How to Load a Wheelchair in a Van

A wheelchair van lets disabled motorists get where they need to go.

Loading a wheelchair into a van correctly will ensure that the chair is not damaged during transport and that the chair does not shift and damage anything else. Modern wheelchairs are foldable or collapsible for ease of loading and storage. Vans designed for handicapped mobility come with restraints or harnesses for wheelchairs. Some disabled drivers or passengers prefer to ride in standard seats.

Instructions

1. Fold or collapse the wheelchair. Search the wheelchair for a locking mechanism that will keep it in the folded or collapsed state. Open the back hatch or doors of the van. Clear the area under the rear row of seats to create space for the wheelchair.

2. Lift the chair (if no ramp is available) into the back of the van and slide the chair under the back row of the van seats so that it is nestled between the two seating posts. Roll the chair up a ramp if available and then collapse and slide.

3. Loosen the knob or latch on the restraint housing, depending on model. (The restraints will most likely take the place of the back seats.) Pull the restraints away from the restraint housing. Pull the restraints over the folded wheelchair in a cross pattern.

4. Connect the rubber hooks on the restraint to the wheels (never the spokes), the handles or the steel frame. Tighten them from the housing latch by turning the knob or moving the lever back and forth. Pull at the wheelchair to ensure it is tightly loaded.

References

• Able Data: Manual Wheelchairs
• NMEDA: Mobility