ABSTRACT
People with impaired mobility, frequently experience difficulty in gaining access to buildings and vehicles, due to physical barriers. Steps and kerbs are generally the most common access barrier to the elderly and to physically disabled people. Portable ramps provide a temporary and transportable method of allowing these people to overcome access difficulties. This chapter aims to report the results of a two-part evaluation of commercially available portable ramps in the United Kingdom. Before commencement of the trials all the ramps with the exception of the kerb ramps, were tested for strength and safety by the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering. As with all types of disability equipment, a portable ramp should be tested by the potential user before making a purchase. If possible it should be tried in the environment in which it will be used, and with the user’s regular wheelchair.
