Did you know that, in Australia, one in six people have a disability? This means that, in Australia, over 4 million people have disabilities. Additionally, one in three people with disabilities in Australia have disabilities that are profound or severe.

If you or someone you know, whether a friend or a family member, have a disability, you might feel stressed about opening doors. Fortunately, with a handicap door handle, it's much easier for those with disabilities to do just that.

When it comes to convenience and promoting accessibility for individuals with disabilities, handicap door handles make a huge difference.

The DDA Act, passed in 1992, protects everyone in Australia against discrimination that might occur based on disability. It also makes it illegal for public places not to have access to people with disabilities.

For this reason, if you run a public place, you must have handicap-accessible doors.

In this article, we'll review everything you need to know about handicap door handles. Finally, you can get the correct type of handicap door handle for you, and it will be easier than ever to open doors. Read on to learn more.

Types of DDA Door Openers

Whatever door hardware for the disabled you're getting, there are various types of DDA door openers available. These include hands-free door sensors, the button-activated door opener, the remote door opener, and the DDA handicap door handle.

Hands-Free Door Sensors

This automatic door opener with sensor is a handicap door that is one of the most straightforward solutions out of DDA-compliant door hardware. Whenever someone with a disability approaches your door, the sensor will simply note their presence.

This automatic door opener sensor detects the infrared energy that humans emit, so when someone is underneath the sensor, it will detect their presence.

Then, the door will open up, allowing the person with the disability to go through and enter your building easily.

After the person has passed through the door and is no longer waiting outside, the sensor will notice the lack of infrared energy beneath it. As a result, the doors will close again.

You've likely seen these types of doors in public areas such as government buildings or shopping malls. Because these doors are harder to install and pricier, they tend to be more common in these places.

Button-Activated Door Opener

When it comes to door handles that are handicap-friendly and DDA-compliant, the button door opener is a great choice. To use this handicap door opener, a person with a disability has to come up to the button next to the door.

Then, they press the button when they're ready to enter. After pressing it, the disabled door handle will cause the door to open. As a result, they'll be able to enter your building easily.

These doors are standard both in homes and in public places. In addition to button-activated door openers, there are ones that are touch-activated.

These types have a panel or switch mounted to a wall that a person with a disability touches. After they touch it, it activates so that the door opens. 

A button- or touch-activated door opener can be useful for someone who uses a scooter, cane, or wheelchair.

However, for someone who has a disability that limits their use of their upper extremities, this door handle type is not the best choice.

Remote Door Opener

Another option is the remote control door opener. With this type of handicap door handle, the person with a disability will have the option to open the door with a remote.

This can be a practical option if you have someone running security at your building. This way, when the security guard sees a person with a disability approaching your building, they can open the door with their remote.

This is also an excellent choice for homes. If a person with a disability is getting home, they can simply use a remote door opener that they keep on their keychain, for example, to open their door easily.

DDA Handicap Door Handle

Many different types of handicap door knobs are in this category. This category includes the Lockwood Cortex Digital Door Lock, the Metlam Slide Indicator Bolt—Sera Lock, the Emro Round Toilet Indicator Bolt—AS1428, and others.

These door handles don't work automatically. Instead, they're much more similar to the door handles that appear in many homes and offices that aren't necessarily handicapped accessible.

DDA door handles are designed to be easy to grip and operate, and often have a larger handle or lever that can be easily grasped and turned. They may also have additional features such as a thumb latch or a button that can be pressed to open the door, in order to make them easier to use for individuals with limited hand function or dexterity. 

Some DDA door handles may also be designed to be operated with a closed fist, which can be helpful for those who have difficulty grasping objects.

Looking to Buy a Handicap Door Handle? Get Quality DDA Compliant Door Hardware at The Lock Shop

Now that you've learned about the different handicap door handle types, from the automatic door opener for handicap type to the DDA handicap door handle type, you might have decided to buy disabled compliant door handles.

In this case, you should shop at The Lock Shop. At The Lock Shop, we sell many DDA-compliant door hardware and can help you with both the door handle installation process and handicap door handle maintenance.

To get DDA-compliant door hardware and handles, check out The Lock Shop today.