A Wheelchair lift, ramp and platform all have a similar purpose: to help people in wheelchairs get to the top or bottom of a set of stairs, to get into and out of vehicles, to navigate curbs, and to deal with any other “bumps in the road.”

There are many styles of wheelchair lifts, ramps and platforms. Some are portable, some are permanent, some are small and some are large. The design of them can be modified depending on their purpose, and they can also be custom designed to satisfy a particular need.

Some situations in which a wheelchair lift, ramp and/or platform are necessary are: in offices, in stores or commercial businesses, to gain access to a stage, to climb outdoor bleachers, and to raise a person to the level of an airplane, a train or a vehicle.

Portable wheelchair lifts and ramps are good for locations that do not have excess floor space or do not have the capacity to house an entire elevator system. Portable wheelchair lifts and ramp are easy to move and store, and can be transported to areas in which they are needed. Many can even be kept outside in a covered location.

Permanent wheelchair lifts and ramps are good for buildings which need to be modified so they are in compliance with the American’s with Disabilities (ADA) Act of 1990. Permanent wheelchair lifts and ramps are sometimes more expensive than portable lifts and ramps, but for practical purposes make mores sense.

There are several types of wheelchair lifts and ramps. A “track” wheelchair ramp is one that has a track in which a wheelchair’s wheels can align. These ramps are designed to ensure that a wheelchair cannot slip or veer off. A “telescoping” wheelchair ramp is one that can be extended in a telescope-like fashion if a longer ramp is needed in a particular situation. A “threshold” wheelchair ramp is good for inside and outside, and are generally used to wheel a wheelchair over a doorway entrance.

Many portable wheelchair ramps can be folded for easy transportation. Some are designed to compact with a single fold, and some can fold in two or three spots. These “suitcase” ramps usually come with a handle so they can be carried easily.

Vehicle wheelchair ramps and lifts are used so that a wheelchair can be brought up to the level of the vehicle or down to the street. Many are electric-powered, but some are also semi-electric, and some are completely manual. The type of vehicle wheelchair ramp and lift that will work best depends on the person in the wheelchair’s specific needs. If the person is unable to lift things or maneuver a lift with his or her arms, a completely electric lift may be the best solution.

Manual wheelchair ramps are almost always maintenance-free pieces of equipment. They do not have a power source and are folded and unfolded by hand. They will usually not break because there is no real way to damage them unless something heavy falls on them or if a wheelchair and its passenger are too heavy for the ramp to handle. Manual ramps are reliable and rarely need to be serviced.

Electric or hydraulic wheelchair lifts or ramps on the other hand, must be routinely serviced and maintained. There is always a chance of problems with the motor and a chance for the ramp or lift to malfunction. However, most (if not all) electric or hydraulic ramps and lifts come with emergency back-up systems. The back-up system may be a battery-pack that allows the ramp and lift to function in a power outage, or may be a manual lever, switch, or handle that allows a person to raise and lower the ramp or lift by hand.