Overcoming the Limitations of Being Wheelchair-Bound

If you’ve never been a wheelchair or mobility scooter user, you’ve probably taken very little time to think about the challenges that disabled or elderly persons face when they want to go out and about. In a wheelchair, everything is that little bit more difficult. Being lower down than a standing person, every day scenarios are more complicated; work surfaces are too high, it’s hard to reach the faucets in the bathroom or kitchen, and products on the shelves in a store are out of reach. In addition to the height problem, doors may not be wide enough to allow your wheelchair to pass through, you might have to hire a special disabled access cab or wait for space on a public bus, and you find yourself relying on other people to help you with small tasks that able-bodies persons take for granted.

Fortunately for most people, the Americans with Disabilities Act has helped enormously by specifying that public premises and amenities must not discriminate against the disabled by physically excluding them from having the same rights of access and enjoyment that non-disabled people have. Still, if you’re involved in the development of new premises, or if you’ve not yet caught up with the ADA, there are many things to think about when considering how to make your space accessible to wheelchair users.

The greatest problem facing wheelchair users by far is the problem of steps. They’re everywhere; in our houses, in stores, on the street. They needn’t even be too high to cause a problem for wheelchair and mobility scooter users – even the threshold of a door that is an inch high can cause difficulties.

There are two practical solutions to maintaining wheelchair accessibility as far as steps are concerned; ramps and lifts. Arguably, ramps are the simplest of these two solutions, but given the wide range of ramp varieties available, it is important to consider which type of ramp is right for your company or development. A temporary ramp may suffice if your access point does not get much traffic, but as a non-permanent structure these can look unsightly. If you expect more than very light traffic then a more substantial, permanent ramp style might be better, for example a solid ramp or a modular ramp, with which several ramp units slot together to form a structured, optimally angled walkway.

Another way of providing adequate wheelchair access is to install a vertical platform lift. These are a more expensive investment, but are ideal for places where a ramp would be unsuitable, such as narrow corridors or to take a user to a level that would require an impracticably long ramp. They also look much more professional than a permanent ramp, and show your visitors that disabled access was not a mere afterthought. Vertical platform lifts can be used to lift a wheelchair user, or indeed a mobility scooter user, to a height of just a few inches up to several meters. They are easily self-operated and are able to carry a reasonable amount of weight too.

Whichever method of wheelchair accessibility you choose, make sure that you seek professional advice from an occupational specialist as to the individual requirements and specifications of equipment you need.