Tailored Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles Making the Outdoors Accessible
It wasn’t too long ago that people in wheelchairs were expected to spend most of their time inside – this has nothing to do with the person and everything to do with how inaccessibly the world has been built. Now, with improvements to technology and new focus on people-centred design, the world is looking much bigger. The beauty of wheelchair accessible vehicles is their ability to open the world to all, tailoring those vehicles to the people using them is what makes them capable of doing their job.
Whether you’re an adventurer at heart or just want to breathe in the fresh air, a tailored wheelchair accessible vehicle is what you need to make it to the great outdoors.
Putting an Emphasis on Your Needs
Wheelchair accessible vehicles earn their name by being wheelchair accessible, but just because they can hold a wheelchair does not mean they’re right for your needs or the needs of your family. To access the great outdoors, you need a car that can comfortably transport everyone, otherwise going out won’t be the great experience it could be. At Automobility, we always tailor our vehicles to the specific needs of the people who will use them to access the community – some of the things we consider include:
Where Everyone Will Sit
The placement of the wheelchair in your vehicle will determine where everyone will sit, you should choose the configuration that works best for everyone who will regularly use the vehicle.
Drive from Wheelchair
This option gives people who have the ability, and desire, to drive the freedom to do so with less assistance. We can achieve this by tailoring a vehicle to have automated entry and various driver control options.
Front Passenger
Perfect for when you’re wanting to sit beside each other, a front passenger conversion allows the person in the wheelchair to sit next to the driver. This is a very popular option for couples as it is best suited for interaction between driver and passenger and allows the passenger to really take in the view as you drive along the wide-open roads.
Row 2 Conversion
Row 2 conversions are perfect for families, they place the wheelchair user in the middle of all the action and have seating for 6 occupants – this is the most popular option for Automobility clients.
Row 3 Conversion
We recommend row 3 conversions for people who have less frequent need for a wheelchair or can transfer from their wheelchair onto a seat for longer rides. These wheelchair accessible vehicles have room for 7 occupants or 5 occupants plus one wheelchair.
Vehicle Access Options
How you get into the vehicle is clearly an important consideration, which is why it’s good to think about your options and consider what would work best for you. Automobility vehicles have ramp access for easy loading and unloading, and we can also add side steps to our vehicles to help people who are not in wheelchairs easily get in.
Head and Torso Support
For people with low backed wheelchairs or sports wheelchairs, we recommend having additional head and torso support in your vehicle – this makes the drive safer by reducing the risk of injury in the case of a collision.
Working Out the Best Route
While your new car may be able to travel on any road, you do still need to consider the comfort of everyone in the vehicle. At Automobility, we endeavour to make the ride as safe and comfortable for people in wheelchairs as possible, but sitting in a wheelchair will always be a different experience to sitting in a car seat. So, when figuring out which roads to take, think about:
The Quality of the Roads
Potholes and unpaved roads will always be felt by everyone in the car, but not having a seat that’s physically built into the car with lots of cushioning will leave wheelchair users feeling the full brunt of every jolt and jerk on the road. When planning out your road trip, try to stick to well-maintained, paved roads to ensure everyone is as comfortable as possible.
The Twists and Turns
Winding roads and sharp turns can sometimes be fun, but for those who lack the core strength necessary to stay firmly in your seat, they can be a terrible experience. Everyone is different, so when driving in a car with a wheelchair user it’s always best to check with them what they’re preferences are regarding the twists and turns of the road.
The Distance to Travel
Long car rides are definitely a matter of preference – some people simply can’t stand them! These car rides can be especially uncomfortable for people in wheelchairs as they are not able to move around as much, and their seat is less stable within the car. If your destination is a long way away, make sure to plan frequent stops along the road to break up the journey and make it more tolerable for all.
Automobility, Enabling Life’s Journey
If you’re in the market for a new wheelchair accessible vehicle, make sure to get in touch with Automobility. With over 20 years of experience manufacturing wheelchair accessible vehicles, our customers can trust us to provide them with a vehicle that works for their specific needs. To learn more about what we do at Automobility, make sure you check out our blogs and read about our mission.
