Most of this industry treats accessibility as a line in a disclosure. We think the bar is too low, so we're setting a higher one. We built this because Deaf, hard of hearing, blind, low vision, and neurodivergent buyers and sellers are an underserved, underrecognized, and undervalued part of this market — and serving them well isn't a specialty here, it's the standard we hold ourselves to.

We’re not going to claim we’ve finished that work. Some of what’s below is live today. Some of it is in progress, and we’ll say exactly which is which. What we won’t do is tell you we offer something we don’t.

What’s in place today

• We’ll read every disclosure and disclosure form aloud, line by line, over the phone or in person — for any client who prefers that to reading a PDF. No extra charge, no advance notice needed.
• Large-print copies of listing sheets and contracts, on request. Ask your agent; there’s no separate process to go through.
• Virtual and 3D tours on our listings wherever the seller allows it, so a buyer who has a hard time visiting multiple homes in person can screen a property before deciding whether an in-person showing is worth the trip.
• We’ll bring a family member, support person, or your own advocate into any meeting — your call, always.

What we’re actively building

• A standing, on-call ASL interpreter option for consultations, showings, inspections, and closings — arranged and paid for by Winner Realty, not the client.
• An agent formally trained and credentialed in accessible and aging-in-place housing (working toward the NAHB Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist designation).
• An independently audited, certified-accessible website, not just one that looks fine to us.
• A working relationship with the Center for Accessible Living, Louisville’s own disability-led independent living center.

Accessible home features — what to actually look for

If you’re buying and accessibility matters — for yourself, a family member, or planning ahead — these are the features that make the biggest real difference, and the ones worth asking your agent to filter for:

• Zero-step entry — no steps from the driveway or sidewalk to the front door, or a ramp already in place
• Wide doorways and hallways — 32"+ clear doorway width is the practical minimum for most wheelchairs and walkers
• A bedroom and full bathroom on the main floor — the single biggest factor in whether a home works long-term without a renovation
• Roll-in or curbless showers, and grab bars already installed (or blocking in the wall ready for them)
• Lever door handles and rocker light switches instead of round knobs and toggle switches — a small thing that matters a lot for limited grip strength
• Single-story layouts, where they’re available in your target neighborhoods and price range

Louisville’s MLS data includes accessibility-feature fields for exactly this — ask your Winner Realty agent to search on them directly rather than reading through photos hoping to spot a ramp.

Financing accessibility — most buyers don’t know these exist

• FHA 203(k) and Fannie Mae HomeStyle renovation loans can roll the cost of accessibility modifications — ramps, roll-in showers, widened doorways — into the purchase loan itself, instead of paying out of pocket after closing.
• VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants help disabled veterans fund a home that actually fits their needs — these are underused because most agents (not just in Louisville) don’t know how to work with them. We’re building real fluency here.

Ask your lender specifically about these — they’re not always volunteered.

Working with Deaf and hard-of-hearing clients

Real estate transactions are legal proceedings. A qualified, professional interpreter — not a family member, not a well-meaning volunteer — is the right standard, and it’s the brokerage’s responsibility to provide one, not the client’s. We’re standing up exactly that as a standing capability. Until it’s fully in place, tell your agent what you need and we’ll figure out the right solution for your specific transaction — video relay, written communication, or bringing in a certified interpreter directly.

Working with blind and low-vision clients

We’ll walk through every listing, disclosure, and contract verbally, in as much detail as you want — not just a summary. If you use a screen reader, tell us and we’ll make sure anything we send you (PDFs included) is actually readable by one, not just a scanned image pretending to be a document.

Frequently asked questions

Does Winner Realty charge extra for accessibility accommodations?

No. Reading documents aloud, large print, and bringing a support person into any meeting cost nothing extra. Like we would with any client, we'll have the normal pre-approval or proof-of-funds conversation before diving into showings — that's what lets us actually plan the time for it properly, not a barrier to getting help.

Do you have an ASL interpreter on staff?

Not on staff — we’re standing up a standing, brokerage-paid on-call interpreter service. Until then, tell your agent what you need before your first meeting and we’ll arrange the right solution for that appointment.

Can you help me find a home with accessible features specifically?

Yes — ask your agent to search Louisville MLS data using accessibility-feature fields (zero-step entry, doorway width, roll-in showers, and similar) rather than relying on listing photos alone.

I’m a disabled veteran — can you help me use a VA accessibility grant?

We’re building real expertise in VA Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) and Special Housing Adaptation (SHA) grants specifically. Ask your agent, and if we don’t have the answer on the spot we’ll get it before your next conversation.

Is your website accessible to screen readers?

We’re in the process of a full accessibility audit and certification. Until that’s complete, if anything on this site doesn’t work with your screen reader or assistive technology, tell us directly and we’ll fix it.

How do I request an accommodation you don’t see listed here?

Call or email us, or schedule a call, and tell us what you need. If we can do it, we will. If we can’t yet, we’ll tell you honestly and try to find another way to help.

Buying or selling and want to talk through what you need before your first showing? Schedule a call — tell us what would make the process work for you, and we’ll build the transaction around that, not the other way around.