| There are many types of wheelchair ramps | | | | many try to build beyond the minimum! |
| available… including temporary and permanent | | | | So, between the size of the ramp and the material |
| ones. There are ones made of wood and ones made | | | | necessary to hold the weight, a ramp is not easily |
| of steel or aluminum. In this article, we're going to talk | | | | portable. But slowly, efforts are being made to improve |
| about a different kind of ramp…a ramp that is | | | | the portability of wheelchair ramps so that they can |
| completely portable. | | | | carried with the wheelchair user. There are a few |
| So many mobility products are made to be | | | | kinds: |
| ultra-portable. Wheelchairs and scooters can be quickly | | | | ...A suitcase ramp is the most well known. When it |
| and easily disassembled and will fit into the trunk of a | | | | folds up, it is about the size of a suitcase but when it is |
| car. Or there are the highly convenient hitch | | | | unfolded, it allows a rise of about 1 – 2 steps |
| attachments that allow scooter users to lift their | | | | (depending on the manufacturer). Unfortunately, they |
| scooter off the ground and drive around with it nearby, | | | | are still fairly large, weighing about 41 pounds. They |
| fully assembled and ready for their convenience. | | | | might be found to be more portable in a scooter rather |
| Unfortunately, ramps have not followed suit as closely | | | | than in a wheelchair. |
| as other mobility products. Ramps tend to be large, | | | | ...A rolling ramp. These are unusual looking ramps. They |
| heavy, unwieldy, and often permanent. There are two | | | | are fairly light in weight and they roll in one direction. |
| reasons for this: | | | | When you want to use them, you unroll them on a flat |
| 1. The slope of the ramp needs to be a certain ratio of | | | | surface and flip them over and the ramp is very |
| the height…which means the higher the step you | | | | strong. These ramps are often stronger than the |
| want to ascend, the longer your ramp needs to be. | | | | suitcase ramp, but they can also be more expensive. |
| This can increase the weight of the ramp dramatically | | | | As well, they are very portable but again are probably |
| and longer ramps are, of course, less portable. | | | | more portable on a scooter than on a wheelchair. |
| 2. The material of a ramp needs to withstand a fair | | | | ...A home made ramp. Home made ramps are not |
| amount of weight. While the materials that make up a | | | | always recommended because they don't have a |
| wheel chair are fairly light weight, when you combine | | | | weighted and tested strength, they are often just |
| them together with the user, a battery and motor (in | | | | made of wood, and they can be put on slopes that |
| the case of an electric wheelchair), or a second | | | | are not advisable. Still, many wheelchair users use |
| person to push the wheelchair up the ramp… | | | | them because they are very slim to carry around, |
| that can be a lot of weight. Many wheelchair ramps | | | | fairly lightweight, and easy to use. |
| have to be rated for a MINIMUM of a 500 pounds and | | | | |