The Americans with Disabilities Act has made homeowners and building managers far more aware of handicap access needs that were once simply ignored. Curbs, stairs, doors, escalators and other architectural elements are being rethought, having been revealed as impediments to access for a growing number of the population. Now, new construction must comply with the ADA and include access ramps, wheelchair lifts or other devices that make handicap access possible. But many owners are also reviewing their facilities to retro-fit areas where possible and practical.

While some buildings in Wilmington may have the room for ramps, others may find that wheelchair lifts make more sense to provide access where short flights of stairs are an obstacle. There are two types of wheelchair lifts available for installation. A hydraulic lift uses fluid to raise and lower the mechanism. These offer the smoothest type of motion. Electric wheelchair lifts are less expensive and can also include door opening devices and other automatic enhancements. If a permanent wheelchair lift is not possible, there are companies that offer portable wheelchair lifts for use or purchase.

Accessibility to upper floors can be made easier with wheelchair elevators. This accessibility equipment, also called a platform lift, can be built indoors or outdoors, without necessarily requiring major renovations and rebuilding. They’re miniature versions of the commercial elevators carrying passengers in office buildings. The newest wheelchair elevators are designed to minimize the use of floor and living space and can be both compact and flexible enough to fold out of the way for unobstructed use of the staircase when the wheelchair elevator is not needed. They offer a non-skid surface so that the wheelchair will not move around when the elevator is in use.

Most of these wheelchair lifts and elevators run less than $10,000. They are even available for residences on wheels, with versions created for recreational vehicles and mobile homes.