Disabled lifts are an essential piece of equipment for wheelchair users that need access to floors that are above ground level. Disabled lifts have the ability to revolutionise the lives of disabled people as they offer a new lease of independence to people that are unable to climb stairs. The government have acted quickly to make access to buildings much better for disabled people. Wheelchair users are entitled to access to all public buildings and workplaces. Compared to twenty years ago the accessibility is infinitely better than it was.

Wheelchairs

Wheelchairs have been around since the 1960s. The first wheelchair is said to have been used in England and the technology that is used in a wheelchair is said to have derived from renaissance Germany. People use wheelchairs if they have difficulty walking. This can be as a result of physical or mental injuries or disabilities.

Wheelchairs come in two general categories. They are either motorised or manual use. Manual use wheelchairs require the wheelchair user to propel themselves along by manually turning the wheel. Motorised wheelchairs utilise electric mechanisms that are controlled by a joystick so that the person in the wheelchair does not need a great amount of force to move their wheelchair along.

The primary design feature of a wheelchair is the size difference between the front and rear wheels. Typically the rear wheels are extremely large. This makes them capable of dissipating minimal force from the user for maximum output. The wheelchair is usually stabilised by two tiny front wheels that usually act to balance the chair. This means that the skilled user of a manual wheelchair can often perform a wheelie. As well as being impressive this means that the wheelchair user can often climb stairs on their own.

Disabled Access

For people that use wheelchairs the future is positive as governments and institutions make a concerted effort to improve access to their buildings. New laws have been implemented that require new buildings to provide access for disabled users. Parliament passed a law in 1999 that gave requirements that need to be met in multifamily buildings which have more than four units. The legislation covers seven main requirements that lay out what is required of the building. Firstly the building must have an entrance that is accessible for disabled users. Common and public areas must have access for all people and wheelchair users must have complete access through the doors of the building.

It must also be possible that disabled people can have free access throughout the dwelling. The law states that lights, thermostats, environmental controls and electrical outlets must be accessible to all people. According to this legislation the walls of the building must be reinforced so that support bars or grab bars can be installed into the property for people that need them. The law also says that the bathrooms and kitchens must be useable by disabled people.

In America the disability rights movement has worked hard to promote equal access to facilities for people with disabilities. This means that people should have both physical access as well as access to the same tools, services and organisations as people without disabilities.

Shaun Parker investigates the various needs and requirements of people living life with a disability or loss of mobility due to illness, injury or old age. If you need disabled lifts then visit http://www.axess2.co.uk/