This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Nishita, C. M. Articles by Spegal, K. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?

Promoting Basic Accessibility in the Home

Analyzing Patterns in the Diffusion of Visitability Legislation

Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California, cnishita{at}usc.edu

Phoebe S. Liebig

Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California

Jon Pynoos

Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California

Lena Perelman

Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California

Katie Spegal

Andrus Gerontology Center, University of Southern California

Visitability legislation, which requires minimum accessibility in single-family homes, is an unprecedented advancement in disability policy that began with the passage of an Atlanta ordinance in 1992 and has spread to other jurisdictions. Based on the diffusion of innovation model (Gray, 1973), our study used interviews, news articles, and analyses of legislation to examine the spread of the visitability concept, the patterns of diffusion, the opposition's main concerns, and the mechanisms by which advocates overcame opposition and facilitated passage. Results indicated that a policy entrepreneur (Kingdon, 1995) was largely responsible for the consequent spread of visitability across cities and states in a horizontal pattern of diffusion. Opponents from the building industry were largely concerned about added cost, which forced advocates to employ education and negotiation tactics. Despite considerable controversy, proponents' success provides other advocates with lessons on how to ensure a more widespread impact on U.S. housing stock.

Journal of Disability Policy Studies, Vol. 18, No. 1, 2-13 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/10442073070180010101


CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter    What's this?