Wheelchair Access, Disability Funding

Owners of buildings can be fined and could have legal action brought against them if they fail to make the necessary changes to their property. As a business owner it is in your best interest to ensure that there is proper access to your business for everybody.

Access ramps, automatic doors and possible toilet facilities are all the things that you need to check.

The regulations say;

• Ramps must not be slippy
• The angle of the ramp is controlled
• Installation of handrails is governed

If you fail to comply with these regulations you can be fined. To ensure that you don’t fall onto the wrong side of these regulations it is best to hire a specialist who knows the exact measurements and rules.

The specialist that you choose will already work within the laws regarding disability access, and their products will already be manufactured to the correct standards. They will ensure that the installation of ramps, handrails and doors is within the legal parameters so you have one less thing to worry about.

If you are unsure who you could ask, why not find a local company who specialise in one aspect of the change, say the automatic door, and then ask them who they would recommend for the other parts, as usually they will have a partner company that they trust.

Here at Crucial Engineering we are committed to providing solutions that adhere to the Equality act 2010. We do a number of projects where we need to automate existing manual doors to gain access into and around buildings without people in wheelchairs being restricted by manual doors.

If you would like to talk to us about how we can help you, or if you have any questions we would be happy to answer them for you.  Please call us on 03451 930 420, or leave us your details here and we will call you back.

Here we would like to give you some ideas of how you can make your property disability friendly. We want to help make it accessible and safe for friends and family members who are disabled. Crucial Engineering can offer you some suggestions on how to modify your home to enhance the daily quality of life for a disabled person that you care about.

If you or someone you love is disabled you will know the daily struggles to do the tasks that we all take for granted being able bodied. Here we want to offer you 4 tips to make access to your property disability friendly.

As with any home improvements and building works, cost depends on the general state of your property when you start. It depends on whether you just need the odd changes, or you need a full house renovation.

First of all you will need to check these main points to ensure that the property is accessible;

•  Is it possible to get a wheelchair through the front door?
• Are the door frames wide enough?
• Is the flooring safe and won’t cause obstructions when moving around the property?
• Are the bathroom and kitchen accessible and easy to use?

Tip 1 – Install a ramp

If there are stairs at the moment then you will absolutely need a ramp and railings on both sides. A ramp and railings will help get access up to the entry point to the building.

Tip 2 – Remove steps

To allow a wheelchair to get in every room unobstructed, you will need to remove any door steps, and make sure that all the flooring is even.

Tip 3 – Widen the door frames

It’s important to make sure that a wheelchair can easily fit through every door in your property. Most wheelchairs are 635 mm wide, and therefore for comfortable access doors should be 900 mm wide. If the current door is too narrow, you will need to make a mild renovation. Sometimes, removing the door frames is enough. If not, you’ll need to call an expert.

Tip 4 – Make the door automatic

To allow homeowners to have their independence an automatic door will be perfect. The door can be opened and closed automatically so they can in the house safely and are secure once they are inside.

Tip 5 – Put a lower peep hole.

To be able to look through the peep hole when someone rings the doorbell, it would be a good idea to place it on eye-level of a person in a wheelchair.

Here at Crucial Engineering, we are committed to providing solutions that adhere to the Equality act 2010. Increasingly we are automating existing manual doors in nursing homes, care homes and private dwellings to accommodate for disabled persons. This allows tenants to gain access into the premises and to areas of the building without being restricted by manual doors.

If you would like to talk to us about how we can help you, or if you have any questions we would be happy to answer them for you.  Please call us on 03451 930 420, or leave us your details here and we will call you back.

Help available is dependent upon where you live;

England

Your local authority will normally provide you with any disability equipment that you need. And small adaptations that are needed, costing less than £1,000, will be arranged free of charge, as long as you’ve been assessed as needing it and you are eligible.

Wales

You may have to pay towards disability equipment and minor adaptations but the amount you’re asked to pay must be reasonable and based on your financial circumstances.

Scotland

Your local council in Scotland will normally provide you with essential equipment or adaptations costing less than £1,500 free of charge.

Northern Ireland

Your local trust will decide whether they will fund the equipment or minor adaptation or whether you’ll have to pay for it yourself.

For bigger works that are needed to your home you will normally have to apply for a Disabled Facilities Grant. These are paid by your local authority (or Local Housing Executive in Northern Ireland)

Eligibility is decided by your local authority, an assessment is usually carried out by an occupational therapist, and the works you want done must be classed as necessary and appropriate for your needs.

The grants are means-tested so any income and savings that you have will be taken into consideration.

The funding amounts vary depending on where you live in the UK. The table below gives the details based on 2016 guidelines;

For details on how to claim a Disables Facilities Grant in the UK click here.

If you want more details on Disabled Facilities Grants in Northern Irelands click here.