It is easy to quote statistics, but it is also easy to quote them badly. One must always be careful to interpret indicators and statistics correctly, as well as to choose the most appropriate ones. If not, you will not get the most appropriate, or even true, picture of reality.
In this monthly column, we highlight a statistic or indicator, briefly discussing its strengths and limitations, and how it should be interpreted.
The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities calls for a fully accessible environment. When confronted with this demand, the first statistic most people want to know is how much will this cost?
The answer depends on a few things. First, are you talking about new construction, or retrofitting old, inaccessible construction? The latter costs more.
Second, the type of structure matters. The costs will vary depending on whether you are talking about schools, private residences, or shopping malls.
Third, when it comes to budgeting on a per-year basis, it depends on how fast you want to make these changes. A large overall cost shouldn’t necessarily defer you from doing what you can on a yearly basis in moving towards your goal. But the costs are not necessarily high.
According to one study, original residential construction costs increase only 0.25% for high rise tower multi-family apartments and 3.0% for single family homes (*). These are quite small. Renovations pose a different story. They are still minor for the big structure, at only 1.0%, but quite significant for single family homes at 21%. Thinking ahead saves money.
A recent Canadian study found that to achieve a high standard of accessibility for office buildings through renovation is less than 0.5% of replacement costs, and 1.5% for schools (**). If this were done over a 5 year period it would cost $3 Canadian per square meter for office buildings annually and $19 for schools. But if you had a fifteen year time horizon the per year costs would be only $1 and $6.50 per square meter, respectively. Note, that In different countries these figures will vary as costs of materials and labor differ, but they provide an idea of the scale.
The bottom line is the costs are lower if you build for accessibility from the beginning, but renovation, while more costly, can be timed to fit better into your budget.
(*) Ratzka, A (1994), A brief survey of studies on costs and benefits of non-handicapping environments, Independent Living Institute, https://www.independentliving.org/cib/cibrio94access.html
(**) Rick Hansen Foundation Accessibility Certification: Retrofits and Upgrades Cost Study (2024), https://www.rickhansen.com/sites/default/files/2024-02/rhfac-retrofits-and-upgrades-cost-study-reporthcma-202401050.pdf