Ramps for Wheelchair - Commercial Structure Guidelines

Prior to the Americans with disability act or ADA for short, the wheelchair users had to make their own arrangements to getting inside any place of work or building. The ADA has set out guidelines for the commercial and public building plans. They must be accessible to the physically disabled. Hence the ramps must be included in the structure of the buildings. These help the wheelchair users to get into the building very easily.

Architects and planners now take greater importance in the design of their building relating to handicapped access and now almost all public building and many private will include such items as handicapped ramps and other access points.

Simply building a ramp is not sufficient. There are certain rules to be followed for helping out the disabled. The guidelines help in standardising the plans for ramp construction. These guidelines are framed keeping in mind the use of different types of wheelchairs. It also takes into consideration the age group of the wheelchair users. It is important that the commercial structures to follow and abide by the guidelines given by the ADA.

The builders must ensure proper safe entry and exit for the wheelchair users. The Federal has set out the basic minimum requirements to be followed during the ramp construction for easing out the climbing troubles related to the wheelchair users. It is better to check with the Federal authorities for any additions to the said requirements.

The basic measurements to be followed can be listed as under:

1. As the elderly people cannot go on high sloped ramps, in order to help them use the ramp comfortably, the slope should not be more than one inch for a linear distance of 18 inches. The linear length covered for the horizontal rise of 1 inch should not be less than 12 inches.

2. The clearance between the railings is recommended to be 42 inches. It should not be less than 36 inches.

3. The maximum ramp length must not exceed 30 inches. After the said length there must be at least 60 inches of flat rest platform. The rest platform must be of same width as the ramp.

4. There must be flat landing at the top and bottom of the ramp.

5. The guardrails or the handrails must be constructed on either sides of the ramp. These must be at least 30 inches in height. The height must not exceed 38 inches.

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A Wheelchair Power Pack - Transform Your Wheelchair Usage

Users of manual wheelchairs may enjoy the physicality of keeping mobile, but it can be a significant strain to a mobility sufferer or elderly patient in the long run. Weakened muscles and increased fatigue make it a struggle up hills and on rugged terrain - that's where wheelchair power packs come in.

Motorised wheelchair power packs mean you will never need to push your wheelchair again with reliable and durable motors attachable within seconds. Single and twin wheel power packs can be attached to any manual wheelchair with a simple switch on the hand controls making it a very flexible addition to your home mobility products collection.

A wheelchair motor is so easy to use, install and store making it a viable option to breathe new life into an older manual vehicle. A power pack means that instead of pushing their wheelchair you can simply walk behind with your thumb on the control to let the motor do all the work for you.

These motors are designed to provide extra traction for all gradients as well as the option to reverse operated by a simple switch on the hand control. The wheelchair motors hit speeds of up to 4mph with up to 18 stone on board and is capable of a range of up to 10 miles per charge - ample sufficiency for a day out.

Heavy duty wheelchair power packs are also available to purchase, designed to give more power to push mobility sufferers up to 26 stone and the ability to tackle tricky slopes and challenging terrain with confidence.

The portability of wheelchair motors means that it is light enough to take anywhere - pack it neatly in a holdall and take it with you in a car or on a coach, train, boat or plane. Providing extra versatility and functionality, power packs can transform everyday wheelchair usage.

Mobility specialists stock a range of wheelchair motors and currently have an online sale with reduced prices and free delivery on UK orders over £100.

Visit CollinsCare.co.uk for a great range of wheelchair power packs. At Collins Care we believe in putting customers' needs first and ensuring they get the mobility products they require. Collins Care will help you identify your actual requirements and save unnecessary expenditure.

Daily Problems and Challenges of Using a Wheelchair

The daily problems/ challenges of using a wheelchair, is mostly unrecognized by non-wheelchair users.

I hope, by highlighting some of those challenges in this article, everyone becomes more aware of them. So we can all work together to create a safer and fairer world for ourselves, our families and communities.

The problems include but are not limited to:

1. Buildings with doorways, corridors or parking lots that are difficult / impossible to pass through, using a wheelchair. This makes it really difficult for wheelchair users to get things done. Things like shopping, visiting friends / relatives, e.t.c

2. Rough, uneven, dangerously sloping grounds, make it really tiring to push wheelchairs - especially Manual Wheelchairs - around.

3. Travelling by public transport - buses, trains, e.t.c takes a lot of time. The majority of time consumption comes from waiting for the buses to get low down enough, and then slide out the ramp access, so the wheelchair can go in. And then, getting off the transport as well...

When you add this to the time it takes a wheelchair user to accomplish the daily care routine of washing, getting dressed, feeding... That is a lot of time out of a 24 hour day!

4. Travelling by train also poses a lot more challenge to the wheelchair user than the buses. Especially negotiating that gap between the train entrance and the platform.

5. Health Problems such as Muscle Cramps and Pressure Sores. As a result of sitting in the wheelchair, or anywhere else - as wheelchair users need to, when not lying down - cramps and pressure sores are a great source of discomfort, concern and challenge.

6. Motorists, Pedestrians and other road users pose another area of challenge to the wheelchair user. Being below the average line of vision while riding a wheelchair on the roads, means that one may not be quickly or clearly seen by others. This has been a cause of many road accidents involving wheelchair users.

