Wooden Wheelchair Ramp Building and Seven Things You Must Know

I have recently noticed a great deal of interest in information on building wooden wheelchair ramps. While I recently wrote an article that covered the building of concrete ramps here at my own residence. I thought I would cover building a wooden wheelchair ramp. I have in the past built several wooden ramps.

Wooden ramps come in a wide range of sizes and materials. So we will cover the general rules you must follow in order to build a sturdy and most importantly safe wooden wheelchair ramp. I say most of all safe because I have seen and even used some wooden ramps that to my mind were more dangerous than not having a ramp. There are seven thing you must know in order to build a safe and sturdy wooden ramp.

1. Do I really need a wooden ramp here or would something else be better?

2. Remember the rules of ramp building. Your angle is 1:2 or 1" rise = 12" run, every 30" rise a landing of 60" long. Avoid long runs break them up if you can.

3. Materials must pressure treated or rated for outdoor use. Use stainless steel or galvanized carriage bolts and screws. You'll round footing forms and post brackets as well.

4. The tools you will need are very basic. You will need a hand saw or circular saw. A drill with a 1/2" bit to drill holes for the carriage bolts. A ratchet to tighten the nuts. A tape measure, a carpenters square, level, and cordless drill driver are other tools you will need. You will also need a post hole digger and a shovel.

5. Any structure is only as good as it's foundation. So we take special care with the footings of our wheelchair ramp. They should be place every six feet forming a 6' x 4' rectangle with a post bracket embedded in the top.

6. Don't make it too steep. Always check your angle and use the ratio. If it is too steep the user won't make it up.

7. Put it together right! Use screws for the decking and nuts and bolts at all the joints. Think of the ramp as a bridge for a wheelchair and build it as such. Don't just nail it together.

As we can see building a wooden wheelchair ramp is not a simple undertaking. It is however within the skill level of the average do-it-yourself builder. And while I wrote an article covering the building of a concrete ramp it was a rather simple threshold ramp you would encounter in typical slab construction home. I would not however recommend a concrete ramp project of the scale I have just described for the do-it-yourself builder unless you have prior experience with concrete projects of this scale.

My name is Gary M Renick and I am a 55 year old retired engineer. I have be handicapped since the age of three when I was stricken by polio. I have spent the last 37 years confined to a wheelchair. The last five in a power chair as I now suffer from Post Polio Syndrome. My experience as a wheelchair user helps me to write about accessibility problems and solutions. My blog is called "Ask Gary ADA" and it deals with answers to accessibility problems and other handicap issues and changing government policy. You can visit my site at http://www.askgaryada.com

Wheelchair Accessories

A person who is confined to a wheelchair can do a lot to customize it in order to make it attractive and comfortable. Just because being in a wheelchair is unavoidable does not mean that it has to be entirely uncomfortable. This realization has resulted in a growing demand for wheelchair accessories of all types. As a result, there are many companies that specialize in the manufacture and sale of good quality accessories for all sorts of wheelchairs.

If you visit other people in their homes a lot using your wheelchair, then wheel covers are absolutely essential. They will prevent your wheels from carrying dirt into the homes and offices you enter.

A wheelchair tray is another accessory, and it helps a person keep things in from of them without having to hold it in their hands or in their lap. Similarly, a wheelchair backpack can be fitted to the back of the wheelchair, even a motorized wheelchair, so that the user can carry all sorts of essential things there. Some of these backpacks have multiple pockets that can be used to carry mobile phones, money, cosmetics or bottled water within easy reach. If the person requires it his or her wheelchair can also be fitted with a cane holder.

These accessories cover a whole lot of functions, and they are very helpful in reducing the inconvenience caused by having to use a manual or motorized wheelchairs. There are many interesting accessories available, and you should find out exactly which ones will help you the most before you decide on buying any one. You obviously cannot buy every accessory you see, and you will have to limit your choice to the most useful ones.

Bebo is concerned about accessibility for everyone because it personally affects his life. A member of his family uses motorized wheelchair and this fact led him to start a website/blog on motorized wheelchairs

Funding Options and Sources For Your Wheelchair

The wheelchair, an equipment to help paraplegic get greater freedom and independence, might be affordable to most families, but to some, this cost might be a whole year's savings. If you are in need for some funding to help you get that wheelchair, this article is a good resource to help you out, as we discuss a few funding options and sources.

1. The Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers (RTS) also known as Durable Medical Equipment sales assistant (DME) are the professionals who sell, service, and maintain the functionality of wheelchairs. Being the expert in the industry, they know the US funding system well and can help a great deal to get funding for their customers. In fact, some of the larger RTS companies in the market even hire a funding or reimbursement specialists to help customers work with insurance companies and other suitable sources, depending on your circumstances, to get payment and claims. Currently, there is also a new trend for Managed Care Organization (MCO) and Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) to refer their customers to the DMEs that they own.

