Local REALTOR® Wins National Fair Housing Champion Award
April 23, 2026
The National Association of REALTORS® and Realtor.com® today honored three winners, including Barry Long of Able Environments, with the Fair Housing Champion Award during NAR's Fair Housing Month event, "Fair Housing Forward." Honorees received recognition for their efforts to advance fair housing and expand homeownership in their communities.
Barry Long, a real estate agent and REALTOR® from Bothell, Washington, is advancing fair housing through his groundbreaking work integrating accessibility into residential real estate. Barry is transforming how real estate professionals understand, support, and serve people with disabilities, an often-overlooked population in the fair housing landscape.
As co-founder of Able Environments and co-creator of the Accessibility Real Estate Specialist (ARES) training program, he led the development of the first fully integrated MLS accessibility listing input system in the country, now active in Washington state. This system allows real estate professionals and consumers to search for homes with verified accessibility features. Barry has dedicated his career to ensuring equity in housing for people with disabilities and those needing accessible homes.
"We are so excited to win 2026 Fair Housing Champion Award this year," said Barry Long. "Seattle King County REALTORS® was one of our earliest partners when we started our project of adding accessibility to real estate many years ago. Now, we're launching at a national level, and we're super stoked to get our training to every REALTOR® in the country."
Able Environments was also awarded the 2025 King County Small Business of the Year Award, which celebrates the "tenacity, perspicacity, and audacity" of small businesses. Among its achievements, Able Environments was particularly lauded for its work with the Northwest Multiple Listing Service to include an accessibility features search function for residential properties.
About the Fair Housing Champion Award
With the Fair Housing Champion Award, REALTORS® are recognized for going above and beyond to support buyers and communities, advocating for accessible and affordable housing opportunities, and promoting consumer and REALTOR® fair housing education. Sponsored by Realtor.com®, the award provides a $5,000 prize that winners can dedicate to a housing-related nonprofit organization of their choice.
“This year’s Fair Housing Champions exemplify what it means to lead with integrity, courage, and compassion by breaking down barriers to opportunity and expanding access to homeownership for all,” said 2026 NAR President Kevin Brown. “Their work reminds us of the vital role that REALTORS® play in building inclusive communities, and NAR is proud to recognize and celebrate those who are making a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families across the country.”
About the National Association of REALTORS®
As America's largest trade association, the National Association of REALTORS® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes—from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation—visit facts.realtor.