Traveling isn't a major life activity under the Fair Housing Act: understanding which daily functions count

Understanding Major Life Activities under the Fair Housing Act: Seeing, Hearing, Self-Care — and Why Traveling Doesn’t Make the List

Let me set the stage with a simple idea: housing isn’t just four walls and a roof. It’s where daily life happens—getting ready in the morning, deciding what to eat, staying safe, and participating in the neighborhood. The Fair Housing Act (FHA) helps protect people who have disabilities from discrimination in housing. A key piece of that protection is recognizing what counts as a major life activity. That’s the shorthand for the big daily functions that people rely on to live independently and engage with their communities.

What exactly are “major life activities” under the FHA?

That phrase sounds a bit technical, but it’s really about everyday capabilities. Think of activities essential to daily living and social participation. The idea isn’t to measure every little task—it's to identify core functions that, when limited, can affect someone’s ability to live independently.

A practical way to picture it is to look at the kinds of abilities that people often need accommodations for in housing. For the FHA, examples commonly referenced include:

• Seeing: the ability to visually navigate a space, read labels, or recognize hazards.

• Hearing: the capacity to perceive sounds, alarms, or conversations that help with safety and communication.

• Taking care of yourself: this covers self-care tasks like personal hygiene, health management, dressing, feeding yourself, and other activities essential to daily living.

So, why do these specific activities matter in housing decisions? Because when a person’s disability affects one or more of these major life activities, housing providers may be required to consider reasonable accommodations that help the person live more independently and safely. A landlord might adjust policies, offer aids, or modify a space to remove barriers—things like allowing a service animal, enabling a request for a visual fire alarm, or permitting a reasonable modification to the unit.

Traveling versus daily living: what about mobility?

Here’s where the question often trips people up: is traveling a major life activity under the FHA? The short answer is no—the act of traveling itself is not listed as a major life activity the FHA uses to define disability. The focus is on core daily functions—seeing, hearing, taking care of oneself, walking, breathing, learning, operating manual tasks, and other fundamental activities that enable someone to live independently.

That doesn’t mean mobility isn’t important. Movement matters, and access to transportation, curb cuts, accessible entrances, and transit information can be essential in many people’s lives. The distinction is subtle but meaningful: the FHA centers on daily tasks that anchor a person’s ability to live in a home and participate in the community, not every possible mobility scenario. When a disability makes travel difficult, that may lead to calls for accommodations (like ramps, elevator access, or nearby parking)—but those are about removing barriers to housing itself, not about labeling travel as a life activity.

Why this distinction matters in real life

You might be wondering, “Okay—what’s the practical takeaway here?” The bottom line is this: understanding which activities are considered major helps landlords, property managers, and housing professionals determine when an accommodation is reasonable and when it isn’t required by law.

• If a tenant has a vision impairment, a landlord may accommodate by installing better lighting, creating large-print or tactile labels, or permitting a service animal to aid with navigation in common areas.

• If someone is deaf or hard of hearing, accommodations could include visual notification devices for emergencies, captioned communications, or written instructions for important building policies.

• When someone struggles with self-care tasks, the housing plan might include accessible design features, grab bars, or a ground-floor unit to reduce the risk of injury.

These aren’t “extra” perks—they’re supported by the idea that housing should enable people to live with dignity and participate in the life of the community. The takeaway for anyone working in housing or looking for a home is simple: identify the core daily activities that a person needs to manage independently, and be open to reasonable adjustments that support those activities.

Real-world examples that clarify the idea

Let’s walk through a couple of concrete situations to make this stick.

• Vision challenges in a rental unit: Imagine someone who uses a cane and glasses and needs good lighting to maneuver safely. A landlord can help by ensuring hallways are well-lit, installing lever-style door handles, and providing clear wayfinding in the building. All of these improvements support the major life activity of seeing, which is why they’re sensible accommodations.

• Hearing challenges and safety: Consider a resident who relies on visual alerts rather than loud alarms. In that case, installing flashing light fire alarms or vibrating alerts in common areas helps the person stay aware of emergencies. This directly supports the major life activity of hearing (in the sense of perceiving hazards in the environment) and opens the door to safer, more inclusive housing.

• Self-care needs and accessible design: If a tenant has a disability that affects daily self-care tasks, features like a no-threshold shower, reachable storage, and a main-floor living space can make a huge difference. These adjustments aren’t about lowering standards; they’re about removing barriers so the person can manage daily routines without undue hardship.

• Mobility and transportation: Mobility is essential for getting to work, shopping, and social activities. While traveling isn’t a major life activity per the FHA’s core list, the way a property is designed can either help or hinder a resident’s ability to get around. A thoughtful layout, accessible entrances, and proximity to transit can be part of a housing solution that supports independent living.

The process for accommodations: what to expect

If someone requests an accommodation, what happens next? The general pattern is a collaborative, respectful conversation—the interactive process. Here’s a straightforward way it often unfolds:

• The request is made. A tenant or applicant explains how their disability affects housing and what accommodation would help.

• The housing provider asks for enough information to understand the need, without requiring a diagnosis or medical records that aren’t necessary.

• The two sides discuss possible accommodations, weighing effectiveness, cost, and impact on others.

• A reasonable accommodation is agreed upon, implemented, and reviewed if needed.

It’s not a magic wand, but it’s a framework built to keep doors open and communities inclusive. And no, it doesn’t guarantee that every request will be granted, but it does shape a fair process that protects people from discrimination while balancing the realities of running a property.

Common misconceptions worth clearing up

• Misconception: If someone wants a special feature, it must be granted automatically. Reality: Reasonable accommodation depends on the specific need, the housing’s design, and whether the change imposes an undue burden. It’s a conversation with a purpose—finding a practical solution.

• Misconception: Traveling itself should be treated like a major life activity. Reality: While mobility and access to transportation are important, the FHA centers on major life activities tied to daily living. Travel plans matter for accessibility, but they aren’t the core life activity in the FHA framework.

• Misconception: All disability-related requests must be granted. Reality: The law encourages accommodation, but there are limits—especially if a request creates substantial, unmanageable changes to the property or imposes extraordinary costs. It’s about reasonable solutions, not perfection.

A quick recap you can carry with you

• Major life activities under the FHA typically include seeing, hearing, and taking care of oneself, among others that support daily living.

• Traveling is not listed as a major life activity, though mobility and access to transportation influence housing decisions.

• Reasonable accommodations aim to remove barriers in housing so people can live independently and participate in the community.

• The process is collaborative: request, assess, decide, implement, review.

• Misunderstandings happen, but they’re easy to clear up with clear definitions and open dialogue.

Where to learn more and stay on the right side of the law

If you want reliable, practical guidance, turn to trusted sources. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers clear materials on fair housing protections and how accommodations work in real life. Local housing authorities and state fair housing offices can also provide regionally specific guidance. And if you’re part of a real estate team, sharing a simple checklist with tenants can reduce friction and keep things moving smoothly.

So what’s the core takeaway for you, as someone who cares about housing access and inclusion? It’s this: when a disability affects daily living activities like seeing, hearing, or self-care, landlords and housing providers should be ready to listen, discuss feasible adjustments, and act in good faith. The right accommodations aren’t about special favors; they’re about equal opportunities to live, thrive, and belong in a place called home.

If you’d like, I can pull together a concise, practical checklist for assessments and accommodations based on common scenarios you might encounter. And if you’re curious about specific language or definitions used in HUD materials, I can point you to user-friendly resources that explain things in plain English. After all, understanding these basics helps everyone—from property managers to tenants—move through housing with clarity and care.