Portable Wheelchair Ramp

One of the most difficult aspects of living life in a wheelchair is inaccessibility to homes, businesses, and other public facilities. While new buildings and public facilities, like parks, are designed with the disabled in mind, older houses and businesses are virtually inaccessible and too costly to renovate. However, with the increasing population of wheelchair-bound citizenry, providing a means for greater independence, participation in everyday activities, and an improved quality of life, is imperative. With advancements in medical technology, people are surviving previously fatal accidents; and, the aged are living longer. Thus, the growing need for wheelchair ramps, and the portable variety are an economical answer.

Ramps able to support the weight of an electric wheelchair and its occupant are devised for every conceivable barrier. With the help of a friend or caregiver, movable ramps enable the handicapped to be involved in previously forbidden adventures. Following is a list of portable ramps and the respective uses:

1. Suitcase - The ramp is hinged to fold in half, to approximately the size of a suitcase. The suitcase ramp is ideal for ascending/descending curbs. For a one or two steps less than a foot high, the small ramp is ideal.

2. Multi-Fold - The longer portable ramp folds in two places for transporting from one place to another. The design is handy for traversing 1-3 steps or managing inclines up to two feet in length.

3. Pathway - The one-piece, 20-inch ramp overcomes 1-3 steps or inclines of equal length. The sides have a 2-inch edge to prevent the wheels from leaving the ramp and causing painful accidents.

4. Threshold - Because the front wheels of many wheelchairs are small and able to turn 360 degrees, the chair often catches on seemingly insignificant barriers. Thus, metal or wooden thresholds, 1-6 inches in height, can make entering a residence extremely difficult. So, a threshold ramp is the width of a standard door and fits over the edge from the exterior to the interior of a building-from cement to carpet.

5. Track - Track ramps are a lightweight solution to loading the disabled into a van or SUV. Although a handicapped accessible van is the ideal solution to transportation challenges, the electronic equipment is costly. So, in two separate pieces, on for each wheel, the ramp is placed strategically at the back or side entrance to a van or SUV, and the chair is gently guided upward, until level with the vehicle.

6. Modular - Although still considered portable, a modular ramp is a permanent and economical solution to providing wheelchair accessibility. The ramp can be constructed to fit any situation, whether the fixture is straight or has to turn a corner. Another benefit of the modular is the rustproof materials. The ramp’s durability is also enhanced by the hand rails. The individual can grasp the rails to prevent a runaway wheelchair on a steep grade.

7. Telescoping - The ramp has a descriptive name. Extendable, the telescoping ramp can be extended and retracted to accommodate the small curbs and the sloping pathways.

8. SUV/Van - A portable wheelchair ramp is specifically designed to accommodate the necessary inclines necessary to help the handicapped be transported by SUV or van.

9. Shower/Platform - Renovating an existing home to accommodate the handicapped can be overwhelming and economically beyond reach. However, for safety reasons some adjustments are unavoidable. For instance, showers from a chair are a dangerous endeavor, with little to no privacy if a caregiver is present. Thus, a shower, platform ramp is a reasonable answer. The ramp allows the wheelchair to avoid the step into the stall, and the platform allows the wheelchair to sit under the stream of water. Without lifting and slipping, a shower is now possible.

Accessibility is a frustrating dilemma for physically challenged individuals. Denied even the simplest of pleasures, because a wheelchair cannot navigate steps, steep slopes, thresholds or get into a car, adds insult to the injuries of a disability. With portable wheelchair ramps, life can be lived personally and not from afar.

Next article: How to Build a Wheelchair Ramp: Designs and Plans