Barrier-free design including handicapped parking, handicapped ramps both for approaching the street and gently sloping approaches to buildings, etc. is not a new concept. The law requiring federally constructed buildings to be accessible to persons with disabilities dates as far back as 1968. The specifics of barrier-free design include parking for specially equipped cars and vans; route of travel including walks, handicapped ramps, parking spaces and building entrances; smooth walk surfaces; smooth or gently sloping approach to buildings; doors should have proper width and thresholds; door with U-shaped handles and kickplates; available signs at doors; floor surfaces should be on common level throughout, without steps; corridors should be at least 48-inches wide without protruding objects; and many more.

As a society, we have put a high value on being sensitive to the needs of groups with disabilities and it is widely regarded that these standards and codes are building a more inclusive, accepting community. Unfortunately, sometimes these codes can conflict with one another. Specifically, the federal requirement to remove curbs from roadway access points to be replaced with handicapped ramps (or curb ramps) to allow wheelchairs to access and more importantly get off the road.

The removal of the curb barrier was a boon to wheelchair users, but became an obstacle to those visually impaired individuals who used it to sense their approach to a dangerous roadway. It seems slightly unreasonable that we would exchange the convenience and safety of one special-needs group for another. There now needed to be a way to alert the visually-impaired of approaching handicapped ramps, to ensure safe warning of a street-crossing.

The solution: tactile tile detectable warning surfaces a new system whereby the sound of the cane impact is actually amplified as an added warning of the location of a handicapped ramp. The bright warning yellow tactile tiles also utilize complex pigments, which don't fade or break down under UV radiation.  This is important, since not all visually disabled people are blind; many have partial vision. 

Tactile tiles make an awful lot of sense, keeping handicapped ramps safe for all users, and building our way towards an equal, caring society.

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