The Wheelchair Lift: Raising the Spirits of the Disabled

Public policy has changed in recent years to accommodate the needs of the disabled. Public buildings are required to have wheelchair ramps providing easy access, and public toilets have automatic doors. But the most recent and the most sophisticated technology now available for those confined to wheelchairs is the wheelchair lift.

How Wheelchair Lifts Work

Powered with either electricity or hydraulics, a wheelchair lift is a mechanical device which enables wheelchair users to access parts of buildings which had previously been off limits to them. A wheelchair lift functions as an elevator for disabled people; the wheelchair user will position his or her chair on the lift's platform, press the button, and the wheelchair lift will slowly raise its occupant to the desired floor.

A wheelchair lift can serve additional purposes, raising an occupied wheelchair into a transportation vehicle or onto a porch, stage, or any elevation to which there is no other wheelchair access. A permanent wheelchair lift can be placed in the spot where it will do the most good; there are portable lifts for temporary installation as well.

Portable Lifts

Many public buildings keep a portable wheelchair lift to assist their disabled visitors. This is especially true in the case f older establishments, in which the narrow hallways prohibit the use of ramps. A wheelchair lift can be a real blessing to the disabled, allowing them to navigate over raised doorsteps and get to the higher floors of a building without needing assistance.

A vehicular wheelchair lift, powered by hydraulics, will be a big time and energy saver, and end the struggle necessary to physically lift a wheelchair bound person into a vehicle, wheelchair and all.

A wheelchair lift provides the disabled a user-friendly way in which to access elevated areas. Having a wheelchair lift in one's home or vehicle can be a tremendous morale booster; but those thinking of having one installed should familiarize themselves with the standards set by the Americans with Disabilities Act. Researching the features of each kind of wheelchair lift, and understanding the benefits each offers, will set your mind at ease about the values of investing in one.

You can even pay a few visits to wheelchair lift manufacturers. They will both welcome your questions and provide you with literature on their products. And if you actually know someone who has had a wheelchair lift installed, why not see if you can test it yourself, and get their opinions about it?