*
I had a first hand experience with having to build a ramp– My wife ended up paralysed in both legs after the birth of our baby back in September. I had to get a ramp built quick to get access to get her in and out of the house so I didn’t have a lot of time to research the subject. We had 2 steps to acend in our garage (about 17″). The ramp was about 13′ long with a platform long enough for her to open the door and back up for the door to clear. It seems like a 17″ rise over 13′ is not very steep but it took a bit of effort on her part to roll herself up the ramp without assistance. With practice though she became better at getting herself in and out of the house.
I’m happy to say the mysterious paralysis has faded away and she’s up and walking again. I dismantled the ramp last week.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
The FHB Podcast crew takes a closer look at an interesting roof.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
*
Mad Dog M.,
If you are still interested in more lines of information:
U.S. Access Board, Washington D.C.: 202-272-5434.
Also, on the net these: U.S. Access Board at http://www.access-board.gov; and for ADA Regulations and Info: http://www.access-board.gov/bfdg/ufatoc.htm
*
Does anyone know where I could obtain specifications and ideas for building a home that would be accessable for a handicapped child confined to a wheelchair: Ramps, bathrooms, kitchen accessability etc. Thanks, Frank "Mad Dog" Maglin.
*Try http://www.amazon.com and over on the right side of the screen select "books" (on a pull down menu) and enter "barrier free". Should get a number of books listed. Also look at:http://concretechange.home.mindspring.com/construc.htmThere is a site that might have some ideas (and that might be a student project) at: http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/subjects/arch/5203/97-s1/students/Kapitanovic/assign5/A simple example of a ramp is at:http://www.germanvillage.org/GVguide/handy.htmlSome lengthy legal guidelines: http://janweb.icdi.wvu.edu/kinder/pages/ADAAG.htmThe Tripod web site lists a "Barrier free" guide - $20:http://members.tripod.com/~BFHomes/index.html"Barrier-free" products examples for bathroom:http://www.barrier-free.com/
*MDM, try http://www.cmapc.com
*I just got a free book on that from HUD. I'll dig it out and post it tomarrow. (got it out of the info in the free and cheap section of JLC)JonC
*Hey! I'm goin to look at a job in the morning to convert an old home to total accessability so it can serve as a business site. Must be somethin' in the wind, huh? There was an article in FHB a few years ago, Mad Dog. You see it? About 5, maybe 6 years ago. The author had a lot of good ideas - cabinets that converted by bottoms coming out, gave clearance guidlines in bathrooms, I'll see if I can find it.
*Most bldg inspections have the requirements and guidelines book on accessability. In addition to any publications you find, i have found them to be forthcoming in pointing out areas of importance. If your job requires inspection, it might be a good idea to get them on board early.The Eastern Paralyzed Veterans hdqtd in Philly I think have a pub. available. Don't know if they have a web site yet.E-mail me if you want some ideas I used making life a little easier for a young guy, without making it look "handicapped".(as he called it) Don't forget to think about the possibility of an assistance dog joining the family. And all the theraputic equipment that may be used. They all need a place. The bath/shower areas can be a challenge, but you should be able to pull a bunch of ideas from this board. I worked with an architect who had the misfortune of having to design with his son in mind before there was an ADA. One of his main concerns was that the living space should look like a home and not a hospital. Resale was not on his mind, but the comfort of his son both physically and mentally was. Still, if the child may walk again, or the owners move, it's good to have built something that might fit in without another complete makeover.Best of luck.
*Hey, Thanks for all the responses everyone! This will surely get me started in the right direction. MDM.
*......American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has a pub.....don't know how to get to them...mine is from 1980..if you get a site...post it back, will you? as Calvin said....Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association has a web.site, they are a great organization....epva.orgI just downloaded a file from them and ordered some pubs to update my reference....There will also be a section that is helpful in your Building Code manual.....
*Hey Mad Dog (and everyone else),For all the current ADA specs, info, and guidelines, got to ADA GUIDLEINES AND SPECSJames DuHamel
*Mad Dog:This was discussed here a few years back. The recomdation at that time was to get the Taunton book Building for a Lifetime. No, I don't work for Taunton. I went to the library and checked out about 5 books on the topic, and sure enough, Building for a Lifetime was about the best thing going.
*Fair Housing Act design Manual. Free from Hud. You can order it online at hud.gov or 1-800-767-7468. Ask for item #4758. It's actually geared to multi-family housing but has loads of info and the price is right.JonC
*I really like Building for a Lifetime too. Another really good book is The Accessible Housing Design File. You can order it from the Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University -- probably a way to do that online.
*I had a first hand experience with having to build a ramp-- My wife ended up paralysed in both legs after the birth of our baby back in September. I had to get a ramp built quick to get access to get her in and out of the house so I didn't have a lot of time to research the subject. We had 2 steps to acend in our garage (about 17"). The ramp was about 13' long with a platform long enough for her to open the door and back up for the door to clear. It seems like a 17" rise over 13' is not very steep but it took a bit of effort on her part to roll herself up the ramp without assistance. With practice though she became better at getting herself in and out of the house.I'm happy to say the mysterious paralysis has faded away and she's up and walking again. I dismantled the ramp last week.
*paralysed in both legs? Holy smokes Mark, what a scare that must have been. geez. FHB issue 99, Jan. '96 pages 80-83. It says Sam Clark, the author, was also a co-writer of "Building For a Lifetime".