Discount Wheelchair RampsYou may have came upon this website because you have been told how much wheelchair ramps cost and that health insurance does not pay for them. It is an unfortunate circumstance, as disabled people need them to access their homes. This website describes types of discount wheelchair ramps and some funding opportunities that could be helpful.
Types of Wheelchair Ramps
There are four types of wheelchair ramps. There are aluminum wheelchair ramps, which are most common because of their ease in transportability. They fold up and tend to be the least costly type of ramp.
The second type is a fiberglass wheelchair ramp. These ramps also fold and are more lightweight than the aluminum type. However, they are more expensive than the aluminum type.
The third type of wheelchair ramp is made of wood. These are usually used to enter the home and are not transportable. They need to be built by a carpenter or handy man. They are also usually built up to necessary codes. The typical coding for correct wheelchair ramps is that they need to be one foot long per one inch of height they are to cover. For example, a ramp would need to be eight feet long is it was to allow someone to get over an eight inch step. They also have to be at least 36 inches in width. Therefore, you can see that when a house has three or four steps of nine or ten inches of height, the ramps tend to be quite long.
The fourth type of wheelchair ramp is one made of cement. These are built with the same coding guidelines but are much more expensive. However, they do withstand fluctuations in weather better than their wooden counterparts. Overall, I will be discussing aluminum ramps as you were looking for discount wheelchair ramps.
Aluminum Discount Wheelchair Ramps
When looking for discount wheelchair ramps, aluminum ramps are the choice for you. They can be used for access to one’s home, place of business or into one’s vehicle. There are four different types of discount wheelchair ramps. Those types of ramps are: single-fold, multi-fold, threshold and track ramps.
A single fold ramp is lightweight and easy to use. It literally is folded in two and carries like a suitcase. It has a non-skid surface, which aids in traction. The only down fall for this type of ramp, is that the longer you go, the harder it is to transport.
A multi-fold ramp is the most common type of the aluminum ramps. A multi-fold ramp not only folds in half, but also folds to be a quarter of its total size. This type of ramp is usually called a suitcase-type ramp and carries as such. It is easy to transport and store. This is usually a favorite, when needing a longer ramp. It also has anti-slip material on it. When looking for discount wheelchair ramps, aluminum multi-fold is an excellent choice.
A threshold ramp is a good choice when needing a ramp to go over a door threshold. It is usually a smaller ramp, no more than a couple of feet in length. This type of ramp can be used in conjunction with any of the other ramps, since it has a unique function.
Track ramps are usually used for accessing one’s van. The come as two telescoping ramps that extent and lock firmly in place. They collapse for easy transport. When looking for discount wheelchair ramps for van use, these are a favorable option.
Funding of Wheelchair Ramps
It is surprising, that when wheelchairs are easily covered by health providers, access to return to home is not. This is frustrating because returning a person home instead of remaining in a hospital is cost effective. However, ramps are not covered by a person’s medical insurance.
Fortunately, there are possible funding sources out there to fund ramps. Some of the funding sources include, VESID (Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities), which gives funding to people who need the ramps to carry out their vocational goals.
There are also numerous care-at-home programs, which service coordinators and case managers would have knowledge of. There is the Make-a-Wish Foundation, which may help people get equipment to access their homes. Other local groups, such as independent living centers and churches, might take on fundraisers for such equipment.
Summary
Individuals and families taking care of disabled relative are well acquainted with the high prices of medical equipment. It is natural to look discount wheelchair ramps as a way to save money. Overall, it is recommended that the fiscally responsible seek out aluminum ramps as their source for discount wheelchair ramps.
Last Update: 3/20/08
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor or any other health care provider. Global Rehab Technologies, LLC disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information. To contact us, please e-mail GlobalRehabTech@roadrunner.com
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