Building Handicapped Ramp

[Carolann R]

Anyone know someone who can build a long, wheelchair ramp on a house (post & pier)? We need to make it accessible to my mom. We don't know where we're buy just yet, but the fact is, wherever we do (and we're pretty set on post & pier) we'll need to add a permanent ramp fixture onto the house for her.

Mahalo!

Carrie

[Howard]

I don't have any advice on who can build the ramp for you, but I think that you are very wise to have it built permanently. We have friends here who added a temporary ramp when the husband needed a wheelchair for the first time last year. He has been in declining health for several years, and last week he passed away at the age of 82. The temporary ramp was removed soon after his death. Not long after that, his wife (who is in her 70s) went to leave the house alone, and forgot that the ramp was no longer there. She fell and broke her leg, had to have surgery to repair it, and was still hospitalized at the time of her husband's funeral.

Howard

[Carolann R]

Whoa. Well, mom's 69 and will be around for quite a while. She's getting more and more mobile with her new prosthetic leg. She can use her walker (with wheels) and has one of those Hover-round chairs (she is using it less and less).

However, when I take her to the doctor or we go out, I use a little transport chair to get her to the car sometimes and since she's getting more self-sufficient I wanna make sure if we aren't home she can come and go as she pleases. We thought about a lift, but the problem there is that maintenance on a ramp is easier and less costly if something goes wrong...say the electricity goes out - she's stuck. So I guess that's old-fashioned thinking but something attractive built onto the house in a permanent fashion is the way we wanna go.

Thanks, Howard!

Carrie

[mella l]

Here in our little town in No. Cal we have a Presbyterian church that does ramps for people in need on a short notice! They have a cute name for the group which escapes me at the moment but the point is perhaps on island there may be a church who does this service for people.

Even googleing homemade wheel chair ramps would probably get you some plans to use or modify. The ones I've seen here in town look like the challenge would be doable by the handy DIY'ers. You know have hammer will travel types!! You could even bribe them with warm malasadas. But I would check with the churches too! Aloha, Mella

mella l

[Carolann R]

Here's a picture of a local house that has a ramp that would be more of what we might try to do - something that is an actual part of the structure...

http://www.hiinfo.com/Research/IDX/mlsHawaii/IndividualListing.asp?page=1&MLS=168550

Carrie

[mella l]

Hey Carrie that is a great ramp! And Kevin is one we recommended to you also! Neat place.

mella l

[sherylr]

Carrie, I work in a retirement home and have pushed MANY wheelchairs. My only concern about the ramp you have pictured is that it is very steep. If you can have a longer approach and a less steep grade your mother will more easily be able to use it, even in a motorized scooter or wheelchair, and anyone pushing her or perhaps a heavier person will thank you, and their back will thank you. Good luck. Sheryl

[Carolann R]

Sheryl...I'm right with you on that! We will definitely make it an easier incline. There's actually a rule about rise to run that we will follow. It's hard on people who are handicapped. I'll tell ya - I never realized how disability unfriendly the world is until I had to push my mom everywhere in her wheelchair! People stand and watch you struggle with doors...she'll pay for something in a store and they'll hand ME the change...they'll direct questions regarding her to ME...I always say "you can talk to my mother about it - she's the one buying the item..." When I was at the airline we had to go through "sensitivity training." We did all kinds of exercises that really gave you an idea about disabilities.

There was one exercise where we put two pairs of socks on each hand, then put on glasses with plastic wrap around the lenses and put jawbreakers in our mouths AND earplugs in - and tried to communicate with each other. We had to try to read something and ask questions and write the answers down! Then we had to each get in wheelchairs and move through the building - doors, elevator, bathroom (a real biggie with disabled people) and over a rough sidewalk area.

I can tell you I am now very aware when I am around someone with an OBVIOUS disability to be as helpful as possible.

There was a case where a person of small stature (dwarfism) was walking into a restaurant with her friend and the waitress asked the tall person if her little friend would like a booster chair. WOW!

It's so good to hear from someone who is familiar with the gauntlet of a disabled person...thanks so much for ANY advice you have - I'm all ears!!

Carrie



Edited by - Carolann R on 06/08/2006 16:54:23

[David M]

Ramps vs Post and Pier

This was a serious consideration when we started our hunt in Hawaii. Sophie was still using a wheelchair at the time. A ramp built to standards will have 12 inches run for each 1 inch rise. Current code places a post and pier floor a minimum of 24 inches above the ground. Unless you have some unusual terrain, that means a ramp will be at least 24 ft long. When you look at existing homes, you find many that are even more elevated to take advantage of view or other considerations. This aspect was a primary reason for us choosing to build on grade slab.

Carrie, you are so right in your observations. The number on times people, both grownups and kids have walked into Sophie's wheelchair or nearly tripped over it are beyond count. We were very quick to realize that most of the so called handicap access "features" were neither designed, implemented, or even tested by someone handicapped. We learned to laugh at many, but we also wondered how a person in a wheelchair alone, without an able bodied assistant would fare.

Sophie still uses a Canadian crutch in public (and a guava stick at home ), and we are still "amazed" when a hostess or waiter attempts to walk us to the table furthest from the door, but even more grateful when an observant one asks, "Would you like something close?"
We do have nothing but praise and gratitude for for the many airport and airline people who have provided great service to make travel a bit easier.

I would also vote for making a permanent vs temporary ramp.

David

Ninole Resident