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Step 1
Eliminate any obstacles that could be in the way for a wheelchair to run onto your patio. Clear away any plants, toys or furniture that might block a patio entranceway.
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Step 2
If your patio has stairs that you must use in order to access the patio, provide a way that someone in a wheelchair can get to the patio without going up the stairs. A ramp that you can place over the stairs will work or you can build an permanent ramp.
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Step 3
Create an incline on your outdoor living area. Garden areas and patios are quite suitable for a gentle incline and a wide pathway. This can be built in to your living area so you don't even realize that that's the reason you built it that way. If you build your patio area with a gentle incline you can pour footings at the site as you build the patio, and build the ramp at some point in the future if you wish.
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Step 4
Go for a curving design for your patio entrance rather than a strict angular design. Make your patio entrance an easy place to carry large things onto your patio or push a wheelchair up to your patio.
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Step 5
Design your wheelchair access that is 3-feet wide with a slope of 1 to 12 feet. A 2-foot change in level requires a ramp 24-feet long. These are the standard recommended dimensions for a wheelchair ramp.
