Advocates told the committee Vermont.gov and agency pages lack audio/video and accessible document options, excluding people with vision, literacy or processing disabilities. Witnesses asked lawmakers to require accessibility, involve disability experts in bill drafting and improve accommodation practices.

Study emphasizes need for accessible trails, facilities, and standards in outdoor spaces.

Industry witnesses from Pecto Holmes told the committee that manufacturers can add accessibility options—36‑inch doors, low‑threshold roll‑in showers, higher toilets and grab bars—but those features are generally optional and would add modest up‑front costs (basic accommodations roughly $3,000–$5,000; roll‑in showers $1,500–$3,000).

The state's Division of Fire Safety told the House Committee on General & Housing that Vermont has long required visitability and adaptability standards for residential construction it regulates; the division said it lacks authority and staffing to extend enforcement into single‑family owner‑occupied homes and would oppose such a mandate without new resources.

Officials told lawmakers Feb. 13 that although VHIP includes an unmatched $20,000 per‑unit accessibility rider to fund accessibility upgrades, uptake has been minimal—homeownership centers reported roughly 1–3% of applicants inquire—and staff cited technical constraints, mixed standards and marketing gaps.

Elizabeth Burrows addresses housing accessibility issues and universal design initiatives in Vermont.