Improving access for people with disabilities

The Building Act 2004 recognises that people with disabilities are part of the community, and that any barrier preventing them from participating in the social and economic life of that community must be eliminated. Architectural barriers cause the most difficulty for access, not only for people with disabilities, but also for many other people, particularly the very young and the elderly. In some circumstances, a building consent is not needed and people may choose to design and construct a mobility ramp themselves. This electronic publication has been written as a guide and as such contains relevant excerpts from the three source publications on designing ramps and access ways for people with a disability.