Wheelchair Ramps

Answer 1

If one is disabled and forced to use a wheelchair, that person knows all the troubles of a wheelchair. A wheelchair is a life saver though. If wheelchairs were never invited, disabled people would be stuck at home with no mode of transportation. The wheelchair allows the disabled to move around freely. Moving around does pose its own problems.

If one has ever been in a wheelchair or seen someone in a wheelchair, it is easy to imagine many difficulties the wheelchair user would experience. If a door frame was too narrow, it would be impossible for the user to get through. They would be stuck outside. Wheelchairs are also very difficult to maneuver on surfaces other than concrete or carpet. The wheels will get stuck in ruts in the grass and make it impossible to move. The wheels also will get full of grass and mud. The user will probably not have the strength to maneuver out of it. The greatest problem facing a wheelchair user is the stairs. Stairs are omnipresent in society today. Wherever one goes, stairs are seen and used. They are an easy way to get to another level. In a building setting, many buildings have elevators installed. With these elevators, wheelchair users have a way to change levels. If a building has stairs up to it though, the user has very few options. If it is an adult, it would likely be impossible to just pick up the wheelchair and person and carry them. A wonderful invention has been invented to solve this tricky conundrum, the wheelchair ramp. The wheelchair ramp is based on a very simple machine, the inclined plane. The inclined plane is a flat surface on an angle. After much protest from wheelchair users, places became required to include wheelchair ramps next to stairs. The wheelchair ramps are at a very slight angle, allowing the user to get up to the next level. They often have turns to help reach a higher level with a smaller angle of elevation. These wonderful inventions are celebrated by wheelchair users all over the world.

Answer 2

Wheelchair ramps are a necessity for many people at one time or another in their lifetime. Believe it or not, wheelchair ramps increase the value of your home. Many times, wheelchair ramps are temporary. Regardless of the need, it is very important to follow the legal guidelines when building the ramp. The American with Disabilities Act provides detailed instructions on how to build a wheelchair ramp. In this article, we will discuss the instructions on how to properly build your wheelchair ramp in order to comply with Federal guidelines. First, it is very important to calculate the length of the ramp you will be building. The American with Disabilities Act requires that you simply measure how high the surface is that the ramp is leading to such as the front door. You will then multiply this number by 12. This will give you the minimum length that the ramp should be. Of course, it is always acceptable to build the ramp longer. The second step would be to design your ramp. Most ramps are L shaped. The ramp should lead to the sidewalk or driveway. The third step in building your ramp would be to check to see if you need to obtain a building permit for the construction of the ramp. To do this, you will need to contact the office of the City Clerk. He can tell you who to contact in the city to check to see if you need to get the permit. After confirming whether or not you need a permit, you will need to mark the area that you will be building the ramp. You will need to use snap chalk for this purpose. Snap chalk works like a tape measure. It is chalk on a string. Hold the chalk against the ground and give it a snap to quickly have a chalk line marking area. You will need to mark the length and width for the ramp. The wheelchair ramp needs to be at least 36 inches but you may want to make it as wide as 45 inches to give a little extra movement space. The fifth step would be to dig post holes. Post holes need to be placed every 48 inches. The sixth step is to plant the posts. Posts should extent at least 24 feet below the ground. Plant the posts with concrete. Then, you will attach your sideboards to the posts. The next step is to construct the floor joists for the ramp. Use the 2x4'studs. Creating the floor of the ramp is the next step. Using 3/2 inch thick plywood is the best bet. The final step in this process is to create side rails for the ramp. These posts should extend about 36 inches above the floor of the ramp.