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Mobility

Mobility

Handicap mobility is a large issue that warrants a good hard look by the first article in this blog.

It is a part of everyday life for people with disabilities as well as those temporarily or even permanently affected by accidents and illnesses so it's a pretty big thing.

Mobility is all about being able to get around and access areas that you want to.

This includes not only areas in your own home, but also public areas such as public buildings, hospitals and clinics, parks and other recreational areas, shops, supermarkets, shopping malls and out of town retail parks, transportation terminals such as bus depots, train stations, ferry ports, airports etc, access to vehicles, and generally getting to and from the places you need to.

Wheelchair Users

For wheelchair users, most public buildings have been fitted with handicap ramps to allow wheelchair access where before there were only stairs.

Inside many public buildings, there are elevators or a handicap lift to upper floors as well as stair wheelchair lifts for places that do not have elevators.

Parks and recreational areas also have wheelchair ramps alongside stairs and steps to allow for easier access to all areas. Shops and stores are required by law to provide wheelchair access in many countries and it is a case of simple good business practices because why would you want to exclude any sector of the buying public from your store?

Transportation has improved markedly in handicap mobility access in recent decades with access to buses and trains made easier with specially adapted handicap ramps and disabled access provided where before there were only wide gaps and high steps up to vehicles.

Airports have good wheelchair access as well as access for handicap scooters and other motorised handicap mobility options although aircraft, by their design are still not wheelchair friendly with very narrow aisles and seating that is so close together that even able bodied people find them difficult to access.

Adapted Transportation

Specially adapted handicap vans and coaches are custom fitted with their own wheel chair ramp systems to provide easy access for wheelchair users and make getting in and out of the vehicles not only easier but also a more dignified process as well.

Individual disabled cars enable those able to use them complete freedom of travel not just from house to house but from town to town if they wish.

For shorter journeys, handicap scooters have come a long way in design, compactness and ease of use.

These handicapped scooters enable their owners to go to the shops, meet with friends and generally get around town without the need for a helper to push them in a traditional wheelchair. They run for a good distance on a full charge and because they run on electricity, they are clean and pollution free which is a great environmental plus point.

As we progress, more and better alternative handicap mobility methods will be found and implemented to further improve the lot of people with disabilities and anyone who is affected by temporary lack of mobility.

Originally posted: August 17, 2009

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