Ramp for access in to garden ?

[holt2007]

The setting-village hall,pack away- was given the area behind the hall to develope for their sole use. This was done 4 yrs ago. I am a new leader there now and am wondering about the legalities of having our outdoor space in accessible to disabled people as we have 3 steps to go up and no ramp. Can anyone guide to any info on ramp gradients etc as I feel we need to look into this. We currently have no disabled children but do have a parent who is in a wheelchair. The big O due soon so need to have an answer for them !!!

[playgroup1]

We were in similar situation when we got funding to develop our outside area. its a small narrow 'yard' at side of Church hall with steps down from the side door. We were told that it was not possible to have a ramp because it would in effect take up the whole area because of the slope it would need to meet regulations.The Improvement team as they were called then said that as long as we had investigated it but there was nothing reasonable we could do that was ok. We have had two children with developmental delay, not walking, when they started so we just carried them down the steps. It might be that you find out about a ramp but there are lots of regulations about them and it could impact on the space you have; also cost might be an issue and if village hall will let you.

We did once have a child with a powered chair before we developed outside area and we had to borrow a temporary ramp so he could go up and down the one step inside the building. It needed two staff to manage him doing this, one in front and one behind, but we coped.

[finleysmaid]

we have the same issue....i think the gradient is 1:14 but i'll go and check that...this often makes it impossible to put a slope in place. You can buy temporary ramps for the odd occasions that you would need for parents ...it only really becomes an issue if you have a request from a child with a disability that would require ramp access. If this happens you can refuse (under certain circumstances) or access funds to help with building costs. Maybe look into the cost of temporary access ramps as a solution at present?

[Guest]

Can you access the outside area from the front entrance?

We are in a portacabin and had a deep step out into the garden. Although we now use a ramp we were told that this was fine as we could access the garden from the front entrance and around the side of the building, but we had to be clear that if we had a child who would only be able to access the garden through the front entrance then all the children and adults would need to access through the front to be inclusive.

For us it would have meant that the children could have only had outside play at set times, but it would at least of meant they would be able to have access without the need for expensive ramps. Something at the time we couldn't of afforded.

[holt2007]

Glad we are not the only ones to come across this issue ! The garden is only accessible via the steps so no other way to get in. I'm quite sure the VH won't help us and like someone said above, by the time you have built a ramp to the desired recommendations there would be no garden left ! We have someone coming to look at build us a temporary ramp if it is possible but it will be big and heavy and we will have no where to store it but it maybe the only answer !

[Fredbear]

Hi we are a packaway setting and have a moveable ramp that is stored away, but can be put out when needed.

I'm sure it wasn't a huge amount of money either.

[Cait]

I think the phrase that you need to remember is that you have made 'reasonable attempts to provide for this'. All our outdoor area slopes, it's the side of an old chapel which was only ever intended for the delivery of coal and access to the understore area. We were fortunate that it is grassed. However, access into the toilets is not possible for a wheelchair user, and we looked into it, but as the toilets were a later addition to the building, the doorway that accesses them is through what was an exterior for in the masonry, and would therefore be prohibitively expensive to try to alter, now that roof etc has been added above the lintel.

[finleysmaid]

if needed the info is here

 

http://www.wheelchair-ramps.co.uk/ramp.html

[lashes2508]

Just to say. That your village hall does have some responsibility to as a public building to provide access for disabled users , therefore a portable ramp could be the answer and they nmay be able to share the cost .

[holt2007]

Thanks guys... Website v helpful.