Learning about a Scooter Ramp

Adding a mobility scooter to your life can really help you bring back the independence and ability to move that many people start to miss as they get older. Unfortunately, the road towards happiness with your scooter can have some bumps along the way. First, is acquiring scooter itself: if you have good insurance, this may not be a problem. Otherwise, you may need to depend on your own savings as well as help from your children. It's easy to forget that most homes, condos and apartments were not built for use with scooters. A staircase or even a 2-inch step up between rooms are trivial for anyone who walks, but can be insurmountable for anyone rolling through on a scooter. The key to many of these problems is installing a scooter ramp.

To set expectations correctly, a scooter ramp is not going to help you deal with a flight of stairs up to the second floor or down into the basement. These situations typically require a lift instead. A scooter ramp is perfect for a place where two rooms don't meet perfectly and may have a step which is up to several inches in height. A well designed scooter ramp can bridge this gap and provide a smooth incline which will be easy for you to drive back and forth on. This can instantly make a room which you could never access on your scooter become much more accessible. You can also use a ramp for the entrance to your apartment or house to bridge a similar gap.

If there are stairs leading up to your house or apartment, a scooter ramp may also be possible here. Modern buildings built to ADA guidelines typically already have these types of ramps or are built so that neither a ramp nor stairs are necessary to enter or leave the building. For older homes and apartment buildings, adding a scooter ramp can be both difficult and costly. Many buildings won't have a convenient place for the ramp, and this may require modifying the stairs and tearing out the existing plants and landscaping. Construction can be costly, whether the ramp is built of cement or wood. In some cases, the building may be willing to install the ramp for you in order to comply with ADA guidelines. In other cases, you may need to purchase the ramp yourself and this can prove costly. If you do ask someone to build a ramp at your expense, be sure that you understand the cost before the work begins. You may also ask around for other scooter users who may be willing to share the cost with you.

If you found this useful, please see my other related articles about Wheelchair Vans, Medical Scooters, Wheelchair Parts, Motorized Scooters, Used Mobility Scooters, Used Wheelchairs, and Handicap Scooters.