Independence Through Home Adaptations: A Self Assessment Guide, for seniors and their families that describes common issues and the types of home adaptations that are available to help people stay at home as long as possible.

Income Tax Assistance

For assistance with filing for income tax credits visit the disability links page of the Tax Detective. CGA Eileen Reppenhagen can help you with maximizing the tax credits you can claim for assistive equipment and home renovations.

The Canada Revenue Agency has a reference page called "Tax and benefit information for persons with disabilities."

Disability Resources

Victoria Disability Resource Centre
The Victoria Disability Resource Centre has an extensive list of community resources for people with disabilities. The newly renovated centre located at 817 Fort Street in downtown Victoria is a flagship for disability resources centre's in Canada, and has excellent resources and staff that can assist you with a range of disability-related issues.

Funding Resources

Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities (RRAP-Disabilities)
The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for Persons with Disabilities offers financial assistance to homeowners and landlords to undertake accessibility work to modify dwellings occupied or intended for occupancy by low-income persons with disabilities. For more information please visit the web site.

Home Adaptations for Seniors' Independence (HASI)
This program helps homeowners and landlords pay for minor home adaptations to extend the time low-income seniors can live in their own homes independently. For more information please visit the web site.