Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles – Adding Speed to Your Life

How to buy?

Wheelchair accessible vehicles are probably the most important addition to civilized system. Mobility impaired people need to sit in a vehicle – not only as a luxury, but as a daily doing. Time has come when an access to a vehicle is no more a matter of decisiveness. According to recent studies, it shows that depending on another person for their daily needs is a matter of torment and humiliation for the disabled people. It is a psychological pull-back. Being self-sufficient while riding a car, as a passenger or as a driver, not only brings happiness to the disabled people and their family, but also is a matter of social acceptance.

Buying such a vehicle however could be quiet the task. Not only are very little information available, but also apprehension regarding the vehicle and its needs plays a negative role. The first thing one must do while buying a accessible vehicle is locate a mobility equipment dealer and talk to the person at length about his/her own condition and its needs.

The representative should be ready to help you evaluate your condition and mobility needs. Unlike any other automobile dealer, these people to cater specifically to your mobility requirements and suggest you on the equipment’s you may need and how they could be installed in your vehicle.

What modifications are generally made?

Vehicles come with modifications to the general vehicle model. The cost and kind of modifications, obviously, depends on the dealer and the model, but a generic list of expected modifications are:

• The floor is lowered
• The roof is raised
• Extra seats are added and the existing ones are modified according to keeping space for the wheelchair and its means
• Means of wheelchair added to the vehicle, which are ramps, lifts or turning seats.
• Means to secure the wheelchair are added. Like, belts, brakes, tie downs etc.
• Extra or modified doors and windows are added
• The leg brake, clutch and gas lines are modified (if the disabled person wants to drive.

Consult a Specialist

The mere installation of new means to the vehicle will not help the disabled person. The person has to know how to use them. Consulting a Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) is extremely crucial. The Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist will evaluate your equipment’s pertaining to your condition and requirement and then train you on how to use them to their optimum usage.

A disabled person wants to use his/her vehicle as a driver, it might require several days of training and getting used to the equipment’s.

Why a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle?

Disability is still considered a taboo in most countries. An outcry of the disabled is "Rights and not Charity". According to the several Rights a disabled person is entitled to, Right to Liberty, Right to Integrity, Right to Life and Living, Right to Live in the Community and Right to Equality and Non Discrimination, ranks very high. To ensure each one of these Rights, a disabled person has to be given opportunities and assistance to overcome their physical limitations and contribute to the society to the best of their abilities.

A Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle is a speedy step towards ensuring that goal. Building a self-sufficient person is half the job done.

Get your first wheelchair van at Better Life Mobility. Choose between Toyota, Honda, and Chrysler or MV-1 mobility minivans – to see all inventory click here.

Todd Dawson Is a freelance writer