Accessible Rural Housing.

This issue of the quarterly newsletter "Rural Exchange" provides information and resources on accessible rural housing for the disabled. "Accessible Manufactured Housing Could Increase Rural Home Supply" (Nick Baker) suggests that incorporation of access features such as lever door handles and no-step entries into manufactured housing could help to meet the growing demand for accessible housing in rural areas. Difficulties to be overcome include zoning restrictions, lending policies of local banks, and ignorance of local manufactured housing dealers. A four-page fact sheet on accessible rural housing contains a statement of the problem; a sample design of an accessible three-bedroom house; and a list of resources for advocacy, design information, remodeling techniques, products and building materials, and educational opportunities for building industry professionals. "The HAMMER Project: A Partnership That Creates Accessible Housing" (Duane French, Bill Crandall) describes a project in Fairbanks (Alaska) that provides affordable accessibility modifications to private homes though a partnership among the local carpenters' union, Access Alaska, Easter Seals, and private businesses. Short features describe AgrAbility, a federal program that enables disabled farmers and ranchers to continue living on their land; discuss a Montana information network for people with disabilities; note that housing information is available at local libraries; and recommend a 57-page book "Building a Ramp," by John Henson. (SV)