Raised Beds

For access from a wheelchair the optimum bed should be twenty-four inches high. To avoid awkward reaching keep the beds narrow as depicted in Figure 1. Twenty-four inches from edge of path to center of bed should be considered the maximum reach distance. Specialized tools to extend a person’s reach are available; however, young children may have difficulty manipulating these tools. Length of the beds may be any convenient size.

Figure 1

These photos show examples of how raised beds may be constructed to allow good access from a wheelchair.