Accessible Wheelchair Vans, Cars, and Vehicles for the Physically Disabled, Paraplegics, and Quadriplegics
The Process of Getting an Accessible Wheelchair Van for Someone in a Wheelchair
Types of Accessible Wheelchair Vans and Vehicles: Full Size Vans, Conversion Minivans, Other Vehicles with Wheelchair Transport Options
First of all, I should define what I think an accessible wheelchair van is. An accessible wheelchair van 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 - do you fit in the van, can you be safely secured, can your wheelchair be safely restrained?
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that allows you to independently drive if that is your goal
One thing to note about the above definition is that consumers and counselors often get focused on the independent driving part. They often think in terms of getting hand controls and sometimes forget the other requirements such as safely transporting your wheelchair. The consumer really needs to think about all aspects of an accessible wheelchair van. It does no good to invest in all the time and money to get a restricted driver's license and get trained on hand controls only to then run up against the fact that you have no way to transport your 300lb wheelchair. The process of finding an accessible wheelchair van can unfortunately be long, frustrating, and confusing. When you start pounding the pavement and visiting different dealerships, you'll hear a lot of different things from a lot of different people. There is no one exactly perfect way to go about getting your accessible wheelchair van. The process is not black or white, right or wrong. The ideas and information presented here are based on what I've seen allowed consumers to obtain an appropriate wheelchair van solution. There is no one path to take if for no other reason than the funding source will have a lot to do with how you go about it. 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 an accessible wheelchair van and adaptive equipment. Because the VR and VA are tax payer funded agencies, they will also have procedural requirements governing purchases of wheelchair vans 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. You really need to be committed to getting a wheelchair van but more important you need to be more committed to whatever end goal the wheelchair van can provide: freedom, job, independence, fun, better health.
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You'll never know until you ask. Make sure you fully understand everything that is entitled to you by law. For instance, if you are a VR client, make sure you know everything that the state agency is required to do in order to assist you with achieving a successful employment outcome which may include a vehicle purchase. If you do not know your entitlements, educate yourself or use agencies such as CAP (Client Assistance Program) to assist you in knowing your rights.
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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. But again, make sure you know what you are entitled to. The easiest thing for an agency to do is say no. Saying yes requires time, energy, manpower, paperwork, commitments, and money. Saying no is simple and requires very little follow up action. It's important to state though that agencies sometimes say no to consumers for very good reasons. There are consumers that sometimes frankly want to do things that are unsafe. But the agency must then explain to you why they are not providing the solution you have asked for.
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Make sure you fully understand what someone is telling you. Have them repeat themselves if necessary. Educate yourself as much as possible. Try all wheelchair van solutions. Wheelchair vans, adaptive equipment, and wheelchair transport options are constantly changing.
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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 accessible wheelchair van 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.
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you going to be driving or a passenger only?
- A Braun Companion accessible wheelchair minivan for instance is a less expensive option than a standard Braun conversion minivan but only works as a solution if you plan on being a passenger only. Often vans have more headroom 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.
- Passengers can often rely on assistance in entering/exiting the vehicle and securing the wheelchair and occupant restraints. Wheelchair drivers need to be independent in entering/exiting the wheelchair van and securing themselves and their wheelchair.
- Driving often entails hand controls, a driving evaluation, training, and more extensive fittings. All of these items entail both additional time and expense. A passenger only solution by comparison will be less expensive.
- Are
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.
- An independent wheelchair driver is often required to make comprises in properly restraining themselves.
- 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 avoid riding 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 accessible
wheelchair van and then transferring or
transferring outside?
- The drop floor conversion minivan or full size van would be the ultimate accessible wheelchair van 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 vehicle styles have different seating options. Full size vans and minivans have significantly different cargo carrying capacities.
- 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.
Approximate Prices for Wheelchair Vans and Adaptive Equipment
Obviously it would not surprise me at all if the prices you end up paying vary from the approximate prices below. Wheelchair vans especially are subject to a wide range in pricing, especially driven by the underlying vehicle make and model. A Chrysler Town & Country LX minivan conversion is going to be much less expensive than a Chrysler Town & Country Touring minivan conversion with all of the bells and whistles. Used vans are less expensive than new vans, no surprise there.
Approximate Prices for Wheelchair Vans
Wheelchair Van - Accessible Full Size Conversion Vans: $55,000 New
Wheelchair Van - Accessible Conversion Minivans: $48,000 New for the complete package. If you have an existing vehicle that you want converted (See why we do not recommend this), the conversion itself will be approximately $23,000
Approximate Prices for Adaptive Equipment
Hand Controls: $800 for basic push-pull hand controls to $1,200 - $2,500 for Menox hand controls
Steering wheel spinner knob: $150
Brake/Accelerator Pedal Guards: $350
EZ Lock type wheelchair securement: $1,600
6-way transfer seat: $2,000
Cargo area lift: $3,000
Hitch mounted lift: $2,800
Trailer: $3,500
Wheelchair Platform Lift: $6,000
Raised Roof: $2,500
Raised Doors:$2,000
Automatic door openers:$1,600
Reduced effort brakes: $3,000
Reduced effort steering: $4,000
Electric gear shifter: $3,000
Electric parking brake: $1,500
3-axis transfer seat: $6,000
Good quality self retracting WTORS: $600
Hi-tech gas/brake: $35,000
Hi-tech gas/brake and steering: $70,000
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.
Why Wheelchair Vans, Accessible Vans, Cars, and Vehicles for the Physically Disabled, Paraplegics, and Quadriplegics?
It comes down to this:
- Safety: Wheelchair vans allow someone to be safely transported.
- Independence: Wheelchair vans 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 van 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 vans allow someone to get out into the community, visit friends, and go to interesting places.
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