It is so easy for most of us to move around that this blessing is taken for granted. Not every human being is blessed enough to enjoy this freedom. A fit person could be confined to a wheelchair because of a temperory or permanent disability. Accessibility issues coupled with the disability could make the problem even more grave. Climbing the stairs, moving around in a building, catching a train, a boat, a plane, or visiting a school, church, or auditorium becomes very difficult. This is where the concepts of wheelchair lifts and ramps have come to the aid of the disabled person.
A wheelchair lift is a device to elevate a wheelchair to a certain level against stairs, a barrier, or a vehicle enabling the occupant to overcome or board it. A wheelchair lift can be a manual, hydraulic, or powered device. It ensures the mobility of wheelchair users be it inside or outside their homes and at those places where ramp does not work. A Wheelchair lift can be divided into various categories depending upon how it works and place where it is to be used. Let’s first take a look at the types of wheelchair lift based on how they operate.
A wheelchair lift can be hydraulic, manual, or powered. A hydraulic lift, as its name implies, uses hydraulics to pull up the chair and ensure smooth functioning. They can adapt very fast to a different terrain or height and work efficiently even in the case of a power failure.
A manual version is cheap and easy to manage. If the disability is not severe, or if another individual is available to help the user, then it is quite economical to use this option.
A powered wheelchair is cheaper in comparision with hydraulic wheelchair, but it needs few repairs and maintainence. It is very user friendly and hence it is much saught after by older people and people with a greater degree of disability. The possibility of power failure which affects the performance of this lift can be overcome by a battery or a backup system. If the need arises then you can also add an automatic door opener or a telephone jack.
Second category of wheelchair lifts is dependent on how you are going to use them, whether as a lift for vehicles or lifts for home use. Wheelchair and its occupant are easily lifted by the wheelchair lift into the van, car, SUV, or truck. There are two types of home lifts available,shaft and enclosed. If you only need a platform, then you should go for the shaft type. For a safer operation, you can use the enclosed type.
As you can see, wheelchair lifts are designed to facilitate wheelchair and scooter access when a ramp is not practical due to height or lack of space.