2. Medicaid - a joint Federal State program to pay for medical services for eligible low income and unfortunate families can be also a source of funding for your wheelchair. The covered services and funding for adults may vary in the state you live in, nevertheless a comprehensive sets of services called Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) are provided for children till twenty-one years old.

3. Waivers for children who use wheelchairs known as "Katy Beckett Waivers" are also available in most states. This waiver allows low-income families to apply for a waiver. The waiver would makes the child qualified for Medicaid funding that can be used in combination with the family's health insurance. Other kinds of waivers are also provided for the needs of children with other special diagnoses or disabilities.

4. Another important source of funds is Medicare. Medicare Part A covers you while you are in a health care facility, providing you with the necessary wheelchair and medical equipment needed. Medicare Part B covers a range of outpatient health care services like health insurance policy and this is the part of Medicare that pays for wheelchairs. Medicare has very clear guidelines about what type of wheelchairs one can buy namely - The wheelchair must be required in order to provide a safe and functional means to get around inside the house. The usage of the wheelchair must fit this guideline, as Medicare is only concern about funding wheelchairs for use within the home. Therefore all documentation, the letters of justification and the Certificates of Medical Necessity (CMN), must support and explain the need for the wheelchair within the home.

So now the first thing you need to do is, to determine which DMERC is responsible for your state. The DMERC Link will give you the toll free number for the DMERC for your state. Besides an 800 number, each DMERC has information in various formats to help you with any questions regarding equipment, a claim or an appeal.

These are the available options that Americans can use should they need any assistance in funding for a wheelchair and if the respective authority reckons that based on the individual circumstances, the applicant is eligible for the grant or benefits then he will get funds for the wheelchair.

Moses Wright is the webmaster of WheelchairUser.net. He provides more helpful information on Wheelchair, Wheelchair Ramps and Wheelchair Lift that you can learn in the comfort of your home on his website. You are welcome to reprint this article if you keep the content and live link intact.

How To Sell Your Used Electric Wheelchair

Wheelchairs are a boon to the physically disabled people who cannot walk or move. With the help of these wheelchairs they can move around anywhere and everywhere. They are free to go wherever they want with the support of wheelchairs. The wheelchair is a chair like thing with wheels under it which helps the movement of the chair when the gear is moved. But today the movement of wheelchairs has been made easier by the manufacturing of electric wheelchairs. These electric wheelchairs are powered by electricity and hydraulic power and have a power button. By pressing the power button one can move around easily.

Electric wheelchairs can be purchased from any showroom selling such wheelchairs. Electric wheelchairs also come with a wheelchair lift which is also powered with the similar mechanism as the wheelchair itself. This wheelchair lift allows the disabled person to rise above the surface of the ground. The person places the wheelchair on the platform of the wheelchair lift and then by pressing the power button raises the wheelchair above the surface. This is very helpful in going up in elevated places. The only factor about the electric wheelchair which acts as a negative point is that is far too costly and most of the people are unable to afford it.

Electric wheelchair might cost up to a few thousands of dollars. So it is not so easy for a middle class man to buy the electric wheelchair which is otherwise so much advantageous. But a solution to this problem is purchasing used electric wheelchairs. There are showrooms which sell used electric wheelchair but in good condition.

It is seen that used electric wheelchairs are bought to save money; similarly used electric wheelchair can be sold to have a money return. People can sell their electric wheelchairs once they have finished with the use of it. Electric wheelchairs cost more so to get back at least the half price of the wheelchair will be enough. If the electric wheelchair is almost new and is in a very good condition then the price given may rise up. There are many showrooms and places where they buy the electric wheelchairs. The condition for selling these used wheelchairs is that it must be in excellent condition to be most of the showrooms do not buy wheelchairs which are more than three years old. But the prices given by different showrooms vary; the prices also vary on the condition in which the wheelchair is.

To sell the wheelchair one must take few steps. To initiate the selling process the person concerned might give advertisements in the classified pages of a daily newspaper or at the bulletin boards of a supermarket. One might also try the website for featuring the advertisement, but these unprofessional methods must be avoided as much as possible because these companies seldom match the proper equipment with the user.

The reliable resources for selling used wheelchairs are the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) which will match the equipment with the needy through newsletters, word of mouth or notices. The state rehabilitation department can be contacted to see whether they can connect the seller with a therapist who can help him finding a new user.

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Motorized Wheelchair - All You Need to Know

When wheelchairs were invented as early as the year 1700's, this gave chances and hope to people who were not given the gift to walk or ware deprived to walk. From those ages until this day and age, innovations are still on going in developing a new trend, make, model and design to best fit the needs of recipients of these very helpful inventions.

