Handicap Elevators

Anyone who is handicapped in terms of mobility already has enough trouble getting around without the necessity of worrying about whether or not they can get their wheelchair up and down exterior stairways, stairs within the home and even in and out of a vehicle. Handicap elevators come in a number of varieties which can be invaluable aids for the disabled person.

Adding Handicap Elevators to Existing Public Structures

Prior to the 1970's, many homes and commercial buildings didn't plan for handicap access. It is a federal law that public buildings are made accessible to handicapped persons, which was enacted in 1990 and amended in 2009. All public buildings must be modified as far as cost allows to be made accessible to anyone with a handicap who would otherwise be unable to enter or exit the building as well as get around within it. Because cost is of prime consideration in many cases, there are reasonably priced alternatives when adding handicap elevators.

Handicap Elevators and HUD

Whenever housing comes into play in terms of the Federal Government, especially in regards to landlords renting to disabled tenants who have Section 8 vouchers, it is imperative that access to and from the home be available. In most cases a ramp is sufficient to meet these laws, but at other times the tenant is unable to negotiate a ramp for one reason or another. In situations like this, a handicap elevator that can lift a wheelchair from the ground to the porch or entryway is called for. A simple platform style wheelchair lift is not expensive and would provide the handicapped person the accessibility required under the program.

Types of Handicap Elevators

In reality, any type of elevator that can assist a handicapped person in going up and down various levels of the building could be considered a handicap elevator. However, specific types of elevators are manufactured with handicapped persons in mind. A good example of this would be a wheelchair lift that gets a handicapped person in and out of vans. The lift comes out the sliding doors and descends in order to allow the wheelchair on the platform. Then the lift is raised up and backs into the vehicle. Most city buses have this type of handicap elevators installed on them, but they are also manufactured for privately owned vehicles as well. Most handicap elevators within a home are electric elevators, but some are pneumatic vacuum models as well and operated by air pressure. Stairway lifts are also considered to be a type of handicap elevator and this type can either be installed on a straight stairway or a curved staircase.

Even if not required by law, handicap elevators are a wonderful addition for anyone who is unable to get up and down levels within the building or even to have the ability to get in and out from ground level. The can be reasonably priced if only function is considered, but if aesthetic appeal is taken into account, some can be quite pricey. Always get more than one quote before making your final decision.