These are supposedly great for blind people, but certain death for those of us with cerebral palsy or other difficulties with walking. The sudden change in texture mixed with the slope of the ramp makes walking even more difficult. And have you ever tried to maneuver a walker, wheel chair or service dog over this? And when it rains, well expect to double your pleasure and triple your anxiety because now in addition to negotiating your way up the wheel chair ramp you get to add in the whole slippery element.
It appears that these DWS's are now mandatory in the USA in order to comply with the ever-growing reach of the ADA. It also appears that some disabilities (in this case, blindness) are more equal than others (mobility). More likely is that the manufacturers of these DWS's lobbied Congress unceasingly in an effort to force these things into law and upon us all. That way somebody could make lots and lots of cash at the expense of the disabled under the guise of "helping" them.
My bet is that some lawsuit started this mess, and that another lawsuit will end it. Someone is very likely to take a tumble. May that someone not be me.
Thanks a lot Americans with Disabilities Act for making my life even more frightening than it already is. Maybe next time someone could think it through. Maybe there's a better way to accomplish whatever it is you are trying to accomplish.
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