How do I Load a Wheel Chair in a Vehicle?

Putting wheelchairs in cars allows people to have greater mobility.

Wheelchairs are designed to assist people with mobility issues move around easier. Loading a wheelchair into a vehicle and going places lets the person with limited mobility enjoy the same freedom and activities as people who do not have mobility issues. Manual wheelchairs can get loaded into the back of cars, while other styles of wheelchairs can get loaded into the back of vans or other vehicles.

Instructions

Place a wheelchair in the trunk of a car

1. Remove any parts of the wheelchair that can be removed. This will include the resting spots for the feet and legs, some of the cushions attached to the chair and arm rests or headrests.

2. Place all the removable objects into the trunk of the car. Bring all the parts of the wheelchair together, because you will need to put it back together before the person can use it.

3. Fold up the wheelchair so that it can fit into the back of the car. Many manual wheelchairs can get folded in half so that they can get transported from one place to another.

4. Place the folded wheelchair in the trunk of the car. Remove any objects that may be in the way. The wheelchair can now get transported to a new location.

Put a wheelchair in the back of a van

1. Open the back doors of the van so that you can put the wheelchair in it. Place a wheelchair ramp onto the back of the vehicle so that the ramp rests on the ground and on the van. Alternatively, you can also use two pieces of wood and roll the wheelchair on the wood and up into the van.

2. Remove the headrest and any tall parts of the wheelchair that will not fit into the van. Place the wheelchair parts in the vehicle.

3. Roll the wheelchair up the ramp and into the back of the van. Secure the wheelchair using the wheelchair brakes. Remove the ramp and close the van doors.

Tips & Warnings

• Wheelchairs can often be taken apart for transport. Check the directions that come with the wheelchairs to see what parts can safely come off the wheelchair.

• Secure the wheelchair with rope if you are afraid that it will move in the van. This will prevent the wheelchair from rolling back and forth and potentially hitting someone.

References

• Fact Sheet on Manual Wheelchairs
• Ricability:Getting a Wheelchair Into a Car