When it comes to vehicles for the disabled, such as assisted living transportation or even medical vehicles (among others), it is important that everyone have the ability to access said vehicle. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires reasonable accommodation to those in wheelchairs, and you obviously cannot be expected to carry someone into a vehicle. First of all that could cause significant harm, and it could be seen as a loss of dignity for the individual in question. That being said, a hydraulic wheelchair ramp is definitely in order, and it will help you out significantly.
What is It?
A hydraulic wheelchair ramp provides you the ability to load wheelchair bound individuals into your vehicle with very little effort on your part. Essentially, a platform is lowered from the vehicle and the wheelchair bound individual can be loaded onto it, their wheelchair properly secured so that it does not come loose as the unit is rising. Once it reaches the top, it can be retracted into the vehicle, and from there, the individual can be properly secured inside.
Something to note is that some vehicles are large enough to accommodate more than one wheelchair while others can support only one. That being the case, sometimes the wheelchair ramp itself will serve as the secured station, for example, inside a van interior. In other cases, such as with a bus, the interior will need several stations in which to secure wheelchairs so that they do not move around during transit.
Safety Considerations
All of these hydraulic chair lifts will need to meet certain expectations of safety. For example, they will need to be equipped with emergency stop mechanisms, as well as safety mechanisms to ensure that there is no danger from the ground or to anything from the ground as they are being lowered. Additionally, they need to work properly so that they do not stall or malfunction while an individual is being lifted. These are all important considerations not only for customer satisfaction, but also to ensure that you comply with both state and local laws. We have the equipment and the ability to help you satisfy both. Start planning today and get your vehicles equipped.
