Wheelchair Entry Route Planning in Lakeview and Harahan: How I Measure Rise, Run, and Landing
To start my planning for wheelchair accessibility, I assess the entry point of a route and travel the entire path through to the interior of the house. I evaluate the approach, rise, run, landing, doorway, threshold, and the first internal turn. I make equipment recommendations based on these assessments. A lift or ramp will only be beneficial if the rest of the route leading to and from the equipment is accessible.
I do not start the planning for a wheelchair accessibility route in Lakeview, Harahan, River Ridge, Metairie or Kenner by opting for a piece of equipment to place outside the door.
When I worked at 101 Mobility of New Orleans, I would take note of each step in the accessibility movement sequence.
- What is the starting point?
- How does the mobility device approach the entrance?
- How much does the route change vertically?
- Where will the equipment be located?
- Do the dimensions work for landing?
- Can the door be cleared?
- What happens at the first turn?
Once I have the answers to these, I can move to the next phase of the planning.
Rise, Run, Landing, Door Width, and Turn
Planning for accessibility starts with measuring, but no single measurement tells the whole story.
Rise
Rise is the vertical distance the route has to traverse.
I have to know the actual elevation difference to determine the type of access equipment that is appropriate. A step that is a few inches high is an entirely different issue from a route that has multiple exterior steps.
Run
I evaluate the available distance horizontally.
I need to know where a ramp would go and where it could turn. I need to know how it connects the starting point to the landing. Just measuring the height of the steps is not the only consideration when designing a ramp in New Orleans. I need to know the usable footprint around the steps.
Landing
The landing connects the access equipment to the doorway.
I check the usable space and examine how the door operates within the space. The route is not complete if a person reaches the top of the ramp or lift, but cannot position the mobility device to operate or pass through the door.
Door width
The doorway must accommodate the size of the mobility device that will actually use it.
I measure the usable opening since I cannot assume that the nominal size of the door provides me all the information I need.
First turn
My measurements continue beyond the threshold.
If the entryway leads to a tight hallway or requires a sharp turn to maneuver around another furniture or fixed feature in the hall, I need to identify that before I recommend using exterior equipment.
| Route Point | What I Measure or Check | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Parking/Unloading Area | Position and Approach Direction | Identifies where the accessible route actually begins |
| Exterior Path | Width, Surface, Direction, Obstacles | Identifies how the mobility device reaches the entry |
| Rise | Change in Vertical Position of the Entrance | Helps to Identify Access Solution Needed |
| Available Run | Area Around the Entry | Identifies how much access is available for the solution to be used |
| Landing | Area Near the Door | Positions User Before Entering |
| Doorway | Clear Opening, Swing, Threshold | Determines Whether Mobility Device Passes Through |
| First Interior Turn | Direction and Available Area for Turning | Confirms Access Continues Beyond the Doorway |
I need all of the above to make a recommendation for an assistive device.
How Mobility Devices Impact the Required Clearances
Measuring the house is only half of the story.
I also need to understand the mobility device.
A manual wheelchair, power chair, or scooter can have different measurements and different methods of approaching a doorway or turning. Because each device will utilize the route in its own way, the route must be examined in relation to the mobility device that will be used.
I consider the following:
- Width of the overall device
- Length of the overall device
- Approach to the entry way
- Where user needs to turn
- How user operates the door
- Whether person assists on route to device
- Where device needs to stop or reposition
This is why I cannot generalize a number for a doorway or landing and state that it fits every individual.
To understand what an accessible front door in Harahan may be lacking, I must examine if it is the step outside, the landing, the threshold, the doorway, or the turn after entry.
Obstacles can be compound.
A larger external access product will not solve an inaccessible doorway or turn that is still inaccessible.
When a Threshold Solution, Ramp, or Compact Lift Belongs in the Plan
Once I understand the route, I can narrow the product category.
The goal is to use the simplest solution that properly addresses the barrier rather than beginning with the largest piece of equipment.
When a threshold solution may be enough
If the main problem is a small transition at the doorway and the rest of the approach works, I may consider Rubber Threshold Ramps.
A threshold product addresses that localized elevation change. It does not solve a larger external staircase, provide additional landing space, or correct a narrow internal access route.
If the threshold is the only meaningful barrier, I would not recommend a compact lift simply because it is a more substantial product.
