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Wheel
Chair Ramps
The absence of wheel chair ramps at shopping malls and other public
places limits even the most advanced wheel chair
user. Mobile people don’t always understand or
realize the needs of disabled people. A properly
constructed wheel chair ramp will add to the
mobility of wheel chair users and will allow them to
come and go in the same way as any other person.
If ramps are not constructed properly it can be more
of a danger than a help. People who want to
construct a ramp at their homes should carefully
research the requirements before the task is
started.
Wheel chair ramps can be divided into two main
groups:
Permanent Wheel Chair Ramps
Permanent or fixed wheel chair ramps would be used
where there are regular wheel chair traffic such as
an entrance into a house where disabled people
reside. Public places should also have ramps as
alternatives for stairs. There are a few things to
consider when you want to construct a ramp at a
residence or public place. The gradient of the ramp
is the most important consideration. Ramps that are
too steep will be dangerous to wheel chair users.
The lower the slope the safer the ramp will be. The
maximum incline for a ramp is 1:12, which means for
each foot the ramp is high it should be 12 feet
long. Depending on the surface or the person using
the ramp 1:18 is more advisable.
A landing at the bottom and top of the wheel chair
ramp would also be necessary if there is no flat
surface at the end of the ramp. Without a landing it
would be very difficult to open a possible door at
the top of the ramp or the chair won’t have enough
space to manoeuvre if there is a sharp turn at the
bottom.
Other things that are also important are the weight
the ramp will carry, handrails and edge protection.
Temporary or Portable Wheel Chair Ramps
These ramps are convenient to use at an occasional
step or to get in and out of a car. It can either be
in the form of a platform ramp or a track ramp. A
platform ramp is a solid surface where a track ramp
is long and narrow with one track for each side of
the chair. Many of these wheel chair ramps can fold
or roll to make it easier to transport. Again,
before purchasing or constructing a ramp, the
incline, weight capacity and edge protection, should
be considered carefully. Where there is no caregiver
to assist the disabled person, extra care should be
taken to assure the ramp is easy to use without
help.
Before attempting to construct a wheelchair ramp,
proper research must be done to ensure the safety
and comfortable use of the ramp. There are
construction companies that specialize in ramp
building that can be used. Portable ramps are widely
available for purchase.
Another option is to hire a ramp, especially if you
need it only for a short period of time. In certain
states funding is available to assist people to
acquire ramps and some also have volunteer groups
that will help in this regard. |
