ESCANABA  -members of the area's disabled community and disability rights advocates all over the world have cause to celebrate thanks to the city of Escanaba. The city is the first community anywhere to enact a cash incentive program to promote accessible housing for the handicapped, according to Michigan Disability Rights Coalition member and former Escanaba resident Norma Bauer. A city ordinance meant to inspire new home builders to make their residences more visitable was unanimously approved by the Escanaba City Council on Thursday. The Visitability Ordinance, No. 1024, implements a voluntary compliance policy that encourages new single family dwellings in the city to be constructed using design features that provide greater access for those with physical disabilities. Residents who build such features as no-step entrances, wide doors and accessible bathrooms will be eligible to receive a $150 cash rebate from the city after a compliance inspection. It's been a long time coming. Bauer first approached city council with such a compromise idea last winter. A $1,200 line-item was added to the 2002-03 city budget by council, but there wasn't a written ordinance on the books to back up the incentive. Not until last night. Now, in addition to getting a rebate check, builders who comply with minimum visitability standards will help insure that disabled persons and the elderly can at least get in and get out of a private residence. This is going to help other communities, said Gloria McCullough, a disabled individual from Hannahville. There are handicapped people in every community, but they (Escanaba) have taken the lead. Unlike communities around the world that mandate compliance, you are building an incentive for voluntary compliance, Bauer told council. You are demonstrating your commitment to the concept that government has an obligation to address the long-term needs of all its citizens. The city's action was applauded by disabled people attending the council meeting. They carried signs reading, Thank You Escanaba, and Visitability  community access. There's governments all over the country that are having activists coming to them and point out all these good ideas. And other governmental leaders are saying, Yeah, yeah, tomorrow, Bauer told council. It is a very neat thing to be part of a community that is welcoming this type of access, Jane Heinz told council. Thank you. She is the mother of an adult daughter with cerebral palsy. Their family home in Carroll's Corners follows the design plan known as A Home For Life. Bauer thanked city council, as well as City Community Preservation and Planning Director Jim O'Toole, who carried the ball. I am so happy to celebrate with you ‹ and I congratulate you for your foresight and leadership, said Bauer. Thanks also went to the area's assistive technology council; Heinz and Marilyn Kinsey, who first addressed the issue of visitability in the city; and to the organization which invented the concept Concrete Change of Atlanta, Ga.

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