Planning Spaces

This document is a comprehensive guide for planning and designing spaces for human service programs, with a focus on flexibility, accessibility, and normalization. It emphasizes creating environments that meet the needs of people with disabilities while promoting integration into typical community settings. ​ The manual provides practical tools and exercises to help planners define space needs, test alternatives, and make informed decisions about renting, buying, or building facilities. Key topics include designing adaptable buildings, clustering space units effectively, selecting appropriate sites, and ensuring facilities are age-appropriate and culturally normative. ​

The guide also highlights the importance of avoiding rigid, purpose-built structures that may become obsolete and instead encourages flexible designs that can evolve with changing service goals. ​ It stresses the value of thoughtful site selection to foster community inclusion and reduce stigma. ​ Additionally, the document offers insights into funding considerations, accessibility standards, and aesthetic criteria to create welcoming, functional spaces.

Whether you’re a service planner, architect, or community advocate, this manual equips you with actionable strategies to design spaces that enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities while aligning with broader societal values.