How Accessible Is the American Dream for the Disabled?
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By Jordan Grice
omebuying can be a frustrating experience for buyers. It can be even more discouraging when clients feel like an agent doesn’t understand their needs.
Real estate professionals suggest that this may be the case for thousands, even millions, of people looking to enter the market with some form of disability. With 61 million adults—roughly 1 in 4—living with a physical or cognitive disability in the U.S., based on data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, real estate professionals indicate that this is an underserved demographic. “The vast majority of real estate agents don’t understand physical or mental and cognitive disability in a way that optimizes the service level to the client,” says California-based 64 December 2021 RISMedia’s REAL ESTATE
agent Stephen Beard of Keller Williams Oakland. That was a realization he encountered firsthand nearly two decades ago when looking for his first home. Beard, who has cerebral palsy and uses a cane for balance, remembers advocating for himself because the buyer’s agents weren’t knowledgeable about accessibility needs. Since launching his real estate career 17 years ago, Beard has leveraged his experience and knowledge of the accessibility issues in real estate to serve disabled clients and their families.
Changing Perceptions Jackie Roth is an associate broker with Corcoran Real Estate in New York. For the past 16 years, she hasn’t let the fact that she is deaf define her in life as well as her real estate profession. Instead, she uses her background to help others work with and advocate for the deaf. “Change needs to start within the brokerage community, and oftentimes the change comes with being human,” Roth says. “The real estate community as a whole needs to be willing to put in the work to create a pathway for communication so people of all backgrounds can work together seamlessly.” While she suggests that formal courses focused on serving people with disabilities would be helpful, Roth says more education is needed. She also notes that sensitivity and patience are essential. “The best thing a broker can do for their client if they are disabled is to allow them the extra time to communicate,” Roth says. Beard echoes similar sentiments, adding that he makes himself avail-
