Outdoor handicap ramps and lifts provide people with disabilities easier access to buildings, vehicles and even pools. There are numerous configurations and features available in both, but they should always adhere to the regulations set forth by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Check out ADA.gov for those, and read on for more things everyone should know about ramps and lifts.
Types
There are several different types of outdoor handicap ramps and lifts. There are ramps with or without hand rails. There are straight ramps and there are "U" and "L" -shaped ones. They can be made from metal, wood or a hard plastic. You can even find wheelchair ramps for pools. The type that you choose to go with can be determined by the height difference between the two levels you are trying to connect, the amount of space you have, the type of chair you use, and the climate you live in. Lifts can be used for more significant heights where a ramp would provide too steep of an incline, or their simply is not enough room for a long ramp with an acceptable incline. There are automatic lifts and ones that are operated by hand cranks, ones that are fully enclosed, or ones that are simple platforms with no sides to them. Both wheelchair ramps and lifts can be used to help people in and out of automobiles as well.
Significance
Having a wheelchair lift or ramp can be helpful for both homes and businesses. For people who use wheelchairs, they can make it easier to enter and exit your home and vehicle without the help of a third party all the time. They allow you to reach places that a disability might not allow you to reach on your own. A properly placed lift or ramp provides you with a significant amount independence and self-reliance. For businesses, they are good for both the owners and the patrons in wheelchairs. The more handicap accessible a company's location is, the more business they are likely to get. Someone in a wheelchair who cannot physically get into a store is significantly less likely to spend money with that company. These methods of handicap access provide both businesses and individuals with disabilities more options.
Features
Outdoor handicap ramps and lifts may seem like they would all be the same, but there are different features that set models apart from one another. For example, some lifts have anti-slip surfaces to prevent your wheels from sliding. Some electric lifts have a hand crank option in case there is a disruption to the lift's power. With ramps, there are also some that have anti-slip surfaces. Some may also have treads built in to help with traction, and some are built with or without hand rails. These are all features that should be considered before purchasing or building a ramp or lift.
Size
When it comes to certain things in life, size really does matter. For example, a wheelchair lift has to be both wide and deep enough so that it can accommodate your wheelchair. That is why you need to measure you chair before deciding on a lift for your home or business. As far as ramps are concerned, you need to make sure the ramp does not have an incline that is too difficult to traverse. Sometimes you need to make a ramp longer in order to decrease the incline. Or you might need to try a "U" or L-shaped ramp if you do not have enough room lengthwise. But then you have to make sure there is enough room for a person in a wheelchair to make the turn at the "U" or "L" joint. Knowing the amount of space in every direction you have available, as well as the dimensions of your wheelchair, is essential for deciding on the right ramp or lift.
Prevention/Solution
Outdoor wheelchair ramps and lifts can be affected by the weather. So it is important to be prepared for inclement weather conditions. In the winter, you do not want snow and ice to build up on either. Make sure to salt the ramp to avoid this build-up, but do not over-salt, because this can be corrosive to wheelchairs. If your ramp is made from wood you should make sure that it is treated with the proper chemicals for the weather. As the humidity changes, wood will expand and shrink, potentially warping the wood and reducing structural integrity. With metal ones you want to avoid rust. As far as wheelchair lifts are concerned, there are tarps or lift covers you can place over them to prevent the build-up of snow, ice or rainwater, and any subsequent damage.
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