7. Finally, and just as important, is the attitude of the society - others - to wheelchair users. Others who do not use a wheelchair, find it a bit difficult to see through the eyes of one. Non-wheelchair users may talk down at one; Totally ignore one; Expect them to do more for themselves, notwithstanding the physical limitations... to mention a few.

All these challenges may seem overwhelming and force a wheelchair user to remain at home. This need not be the case though.

With more information on these challenges; A greater awareness of the available disability aids to overcome them; And an empathic understanding from the society at large, these challenges can and will be overcome.

Making the world safer and more wheelchair-user friendly. Especially as everyone, sooner or later, most likely will end up in one anyway!

Tenny Nebo is a Professional Carer. She has Extensive Working and Personal Relationships with the Disabled, and/ or the Elderly - Young and Old.

She Understands from Experience, the Challenges and Frustrations the Disabled and Elderly go Through. She also Understands the Various Options Available to Help Ease Those Challenges and Frustrations.

Are you Interested in Experiencing a More Comfortable, Productive and Independent Way of Life - Even as a Senior/ Person Living with a Disability? Do you Have a Loved One - Parent, Friend, Child - Who Faces the Limiting Challenges of a Disability or Old Age?

Tenny Encourages You to Discover Crucial Personal Care Tips and Information on Mobility Disability

Find Out How to Enjoy A Life of Comfort, Freedom, Health and Independence

Don't Be Drunk Driving a Wheelchair - DUI Laws in Canada

Did you know that in Canada, our DUI laws can result in being arrested and found guilty for operating a motorized scooter while drunk?

How could this be you ask? Well, the definition of a motor vehicle is any vehicle that is drawn, propelled or driven by any means other than muscular power.

These DUI laws stem from the Ontario case R. v. Shanahan. The facts of this case is as follows. A man who was hurt, used a motorized scooter to go out one night. He ended up getting drunk. He was spotted by police crossing a road erratically. He was "pulled over" and charged with impaired driving.

One piece of important information in this case is the defendant could move about on his own some - approximately one hundred to one hundred and fifty meters.

The Ontario Court hearing the case found that a motorized personal device, such as a wheelchair is a motor vehicle under the Criminal Code. However, the defendant then made an application under section 15 of the Charger arguing his equality rights were breached.

The equality rights hearing addressed the following two issues.

1. Were the accused's section 15 equality rights breached?

J.D. Wake J. (the Honourable Judge) held that the Canada DUI laws (in this case, section 253 of the Criminal Code) does not make a distinction between people reliant on motorized wheelchairs and people who don't need motorized wheelchairs.

Next, the accused argued that the DUI laws resulted in unfairness (i.e. inequality) to non-able-bodied people. This argument failed because the Court found the accused was mobile without a motorized wheelchair.

Moreover, able-bodied people who walk in public while drunk can be arrested and convicted for mischief. This means that there really isn't a difference with respect the DUI laws between disabled and able-bodied people. Both groups can be arrested for being drunk in public.

2. Then the Court addressed whether the result offended the accused's dignity under section 15 of the Charter?

The Court held no for the following reason:

"The argument in favour of striking down s.253 [of the Criminal Code] seems to be that the dignity of a disabled person can only be sustained if he is afforded the right to behave with a lack of dignity. In my view s.15 of the Charter should not be used to support the result of such inverted reasoning."

When all is said and done, a person operating a motorized wheelchair can be convicted of DUI in Canada.

Considerations the following 3 points / questions:

This specific case (R. v. Shanahan) involved someone not totally disabled. Therefore, the outcome could be different if a person was 100 percent disabled.

Question: are people impaired on pain medication not able to use motorized wheelchairs outside of their home? I simply pose this question, I don't know the answer.

Can a person be arrested for DUI simply by sitting in a stationary motorized personal device such as a wheelchair?

The DUI laws in Canada hold that a person in the driver's seat of a car or truck while impaired can be found guilty of our DUI laws. I haven't read a case addressing this issue, but it seems possible being stationary in a restaurant in a motorized wheelchair, for instance, while impaired is breaking Canada's DUI laws.

If you've been charged with a crime such as DUI in BC, visit Vancouver defence lawyer website to learn more about Canada DUI laws and how Dykstra & Company can help you.

Wheelchair Bodybuilding

Do you love body building but find it hard to do because you are sitting in your wheelchair? Then stop limiting your dreams now. These days there is a new horizon for those wheelchair users who love to gain and flaunt their big muscles all over the world.

This is somewhat a strange thing for those wheelchair users who are stuck with their mentality as being disabled because they are in their wheelchair. However, this is not a joke. This is ultimately true. If you would know, there is a so called Wheelchair National Bodybuilding Championships. This is a championship for those men and women who are in their wheelchairs but have very strong body and big muscles that would knock out someone's weakling thinking about those disabled wheelchair users. This is a show that started in Florida last 1998.

