Twenty five years ago the transportation of those bound to live their lives in wheelchairs was virtually not in existence. The care giver, be it a hired professional or a family loved one was forced to lift the disabled person from their chair and place them in a standard vehicle. Obviously this made traveling extremely miserable if not impossible for those attending. Hoisting a human body from a passenger position would eventually cause injury to the person aiding the challenged person.
The wheelchair has been around in different forms for many years. I am sure you have seen the old fashion chair with huge wheels and looked like a wooden kitchen chair. Thankfully to human invention we now have the electric wheelchair and power scooter. The new chairs are extremely easy to operate. Most of these chairs are operated joy sticks and the advanced chairs now operated via mouth control and head control operation. The only down side is the weight of the chair. The mass of the chair consists mostly of lead base batteries that raise the weight of the chair to over three hundred pounds.
To deal with excess weight of the chair and occupant different options had to be developed for the transportation. When mobility vans first came into existence the heavy full size vans were first used. The full sized vans had lifting devises on the side that hoisted the occupant and the chair up and into the van. Unfortunately the lifts were not considered trouble free and required continual maintenance. The largest issue with this type of mechanism is that if it stopped you were stuck where you were at.
In 1986 the US auto manufacturers introduced the mini van. The minivan gave new life to the mobility conversion industry. Families loved the minivan for traveling and ease of operation. Driving in congested areas was much easier and parking was a breeze compared to the monster full size van. Today the minivan manufacturers have turned the once homely minivan into a luxurious family car.
The wheelchair van conversion manufacturers then followed suit and began building side entry and rear entry wheelchair vans. Mobility vans for the disabled took on a whole new life. Converters now lower the floor and incorporate an automatic ramp system. The entire process is automated and activated by a push button. The wheelchair occupant merely drives the chair into the vehicle and has the option of driving or riding. These minivan conversions are great family cars. They have the capacity to carry six passengers plus the wheelchair and occupant.
The world of handicap vans has changed greatly over last few years. The exteriors are not altered and maintain the original manufacturer body style. You can opt for the minimum options package to the luxurious interiors with navigation systems, back up cameras, and auto cruise control. The world is waiting for you and the freedom you can experience will be amazing. Do not allow your disability to become a liability. Explore the world you live in and enjoy life. There are great experiences out there waiting for you.
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