Accessible Housing Design Through Research, Practice and Policy (2026-2027)

Background

More than 5.7 million Americans live with low vision — a permanent reduction in sight that cannot be corrected with glasses, surgery or other medical treatments — including over 3 million adults aged 65 and older and approximately 2.7 million working-age adults and children. As the population ages, prevalence of low vision will rise, increasing the urgency of designing residential environments that promote independence, safety and quality of life.

Simple design features such as improved lighting, high-contrast materials and safer spatial layouts can significantly reduce environmental barriers. Unfortunately, though there are established accessibility standards for individuals who are legally blind, few federal or state policies define design guidelines for people with low vision, whose needs differ substantially. Research on how home environments affect function, safety and aging in place is limited, and existing building codes rarely account for the specific challenges faced by people with low vision.

Project Description

This project seeks to bridge these gaps by integrating research, design practice and policy analysis to support accessible home renovation and inform broader conversations about inclusive housing standards.

Building on the work of the 2025–2026 team, this project team will move into implementation — translating design concepts into real-world renovations of three to four demonstration homes for individuals with visual impairments. Work will span design evaluation, policy analysis, stakeholder engagement and accessibility education.

Key components of the project include:

Design and implementation
The team will collaborate with community partners and builders to complete low vision–accessible renovations in selected homes. Students will assess materials, lighting strategies, floorplan modifications and adaptive design features, ensuring they are practical, affordable and aligned with occupant needs.

Evaluation of design effectiveness
Through surveys, interviews and usability assessments with residents and their families, the team will evaluate safety, functionality and quality-of-life outcomes. Results will guide refinement of the design framework and support evidence-based recommendations.

Policy analysis and pathways for change
Students will review federal and state policy to identify barriers to the implementation of low vision–accessible design. This research will inform a policy analysis report outlining opportunities to integrate low-vision accessibility into existing regulatory frameworks and funding mechanisms.

Partnership development
Collaborations with nonprofit and industry partners will help secure construction materials, in-kind labor, educational resources and policy pathways for broader impact.

Across all project elements, the team will integrate lived experience through focus groups, user interviews and community engagement in Durham and Wake counties.

Anticipated Outputs

Renovation of three to four demonstration homes with accessible design features
Evaluation data on usability, safety and quality of life
Policy analysis report outlining recommendations for updated building standards and funding mechanisms
Manuscript detailing design framework, implementation process and outcomes
Best-practice guidelines and design parameters to inform aging-in-place strategies and accessibility policy
Partnerships supporting educational, financial, material and labor resources

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this team will include 6 graduate students and 9 undergraduates from fields such as public policy, law, data science, engineering, architecture and design, occupational therapy, behavioral science and health sciences.

Students will have opportunities to:

Study accessibility and disability policy at federal and state levels
Conduct interviews, surveys and focus groups related to design usability
Analyze qualitative and quantitative data to evaluate housing modifications
Develop, implement and refine design prototypes for low-vision accessibility
Engage with professional stakeholders, advocacy organizations and community partners
Prepare policy briefs, outreach materials and scholarly publications
Participate in renovation site visits and contribute to applied design solutions

Graduate students will mentor undergraduates, lead subteams, contribute to peer-reviewed publications and interact with policymakers, advocacy groups and industry leaders. A graduate student will be selected to serve as project manager.

Timing

Fall 2026 – Spring 2027

Fall 2026:

Complete IRB training for new team members
Study federal and state disability policies
Continue applied work on home design and prototype development

Spring 2027:

Collect and analyze evaluation data
Draft policy briefs and refine design guidelines
Present findings to community and industry partners

Crediting

Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters