In order to be welcoming to all, Seattle Housing Authority has the need for on-call consulting services to help the Authority remain current with evolving accessibility standards. SHA has a diverse portfolio of housing types and locations, with more than 8,000 units at 400 sites across Seattle. There are larger high-rise and smaller mid-rise buildings, large planned communities, and hundreds of single-family units in our Scattered Sites portfolio. We are seeking an accessibility consultant who has the experience and ability to work in all of our housing types.
SHA has used this type of services in the past in the following ways:
- Consulting on new developments: Consultant would be engaged to review plans for new communities in the planning and development stage of construction and provide necessary feedback and recommended alterations, if necessary. Engagement could continue through the occupancy of the building, assuring the final building meets necessary standards
- Modification of existing properties: SHA will modify current units to meet resident needs, and may engage the consultant to assure accessibility standards have been met, and if not to provide written recommendations on what needs to be improved. In some cases, the consultant may be asked to provide written documentation assuring that a given unit or units have met a certain standard, such as UFAS.
In all cases, accessibility items to be reviewed could include, but are not limited to, outlets and thermostat heights, grab bars, general door clearances and maneuvering space, kitchen and bathroom clearances, assessments of walkway slopes and cross slopes, and curb ramps.