[drcoastline]

I guess my first question would be do you intend to retrofit an existing home or build your own pre-planned handicap accessible home? If you build your own it would be much easier to design the ramp into the home so it is not as prominent. I think most people think a handicap ramp must be a rigid structure of concrete or wood. But what about the idea of grading or regrading the lot in the event of a retrofit so it gently slopes to the entrance? If the grade is gentle enough and the topography the lot rises with the ramp/walk you could eliminate the railings to make it less imposing structures.