How to Adapt Vehicles for Wheelchair Use
If you use a wheelchair, it can be difficult getting in and out of a car and driving, making even a short journey a drawn-out and unpleasant task. However, there are various ways in which you can adapt a car to make it easier for somebody who uses a wheelchair to travel. Rather than spending tens of thousands of dollars on a custom-built vehicle designed especially for wheelchair-bound drivers, you can adapt a standard vehicle.
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Instructions
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Select a car that's is able to accommodate the improvements planned. You'll need a vehicle with the largest doors possible and plenty of room in the rear. It's best to go for a van or an MPV.
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Install a ramp at the rear or side of the vehicle that retracts under its base when not in use. You need a vehicle at least the size of a minivan for this sort of system to work. You can choose to have some of the seats removed so the wheelchair user can enter the vehicle in the chair and be secured into place, or just use the ramp to get the chair into the vehicle once the person has been seated. There are a number of companies around the country that can carry out these modifications, such as Ams Vans and Rollx Vans. You can alternatively buy a manual ramp that can be used to get the chair into the back of the car. These can be folded down and packed inside the car when not in use. They are available from companies like Handi Ramp and on amazon.com.
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Add additional seating to the vehicle to make the wheelchair user's journey more comfortable. If you're not looking for a system in which the user remains seated in the wheelchair, this can be as simple as using a number of cushions. You can also buy adapted seats that swivel to aid with entering and exiting.
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Move the position of the viewing mirrors. If a person with a disability is driving the car, it's likely that person will be positioned differently than other drivers would. The mirrors on the vehicle will need to be adapted so the wheelchair user can see them clearly. This might be a case of simply moving the mirrors that are already on your vehicle or buying adaptable ones that you can position as required.
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References
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- Photo Credit wheelchair access sign image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com
