Indiana Wheelchair Accessible Vans

Handicapped vans have become the single most popular method of transportation for the physically disabled. Whether a lowered floor minivan or a full-size van with a handicap lift, handicapped vans are simple, safe, and convenient.

However, a large percentage of Indiana wheelchair van buyers are first time buyers. In other words, they are buying an expensive piece of handicapped equipment without much prior knowledge or experience.

Often disabled people and their families turn to the internet for education and information, as the internet has opened a whole new world of possibilities in all aspects of everyday life. There are also a substantial number of mobility van dealers spread in almost every medium-sized city in America, including Indianapolis, Indiana. Many of these Indiana handicapped van dealers have inventories available for a test drive. A local Indiana mobility van dealer can also go over the positive and negative aspects of each different type of handicapped van.

Selecting a mobility vehicle can be a hassle for many people, but it really should be as simple as buying a new pair of shoes. The first thing to consider is the fit.

The Mobility Consultant will need the height of the person in their wheelchair. Not how tall they are standing, but how tall they sit in their wheelchair. This number indicates what size door height and ceiling dimensions are needed. To acquire this number, stand behind the wheelchair, taking a tape measure from the floor to the top of the head. With the height figured, the fit into the mobility van can be determined.

The next thing you need to consider is width and where you want to sit in the mobility van: front right, mid-section, or as a driver. It should be noted that drivers will need extra equipment such as a docking device for the wheelchair and hand controls or a transfer seat with hand controls.

After the fit, there are several other things to consider when buying a mobility van:

• Will the person be an independent driver?
• Will they have a caregiver?
• Do they want access to the front passenger seating position?
• Can they transfer/do they want to?

These questions will help you determine the style of the mobility van and its options for automated door openings or manual operation.

This question was on a local Mobility Vans blog.

Question from Reader:  Why is it so imprtant to buy from a local mobility dealer instead of buying on the internet from a place not close to my home?

Answer from Superior Louisville:  Service is the number one issue!  If you buy off the internet, where will you go if you have a service need?  With a major purchase like a mobility van, it is important to have certified technicians and staff ready and qualified to answer your questions — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year - face to face.  No sitting on hold on the phone or waiting to schedule an appointment.    Internet sellers cannot deliver on service or on price most instances!

There are different types of Indiana wheelchair van ramps, and when making a purchase you want to find the ramp that will fit you and your lifestyle.

For vehicle access ramps there are two main types, portable (remove manually) and ramps that are installed within the vehicle for convenience.

Portable: A portable ramp requires manual construction. This means the ramp must be set up and taken down before and after entry and exit.

Installed ramp: There are several types of ramps that can be installed to vehicles. With installed ramps the requirements are less strenuous. Most have a lever or a button that can be pushed to initiate the movement.

Do you need a rental for a short time? Taking a trip to the beach can be a breeze with available rental options. If you are concerned about putting the miles on your current handicapped van or maybe you want to experience the features of a new van, either way the option of a rental van is available to you. Check out Louisville handicapped vehicles rental to see some great rental options available for your traveling.

Are you looking for an ADA vehicle?  From lowered floor minivans to passenger busses, wheelchair accessible vehicles aren’t just for private use.  You can now get sales and service from all six Indiana and Kentucky locations of Superior Van & Mobility.  Check out their website for more info, commerical wheelchair van and bus sales and service at superiorvan.com for more about what they offer.

How do you chose your adaptive equipment for your mobility van? There are several different brands to choose. You need to make sure that the equipment is going to fit your needs perfectly. Everyone has different needs and comfort levels. Indiana Handicapped Van Dealers offers a variety of options for your mobility van. Here are some of their options:

Braun Vista Series
Braun UVL Series
Braun Vangater II
Braun L955 Wheelchair Lift
Ricon Clearway: Split Platform Lift
Ricon Klearvue

They have many more options on their site.

The ADA ( American Disability Act) was established in 1992, in an effort to create a healthy and mobile enviornment for those with disablities. The ADA has created guidelines for public places to follow that encourages a quality experience for all. One division of the act includes regulatory parking lots. This requires that a parking lot have a 1:25 handicap spot ratio. The specific parking spot is too be 8 feet in width. This space allows mobility vans to be parked with ease. There is also a required space that is placed next to the parking spot that gives the driver room to manevaur out of the van. The extra room gives peace of mind to those with diabilites.

Buying a wheelchair van is a major investment and there is no room for error. This article is intended to help wheelchair van buyers to select the right wheelchair van for their needs. To get the scoop on wheelchair vans, we turned for advice to John Pedersen, President of Adaptive Experts. Pedersen has 10 years of experience evaluating and training disabled drivers and helping disabled drivers to select the right wheelchair van.

New versus Used
Whether to buy a new or used wheelchair van is actually more complicated than with a regular car, as you have three choices:

• New wheelchair van, newly converted OR
• Used wheelchair van which you will convert OR
• Used wheelchair van which has been previously converted for someone else.

Pedersen said, “We assume that a wheelchair van will have a lifespan of 10 years and that the adaptive equipment inside (lifts, power seats etc) may have an even shorter lifespan.”

If you will buy a used van with the intention to convert it, don’t buy a van more than three years old. First, few companies will be willing to convert them, as they don’t carry the parts for older wheelchair vans. Second, as the van has a limited lifespan it makes little sense to invest in the conversion of an aged wheelchair van.

Fort Wayne, Indiana . In assessing the capabilities of a wheelchair user to drive a wheelchair van, a professional would examine the person’s level of eyesight, hearing, mental ability, decision-making, perception and the physical ability to transfer from the wheelchair to the van and to take the wheelchair in and out of the van.

Thanks to modern technology there are numerous devices that can aid the use of a wheelchair van. For instance, if the person is not able to transfer the wheelchair to the wheelchair van he or she can use a wheelchair lift, which runs without human help.

While a wheelchair van is expensive, many manufacturers provide financial services to make these useful vehicles affordable.