Wheelchair Accessible Vans, Cars, and Vehicles for the Physically Disabled, Paraplegics, and Quadriplegics
The Process of Getting a Wheelchair Accessible Van for Someone in a Wheelchair
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Types of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles: Full Size Vans, Conversion Minivans, Other Vehicles with Wheelchair Transport Options
First of all, I should define what I think a wheelchair accessible car is. A wheelchair accessible car is one:
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that you can enter/exit independently or with assistance.
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that can transport your wheelchair, scooter, or other mobility device if you happen to have one
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that allows you to be safely transported
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that allows you to independently drive if that is your goal
The process of finding a wheelchair accessible car can unfortunately be long, frustrating, and confusing. If you are working with an outside funding agency such as your state's Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) or Veteran's Administration (VA), then just dealing with those agencies can be a chore in itself. They will often have procedures set in place that require evaluations and justifications for providing a wheelchair accessible vehicle and adaptive equipment. Because the VR and VA are tax payer funded agencies, they will also have procedural requirements to prevent fraud. My advice to you in your search for an accessible wheelchair van or vehicle would be to:
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Never give up even though the process is long.
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You'll never know until you ask.
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It can't hurt to ask. Let them tell you no. You shouldn't be the first one who says no.
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Make sure you fully understand what someone is telling you. Have them repeat themselves if necessary.
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There really are no dumb questions.
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Remember who you're talking to and what motivates them or in other words salesmen make money by selling. The good ones who are the majority will consider your needs first but there are a minority as in every occupation who will sell something first and worry about meeting your needs second.
You have to consider what it is that your wheelchair accessible car is going to do for you. Obviously your car is going to get you from point A to point B, but how will it do that? So you need to answer some questions. You may not be able to answer all of these questions or you may want to do certain things that in reality you won’t be able to. That’s were the expertise of a driving evaluator or NMEDA vendor comes into play. For instance, you may want a drop floor conversion minivan but you can’t afford it at this time or you may sit too tall in your wheelchair to safely ride in one.
- Are
you going to be driving or a passenger only?
- A Braun Companion wheelchair accessible minivan for instance is a less expensive option than a standard Braun conversion minivan but works if you plan on being a passenger only. Often vans have larger dimensions in the cargo compartment than they do in the driver area so you may fit into vans as a wheelchair passenger that wouldn’t meet your needs as a wheelchair driver.
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you going to be riding in your wheelchair, driving from your wheelchair, or transferring?
- For all of our discussion about the safety of riding in your car in a wheelchair, some people cannot safely transfer. Others cannot independently transfer so if they are going to drive independently, they’ll need to do so from their wheelchair.
- What
type of wheelchair do you have, manual or power?
- Some people cannot manage to physically roll up a conversion minivan ramp independently.
- You should not ride in a manual wheelchair while in a vehicle. Unless the manufacturer specifically says your manual wheelchair is ANSI/RESNA WC-19 compliant, it cannot take the forces of a vehicular crash.
- Are
you going to be riding into your
wheelchair accessible vehicle and then transferring or
transferring outside?
- The drop floor conversion minivan or full size van would be the ultimate wheelchair accessible vehicle for most clients but other solutions that have you transfer and stow the wheelchair outside are less expensive possibilities. Keep in mind that with most of those other accessible options you’ll be exposed to the wind, rain, and snow while transferring whereas in a drop floor minivan, you pretty much roll on in and are out of the weather.
- How
many seats do you need for friends and family?
- Different conversion minivan packages and vehicle styles have different seating options.
- How
heavy are you and your wheelchair, how many people do you plan to take
in your vehicle, how much luggage, groceries, etc.?
- Full size vans have much greater weight carrying capacity than a conversion minivan. If you are a tall person, then the full size van offers you the most headroom. A full size van can be converted with a drop floor and also a raised roof. Although minivans can come with a drop floor conversion, raised roofs are only an option on full size vans. You’ll find the tallest interior room, the tallest door clearances are found on conversion full size vans.
This is by no means a complete list of questions that you'll need to answer in your quest for an accessible wheelchair vehicle. If you aren't familiar with some of the terms or answers, then please look for more information in our specific solution sections such as Wheelchair Van - Accessible Full Size Conversion Vans, Wheelchair Van - Accessible Minivan Conversions, and Wheelchair Transport Options. Depending on your situation, you should also talk with a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist about a Driving Evaluation and a NMEDA vendor.
A Comparison of Wheelchair Vans - Accessible Full Size Vans vs. Conversion Minivans vs. Other Vehicles with Wheelchair Transport Options
Wheelchair Van - Accessible Full Size Conversion Vans
Advantages are:
- Bigger interior room for taller clients who are riding in their wheelchair.
- Higher cargo carrying capacity.
- Can support heavier clients with heavier wheelchairs.
- Rides higher off the ground which may be more important depending on your driveway and roads.
Disadvantages are:
- Larger vehicle.
- Poor fuel economy.
- Lowered floor conversion with lift can be the most expensive option.
- May not fit in your garage if you have a raised roof.
- Stigma of being a "handicapped van".
Wheelchair Van - Accessible Conversion Minivans
Advantages are:
- Get in and out of the vehicle quickly in your wheelchair.
- Transfer and stow your wheelchair inside.
- Good fuel economy.
- “Smaller” vehicle.
Disadvantages are:
- Less cargo carrying capacity.
- Rides lower to the ground
Other Accessible Vehicles with Wheelchair Transport Options
Advantages are:
- Aren’t limited to solutions involving just a van or minivan.
- Can sometimes work with an existing vehicle that you already own.
- Generally overall cheaper solution.
Disadvantages are:
- Person has to be able to transfer to the vehicle's seat or ambulate short distances.
- Transfer occurs outside the vehicle exposed to the elements.
- Wheelchair is sometimes transported outside the vehicle exposed to the elements.
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Why Wheelchair Vans, Accessible Vans, Cars, and Vehicles for the Physically Disabled, Paraplegics, and Quadriplegics?
It comes down to this:
- Safety: Wheelchair accessible vehicles allow someone to be safely transported.
- Independence: Wheelchair accessible vehicles allows individuals to drive themselves to and from their jobs and get out into the community. Public transportation may not work in your community.
- Work or Business: You need to be able to safely travel to or from your place of business or work. A wheelchair accessible vehicle can allow you to safely do that.
- Cost: It is a lot cheaper to transport a person in their own adapted vehicle than it is to transport that person using ambulances and privately owned transportation companies.
- Entertainment: Wheelchair accessible vehicles allow someone to get out into the community, visit friends, and go to interesting places.
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