In Australia, children with disability are just as entitled to access education as any other child. The Disability Discrimination Act and the Disability Standards for Education cover a child’s right to education from preschool right through to tertiary education.
There are a number of factors to consider to ensure that your school is compliant with the minimum standards in Australia for providing equal access to education for students with disability. These standards are outlined in the Disability Standards for Education and the Disability Discrimination Act and are applicable to preschools right through to tertiary study institutions.
How To Improve Accessibility In Schools
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, all public buildings and places must be accessible to people who have a disability. This includes educational institutions and applies to preschools, primary schools, high schools, universities, TAFE, etc.
If your school spans multiple storeys, a stairwell is not suitable access for students with disability. There are a number of access solutions that can be used to make all areas of the school accessible to students and staff of any mobility level.
Wheelchair Ramp
A wheelchair ramp is an access solutions that is commonly used in schools to provide uninhibited access to areas that are otherwise only reachable via stairs. However, the higher the elevation, the longer the ramp will need to be. This makes using a ramp to provide wheelchair access only practical in place of a small flight of stairs, such as when entering the office or reception building.
MPR Platform Lifts
An MPR platform lift is a small platform designed to transport wheelchair users, mobility scooters, and other mobility equipment users up and down where a set of stairs would typically go. An MPR lift travels straight up and down, as opposed to other lifts, such as the platform stair lift, that follows the incline of the stairs.
MPR platform lifts can be used indoors and outdoors and are available in two different models with a maximum lifting heights of 1 and 2 metres respectively.
Platform Stair Lifts
Another way to make your school accessible is to install a platform stair lift. A platform stair lift is essentially a platform that is attached to a stair rail used to transport wheelchair users up and down a set of stairs. Platform stair lifts can be used on both straight stairwells as well as curved. One of the benefits of a platform stair lift is that it can be folded away when not in use, minimising space taken up.
Additionally, the travel route of the stair lift follows the trajectory of the stairs, so the number of stairs or angle of incline is not a factor.
Enclosed Platform Lift
An enclosed platform lift is what most people think of when they hear the word lift or elevator. An enclosed platform lift can be used to transport wheelchair users, as well as those with limited mobility and mobility aids such as crutches or a walking stick across multiple storeys.
Quality Education – Accessible To All
To provide quality education that is accessible to all students, regardless of any mobility issues or disability they may have, it’s important to ensure that every area of your school is accessible to everyone. Whether you need a small 1 metre MPR lift or a multi-storey enclosed lift, Axis Lifts has the right access solution for your requirements.
For high quality, reliable accessibility solutions at a competitive price, choose Axis Lifts. Call us today on 1300 002 947 for a free quote.
