A Wheelchair Ramp Should Meet the Standards of the ADA

The Americans with Disabilities Act was passed in 1990 to protect the rights of disabled persons throughout the country. The ADA requires certain public buildings to have handicap ramps and elevators installed so disabled persons have access to the same buildings that everyone else does without the hassle of figuring out how to get up stairs or into raised doorways. Some business owners have taken on the task of developing the ramp design and building the wheelchair ramp without professional help. As long as the business owners follow the standards of the ADA, they should have no problem building a ramp that is safe and will last throughout the years.

Some homeowners may also find themselves in a situation where they will need to add a wheelchair ramp to their home. A loved one who is disabled may need the ramp to make getting into the home easier. An elderly person who is starting to use a wheelchair may also need a wheelchair ramp to enter or exit the home with ease. Sometimes family pets may even become disabled, making a homeowner turn to the possibility of a wheelchair ramp. A cat wheelchair is a small harness with wheels that attaches to the hindquarters of a cat. A cat that is in a cat wheelchair may need a handicapped ramp in order to get in and out of the house without trouble. In order for a cat that is in a cat wheelchair to feel normal and live an active life, the cat owner may want to consider building wheelchair ramps for the cat.

If you are considering the possibility of attempting to build a wheelchair ramp yourself, you may want to consult the guidelines of the ADA. Even if the home ramp is being built simply for a cat in a car wheelchair, following the ADA guidelines and making sure the full sized ramp is up to building code can add value to a home. A home that is considered wheelchair accessible can have a higher resell value. Following these guidelines with your ramp design can also ensure that anyone who wishes to use the ramp for a wheelchair can do so without worrying about the stableness of the structure.

Deciding to build a wheelchair ramp yourself is a big task. When figuring out the ramp design, you may want to consider the materials that are available for the ramp. A wheelchair ramp can be made of metal or wood. If metal is the material chosen for the ramp design, rubber or some other slip-resistant material must also be applied to the ramp to ensure it can be usable in the rain or snow. If you are choosing to build a wheelchair ramp yourself and wood is chosen as the ramp material, keep in mind that maintenance of the wood may be more frequent than if metal is chosen. Even if wood is treat, it can still rot and is more affected by weather than metal. More than likely, wood paneling may need to be replaced more frequently.