Wheel Chair Ramp

Although having a motorized wheel chair has helped many people with disabilities move around independently, the current technology is unable to overcome steps and curbs easily without using a wheel chair ramp. The original design of our roads and buildings did not take into considerations of the people who are going around on a pediatric wheelchair or electric mobility scooter, although the situation is rapidly changing. Nevertheless, they are still many remaining steps, stairs and hurdles to be encountered in life at the moment.

For wheel chair users, multi storey buildings without lifts can be a real headache. Trying to go up the stairs on your mobility chair is very difficult even when you have assistance from other people. Trying to go up on your own is too dangerous and puts other passersby at risk as well. Many wheel chair users choose to install a wheel chair ramp or a lift chair in their multi storey homes to facilitate their movements around the living area.

A wheel chair ramp helps moving around steps and difficult terrain easier for people that have difficulties walking. A lightweight wheel chair ramp is easy to bring along and can be quickly assembled to create an inclined platform that is similar to roadways and slopes designed for use with electric wheel chairs. With a wheel chair ramp, there is no need for manual lifting which may be impossible at times for a single person without any equipment.

There are all types of wheelchair ramps available: Folding, Threshold, Telescoping, Van Side Door, Van Rear Door, Solid, Bariatric or even a customized modular ramp. Permanent wheel chair ramps around the house can be made cheaper using wood materials and you can even get a local carpenter or DIY the job with another family member. It is better to use the lowest slope possible as long as there is sufficient space. This reduces the risk of tipping backwards and falling over. Furthermore, a steep ramp is difficult to climb for both hand powered or a motorized wheel chair.

Modular Wheel Chair Ramp Kits

The modular wheel chair ramp kits come in many different sections and are usually made from aluminum. Although the idea of being able to adapt the shape and length of these modular wheel chair ramps to the situation, usually these are set up once and for all and never changed. That means you may be paying more than necessary for modular ramp kits instead of just buying the cheaper threshold wheel chair ramps. The one advantage of using a modular wheel chair ramp over individual ones is bends can be incorporated to maximize the use of space especially when the height difference between the two levels is very big and an ultra long one way ramp to reduce the slope is not possible.

As far as stairs are concerned, the safest approach is still to install a lift chair which can move one up and down with its motorized mechanism. Trying to move a wheel chair along the stairs even with the help of non skid strips and handrails can be difficult and requires a tremendous amount of upper body strength. Note that you need to carry your mobility chair's weight as well and motorized ones can be very heavy.

There are many wheel chair ramps available in different width, length and features. Which ever ramp you buy, make sure it has a high traction anti slip surface for safety purposes. It may be a better idea to choose products that are approved by the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act), since they have to be rigorously tested for reliability and safety before being approved. These wheelchair parts are normally made from aluminum for its strength and lightweight qualities, and are easy to clean and maintain as well.

You need to buy a wide wheel chair ramp that can accommodate the size of your electric wheel chair. Some wheel chair ramps have built-in curbs to prevent you from slipping off the ramp during mounting and dismounting your wheel chair. For permanent fixtures around the house and building, you can consider a permanent solid and threshold wheel chair ramp. The latter can be assembled using bolts/rivets and can be easily disassembled if you need to relocate it or store it away.

You can also consider a folding wheel chair ramp that is made to be carried around and used anywhere. These compact ramps come in either folding or rolling variants. They are easy to unfold and users only need to roll their wheel chairs along the ramp to reach the other end. The most common use for a wheel chair ramp is for use on the side door of a mobility car or van. This allows people with lower limb disabilities to use cars and load up their foldable lightweight wheel chairs onto the car without an expensive van side door chair lift (can cost up to $15,000 dollars depending on your requirements).

A folding wheel chair ramp is typically lightweight without compromising on durability and most can sustain up to six hundred pounds in weight. These are very portable and are designed like a suitcase as they can be folded in the centre or multi folded from the edges. They have a built in handle for easy carrying around. Aluminum is the preferred material for such portable suitcase wheel chair ramps because they can be built to very compact sizes unlike wooden ramps. However, due to the cheaper prices of the wood variants, they are normally used at home and other permanent places that require a wheel chair ramp for your convenience, especially if you need to go to an fro that location frequently.