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A Critical Analysis of the Usability and Design of Aluminum Wheelchair Ramps

September 2005
Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society Annual Meeting 49(8):803-807

DOI:10.1177/154193120504900803

Authors:

Ilene B Zackowitz

Alan Hedge

Cornell University

A common method to improve accessibility for pedestrians and wheelchair users is the widespread use of ramps. Ramps for handicapped access are required by the Americans with Disabilities Act. The ADA has specific guidelines for many aspects of ramp design. Although these specifications detail ramp requirements, they do not necessarily guarantee that a ramp will be trouble-free for users. A recent study that evaluated how wheelchair users perceive differences in slope and cross slope revealed design problems for modular aluminum ramps. The purpose of this paper is to identify aluminum ramp design issues that resulted in usability difficulties for wheelchair users in that study. When designing an environment, it is critical that the wide range of users test it. This paper demonstrates that attempting to provide greater accessibility in one area may create new barriers in another.

A modular aluminum ramp used for home entry access. The aluminum ramps used in the Vredenburgh, et al. (2005) study are similar to the one depicted in Figure 1. Because these ramps complied with current ADA/FHA requirements, it was not expected that the ramp design itself would lead to usability impediments. However, after several days of trials with both experienced and inexperienced wheelchair users negotiating the ramps, it became evident that several features that appear to be characteristic of aluminum ramps created usability difficulties. Many of the design elements interacted with each other to further decrease accessibility. This paper will identify those problematic design issues and suggest potential solutions.

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A potential area to entrap a wheel is created where the landing meets the edge protection.

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The manual wheel may become entrapped by the edge protection.

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Close-up of edge of edge protection. Redesigning this edge would prevent wheel entrapment.

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The ramp entry point proved to be an obstruction for some users.

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Figures - uploaded by Ilene B Zackowitz

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Content uploaded by Ilene B Zackowitz

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