Due to its unique show, people love to watch as it so amazing for you will be really surprise how those wheelchair users got their muscles and body for them to be included in a bodybuilding competition. This competition has different weight categories too. These are heavy weight, middle weight, and others. Some of those who won in this competition are Victor Konovalov and Pasqualena Mitchell who became as the first professional body wheelchair on wheels. This is amazing!

Moreover, as time passes by, this competition is becoming famous all over the world. This could really get the attention of all the people in the world especially to those people who are using their wheelchairs. And because of it, there are many wheelchair athletes now who joined in this wheelchair body building contest. There are lots of wheelchair individuals who are having a good muscle and are really strong. In this competition, you could see these players doing some power lifting and others.

While watching this, you will be feeling doing the same thing too in your wheelchair. This is very powerful and very much inspiring. Actually, if you want to do the same thing too, you can easily start it. In some shows, there are also guiding those wheelchair users who are interested in joining this kind of wheelchair bodybuilding competition. They are going to give and provide some steps or tips in order for you to prepare yourself for it. Some iron pumping and other supplies will be opened too for you to follow the right direction.

So if you are willing to join, then you can start connecting now to those people who are organizing this wheelchair body building competitions. You can search that one in the internet. Actually, the competition will be held in Florida and the organizer or promoter of this is Mr. Frank Dalto. You will be supported by your sponsors and other people if you will join. So, think about this now. Forget your worries and boredom, join now!

Click on the link and visit ultra light wheelchairs for more details and information and get the latest folding wheelchairs and beach wheelchair.

Tips to Optimize Wheelchair Accessibility in Your Home

You can use the following tips to optimize wheelchair accessibility in your house. These tips will help the person who uses a wheelchair in your family will have more mobility and independence.

o One of the major problems that wheelchair users face is doorways being too narrow. One of solving this problem to a certain extent is installing hinges that allow the door to open and fall back in line with the frame. This can give a few extra inches. These hinges can be bought from a hardware store. However, not all hardware stores sell them.
o You can remove the normal door and install a bypass door on the overhead track.
o Remove the hand rims from the wheelchair to make it a little bit narrower.
o If the door has a trimming, remove it until halfway up the frame. This will allow an extra half inch in the doorway which might just be sufficient for the wheelchair to pass through.
o Accessibility should also be provided in the kitchen. You can mount adjustable mirrors above the stove that allow you to look into the pots while they are simmering on the stove.
o If the stove burner switch is located towards the back of the stove, you can buy a reacher. This is also helpful for people who have limited shoulder and arm movements.
o You can purchase special cutlery with large handles for people who are debilitated with arthritis or a stroke. However, the cutlery is expensive and only sold at specialty stores.
o In case you cannot afford to buy special cutlery, you can always buy a parfait spoon with a long handle. Bend the handle to form a loop. The user can wrap his fingers around the loop so that he does not have to grip it tightly.
o Install night lights so that you can access any part of your house after dark.
o Have phones that can be turned on and off with a push of a button.
o Put scarves, hats, gloves in a basket on a lower shelf so that the wheelchair bound person does not have to stretch to reach them.
o In case the person faces difficulty in switching on and off the lights, you can get special peddles to operate lamps.
o Cut a tennis ball into half and slip it over the door knob so that the person can grip and turn the knob easily.
o Rearrange the furniture in your house so that there is more space for the wheelchair to move around.

About Author:
Pauline Go is an online leading expert in the elderly care industry. She also offers top quality articles like:
Electric Wheelchair Guide, Hearing Aids Design

Wheelchair Accessible Desks Are Necessary in the Workplace and in Schools

Many people in wheelchairs work at desk jobs these days, and you probably have never thought much about it. It is something that employers need to consider, however, when they hire a handicapped worker. A person like this is going to need a few special accommodations in order to make their workplace more comfortable for them. They may need aisles widened slightly, ramps instead of stairs, and a wheelchair accessible desk designed for use by a person seated in a wheelchair. Although these special considerations are no reason not to hire the perfect applicant for the job, they are still something that employers have to think about.

There are many different styles of wheelchair accessible desks available, and something can be found to complement any type of office décor. They are constructed to be very open underneath their tops, allowing a wheelchair as much space as it requires. There are also many optional features which you may or may not need to buy. Some desks come with a storage cubicle underneath which is located on one side to maximize the amount of space under the desk for the wheelchair. Many of these desks are adjustable so that they are appropriate for anyone from Kindergarten up through adulthood.

Schools are required to have wheelchair accessible desks available for students who need them. People in wheelchairs aren't the only ones that need them, though. More and more students are becoming obese and can no longer fit in a regular-sized desk. Having wheelchair accessible desks in each classroom gives these students a place to sit without them having to make an issue of their weight. Many of these desks have lockable casters on the bottom so that they can be moved around the room or the building if so desired.

Handicapped people don't want you to feel sorry for them or to have you do everything for them, but they do appreciate having the equipment they need to put in a good day at work or school. By giving them with wheelchair accessible desks, you're providing them with comfortable work and computer stations so that they can be just as productive as everyone else, if not more so.

Finding the right wheelchair and accessories is key to living a more mobile life for those with mobility challenges. Visit Wheelchariot.com for more tips on wheelchair accessible construction and portable mobility scooters and make a more informed decision.