When an aluminum modular ramp belongs in the route
If the entry has a large change in elevation and sufficient space is available for the ramp, Aluminum Modular Ramps may be used.
The system can be configured around the site rather than treated as one fixed ramp section. I still need to evaluate the rise, available space, landings, approach, doorway, and mobility device before determining the layout.
This is why the ramp comes after the measurements.
When I consider a compact lift
Sometimes the vertical change can be handled within a more compact footprint than a longer ramp layout would require.
The LiftUp Easy Lift is a platform-lift option designed for movement between two levels and can be used in indoor or outdoor applications. The current product specifications list multiple platform sizes and a lifting range from 2.8 to 49.2 inches.
Those specifications help determine whether the product belongs in the conversation, but they do not determine site fit by themselves.
I still need landing space, an appropriate approach, a usable exit at the upper level, and a route that continues through the doorway.
The decision is not ramp versus lift. The decision is which equipment, if any, resolves the measured barrier without creating another one.
Drainage and Surface Conditions at the Approach
Measurements are not limited to width and height.
I also look at the surface the person will travel across.
An entry route may begin at a driveway, walkway, or other exterior area before reaching the ramp, threshold product, or lift. I check whether that approach provides a practical route for the mobility device.
I also look for surface transitions and low areas around the planned equipment location.
For external equipment, drainage should be reviewed because the surrounding area of the approach must continue to function as part of the route. I will not just measure the steps; I will measure everything from the approach to the first landing.
The same process will be utilized for Lakeview, Harahan, River Ridge, Metairie, and Kenner. I will begin measuring where the trips actually start and continue to measure until the traveler reaches usable interior space.
This process will result in a recommendation focused on the route as a whole rather than on a single obstacle at the site entrance.
What Happens After Installation?
After installation, we go back to the route.
The product should connect the same points that we discussed during the consultation.
When we consider a ramp, we evaluate the mobility device approach, operation, and use of the ramp, travel through the ramp layout, landing, and the route toward the doorway.
We evaluate the transition addressed by the threshold product.
For the platform lift, we evaluate the approach to the platform, use of the equipment, and exit toward the doorway or the landing.
We explain how to operate the equipment and address any questions.
101 Mobility offers service and support after the installation for the equipment, maintenance, and repairs.
To determine the best access solution for your Lakeview, Harahan, River Ridge, Metairie, and Kenner area homes, begin with our free in-home consultation. We provide a measurement of the entire exterior approach and cover the first accessible space. We show you the access solutions that best fit the measurements we provide.
FAQ: Wheelchair Entry Route Planning
What is the first measurement for a wheelchair entrance?
The first measurement should be the vertical rise from the parking/loading area to the door. Next, measure the approach, landing, and opening of the entrance, threshold, and first interior turning space.
Are steps the only measurement for a ramp?
No. There are other components to the measurement that affect the wheelchair ramp such as the mobility device the ramp serves, the operation of the door, and the space inside the door.
How does the mobility device control the entry planning?
The mobility device controls the planning by the clearances and maneuvering space needed on the route.
What is the role of the wheelchair or power chair?
The access planning controls the position of the device and the turning need for a mobility device approaching a doorway.
When can wheelchair ramps be used to replace a threshold?
A threshold ramp is used when the doorway is the main barrier, and the rest of the entry is within the ADA limits.
When do you consider an Aluminum Modular Ramp?
When interior doorways and exteriors have a connected path that allows the landing to be routed according to the measurements. The final ramp configuration depends on the property but more importantly the use case even if it means requiring multiple configurations.
When would a compact platform lift make more sense?
A compact platform lift would be more appropriate in the design when a vertical obstruction needs to be traversed and a ramp would be difficult to design in the limited available space. The obstruction still needs an appropriate approach, landing, and a usable pathway through the entry.
Why do you measure the first turn inside the house?
Because a user reaching the door does not solve the issue of accessibility. If the mobility device cannot maneuver after passing through the door, then the solution provided has not addressed the cut through accessibility.
About the Author
Jonas Boutte is the owner of 101 Mobility of South Louisiana and has hands-on training from mobility and accessibility manufacturers including Bruno, Harmar, Stiltz, Staying Home, EZ-ACCESS, National Ramp, and others. He helps families throughout Greater New Orleans evaluate their homes and choose practical ramps, platform lifts, stairlifts, and other accessibility solutions based on the space and everyday mobility needs.
