Built-Up Curb-Cut Ramps Provide Handicap Accessibility and Solution to ADA Lawsuits.

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. -- Low-cost, easy-to-install ramps can be placed where need is greatest on temporary basis

Cities, municipalities and private businesses are facing increasing legal pressure from individuals and disability advocacy groups to make sidewalks and curbs conform to ADA requirements. Handi-Ramp, a manufacturer of ramps, lifts and other accessibility products, is introducing the Handi-Curb Ramp, a temporary, low-cost solution to this critical issue. http://handiramp.com/curbcutramps.htm

From Delaware to Detroit and from Chicago to Oakland, dozens of cities are facing, or have settled, lawsuits for failure to provide or properly maintain curb cuts that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990. The complaints focus on the inconvenience and danger inherent in traversing sidewalks that require a step up or down at intersections.

"The plaintiffs in these actions represent only a small number of those affected by the lack of curb cuts," said Ted Woerthwein, of the law firm Woerthwein & Miller which is representing the Council for Disability Rights, a Chicago non-profit organization that is suing the City of Chicago. "We recognize that conforming to ADA requirements is not something that can be accomplished overnight, but we see a real lack of urgency on the part of many municipalities, and the potential for serious injury and even greater liability is constant."

The Handi-Ramp curb cut ramp allows cities to provide an immediate, affordable solution which conforms to the ADA Accessibility Guidelines Section 4.7. Made of 1/8" reinforced steel with hinged side wings that allow traffic from all sides, the ramp can be folded up and adjusted to fit any curb. Its safety yellow surface is powder coated and dimpled to provide high traction in any weather. The ramp is sturdy enough to withstand the weight of traffic but light enough to be moved by city crews to wherever there is a need.

"The lack of curb cuts can be a real nightmare for the disabled," said Thom Disch, Handi-Ramp's chief executive officer. "Getting to work, going shopping or visiting friends and family can be extremely challenging and, in many case, dangerous."

In St. Louis this past November, a 40-year old, wheelchair-bound woman was struck and killed by a car when she was forced to use the street because the sidewalk was impassable.

"The cost of making curb cuts at the hundreds of intersections in a city is significant and can take years to complete," Disch added. "We developed our curb cut ramps to meet the immediate needs of people with limited mobility as municipalities work towards a permanent solution."

About Handi-Ramp

Handi-Ramp is a Libertyville, Ill.-based company that has been designing and manufacturing ramps, lifts and other accessibility solutions for wheelchairs, pedestrians and rolling equipment since 1958. Many of the firm's ramps are used by governmental agencies, schools, churches, hotels and other public and commercial facilities to meet ADA requirements. Handi-Ramp products are available across North America including Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and Canada. For more information visit: www.handiramp.com or contact Ross Graham at [phone].