Abstract: A wheelchair lift that consists of a horizontal platform mounted on a hydraulic elevator operable by the wheelchair occupant. A pivotable back panel of the platform provides a ramp for access to its top from ground level when the elevator frame is completely contracted and the platform is at its lowest position. The back ramp, together with a front gate and a system of lateral rails insures the stability and safety of the wheelchair on top of the platform, which can then be raised to the desired height by the occupant. The elevator arrangement is designed for fast response, so that the invention can be effectively used not only to move a wheelchair to a different plane for locomotion, but also for applications that require frequent adjustments to different heights.