Then came a new innovative step in the line of wheelchairs, a motorized wheelchair was invented to cater the needs of some wheelchair users who cannot move themselves around using a manual wheelchair. Motorized wheelchair comes with a motor which drives this chair in lieu of manual power and navigational controls for steering and moving back and forth. As these motorized wheelchairs shoot up in the markets, it however admits of some limitations. Some users of these motorized wheelchairs are facing space problems as this kind of wheelchair needs a bigger than usual space to drive on because this is somehow bulky and not to mention it weighs much more than a manual wheelchair.

Traveling along with these motorized wheelchairs however requires another extra baggage room or space in the car for it to be carried from one place to another. Another is that these wheelchairs will costs a much higher maintenance as it comes with some other gadgets which needs to be changed or charged like a battery or any other power driving device. Although these inventions admit of some limitations, this kind of device could not be denied that it gives a person the capability to move from one place to another and not to mention reliability and comfort.

Pediatric Wheelchair Considerations

Children with disabilities needn't miss out on all activities of childhood if you properly choose the right type of pediatric wheelchair so their mobility is enhanced. There are all sorts of variables to take into considerations when it comes to picking out the right chair. One such consideration is transportation. So while an electric power chair is popular among kids and adults alike, a more lightweight wheelchair might be more easily transportable.

Since you will be maneuvering your child around your home and transferring him from wheelchair to chair you would probably want a lightweight wheelchair for that purpose. Choose one with detachable hardware so you can get the wheelchair as close to the chair as possible to save on back strain. Also consider which type of wheelchair would be best suited for school and any other activities your child participates in. Of course the most important consideration is that you choose a wheelchair that meets with the doctor's specifications.

You can opt to purchase a wheelchair that is the size of your child and then buy a larger chair as your child grows. Or you can buy a wheelchair that grows with your child. Certain types of pediatric wheelchairs are built to expand in size to accommodate increased bulk and weight by altering a cross balance on the bottom of the chair. The front frames for the legs can be lengthened as your child's legs grow longer. A wheel chair such as this can last for 10 years or longer making them a wise investment.

Also, you want your child to be comfortable. Select cushions that are not overly soft or rough so your child will be comfortable sitting for long periods of time. A cushion that is too thick will be uncomfortable and one that is too thin will not provide enough support. Be sure to choose a pediatric wheelchair with a footrest that is low enough so that it allows the seat to be in contact with the entire thigh.

Other considerations that are not as important are the style and color of the wheelchair. Although, these options might mean more to your child than they do to you. There is no need to settle for a depressing gray or brown metal framed chair. Pediatric wheelchairs can be purchased in lively colors such as red, blue, or pink and decorated with stickers and painted flowers so they are more appealing to children.

You can see that there are many things to consider when picking out a pediatric wheelchair. Do not rely on price alone. Pricier does not necessarily mean better. You want a wheelchair that is comfortable and provides proper support. It should be easily maneuverable to make things easier on both of you. Remember that you can buy your cushions separately to further customize your pediatric wheelchair.

Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of highly popular and comprehensive Wheelchairs web site. For more articles and resources on wheelchairs, shower wheelchairs, motorized wheelchairs, wheelchair lifts and vans, wheelchair rentals and much more visit his site at: http://wheelchair.need-to-know.net/

How to Look For a Wheelchair on eBay

If you like to shop online as I do, I will suggest eBay. I love eBay. This is my favorite online store to shop at. By now, I'm pretty sure you have heard of this website. Thousands of transactions happen constantly on eBay. Just about anyone can sell almost anything here. Items are sold one at a time or several at once (these are called lots). Sellers of all kinds sell their wheelchairs used and new on this site. Type in wheelchairs you will be amazed at how many search results you get in return.

Before purchasing anything, make sure to check the seller's return policy so that you can see how much time you have to test the wheelchair before you are able to return it for a refund. Make sure the seller has pictures so that you can see what you are getting before you purchase. Last but not least, check the seller's rating to see how his pass customers were treated. The seller's rating is next to his user's name. The rating lets you see the feedback that the seller has from other buyers. Most sellers on eBay want to have a 95% - 100% seller's rating because it shows that they take care of their buyers which in turn give them more sales.

Nowadays, everyone is trying to save dollars. You are probably reading this article because you want to do the same. Buying a wheelchair for a low price is very possible on this site. However, you have to be a member to begin purchasing items. Signing up for eBay is free. I have a link to eBay on my site that can take you directly to eBay.

To find wheelchairs on eBay [http://www.wheelchairstation.com], go to WheelChairStation.Com [http://www.wheelchairstation.com] to learn this and much more.