published Monday, February 6th, 2012 at 4:52 am by
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Wheelchairs have provided mobility to many people who have walking problems since a very long time ago. Unfortunately, the availability of wheelchair access is still not widespread. The article provides some tips that you should consider if you want to put wheelchair accesses.
Placing wheelchair accesses
Getting up and down the stairs is perhaps the biggest challenge in the house for a wheelchair user. There are two ways that you can choose to solve the situation. First, you can build an elevator and second, you can install a special device on the side rail. Both ways are convenient since they can transport a wheelchair up and down with only pressing a button. Most people choose the second option because it is cheaper and normally easier to be installed.
The second place where you should add a wheelchair access is the bathroom. You may want to install a small ramp because in some houses there is a small difference in the floor level between the common rooms and the bathrooms. Special rails should be installed near the toilette and the bathtub, which can be great tools for wheelchair users.
The importance of wheelchair ramps
The wheelchair ramp basically is an inclined plane located in strategic locations so wheelchair users can use it to easily access a building or certain places. Wheelchair ramps should be designed carefully so they can be used as intended. They have minimum width and maximum degree for the slope. Weather can come into consideration as icy conditions are dangerous on a steep ramp.
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has some requirements that should be followed concerning wheelchair ramps. Sufficient space should be provided so it can accommodate the ramps because they can be quite long. The length, the slope, and the height are three main factors that should be determined to design wheelchair ramps.
There are three main types of wheelchair ramp namely permanent, semi-permanent, and portable. The permanent type is bolted or cemented in place, while the semi-permanent is placed on ground or cement pad and usually is used for a short duration. The portable one is lightweight and made of aluminum. It can be carried around and very useful on traveling.
The benefits of portable wheelchair ramp
For people who travel frequently, loading and unloading a wheelchair into and from a van can be difficult. A portable wheelchair ramp is a good solution for them. This type of ramp usually has a flat and heavy base that can be placed on the floor of the van. When you open the door, the ramp will extend downward until it reaches the ground. The height and the angle of the ramp can be modified to accommodate the place it needs to reach.
This device is lightweight and thus can be carried everywhere during traveling. Loading and unloading a wheelchair will become much simpler with this ramp as you only need to push the wheelchair into the van or just let the user to roll by him or herself. You should understand that this ramp is not applicable in all situations. For example, if you drive a sedan, you will not be able to use this portable wheelchair ramp. In this case, it is better if you put ramps in other places like around your home.
