Must-Know-Info Before Modifying an Auto or Home
I Had Seen It All Before
Mrs. Johnson and I stood outside my shop looking at the 2003 Honda Odyssey Van that she had just purchased from a local car dealer for $20,000. She was near tears.
"But the dealer said you could convert it for just $2,000 or so."
There were two responses to her comment, and she was not going to like either one. She and her husband had bought the van hoping he could ride his wheelchair right into it.
"Mrs. Johnson, I am so sorry. First off, I'm afraid the dealer got his terms mixed-up. The price he quoted you is for a stowage lift, not a vehicle conversion. Secondly, that van can't be converted. Its ceiling is just way too low."
Nobody's Fault
In a perfect world, car dealers would know all the terminology related to vehicle adaptation together with the technical requirements a vehicle must possess to make it "accessible." But I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to know everything. They are in business to sell cars, and only a small percentage of automobiles they sell are intended to serve people with limited mobility. Terms like "vehicle conversion" and "stowage lift" seem almost interchangeable to the layperson, but they are significantly different adaptations with vastly different costs.
And the Johnsons simply did what most people do when looking for a vehicle to meet their mobility needs. They asked the wrong questions to the wrong people and got the wrong answers.
This story does have a happy ending. The dealer took the vehicle back and I was able to help the Johnsons find a van that Mr. Johnson could ride his chair into and out of whenever he pleased. Unfortunately though, not all the stories I know have happy endings, but they do all share a common truth. Had the families come to us, or another mobility aids specialist first, before purchasing the vehicle they wanted to have converted, we would have helped them understand what they needed, what it would cost, and where they could get it.
Wheelchair Accessible Vans and Modifications
There are a lot of things to consider when modifying a van for wheelchair accessibility:
* Will the person in the wheelchair be a passenger or a driver?
* For drivers, will they transfer to the driver's seat or drive from their wheelchairs?
* Head clearance is a major issue in wheelchair accessibility
* The average adult confined to a wheelchair is taller than 50 inches
* Minivans offer a head clearance of about 44 inches
* Full-sized vans offer around 48 inches of headspace
* To drive from a wheelchair, a "Dropped-Floor Modification" is almost always required
There are many other critical considerations including: securing the wheelchair for optimal safety, location of the wheelchair when driving, hand controls for driving, and transfer seats for easy transfer, just to name a few.
The Stowage Lift Alternative
For people who use scooters or electric wheelchairs but are not dependent on a wheelchair, a stowage lift is a less expensive alternative to the wheelchair accessible vehicle. Stowage lifts load and unload scooters and power wheelchairs into vehicles without the user being on the chair. Assessing an individual for a stowage lift can be challenging and should be done by a trained expert. In my experience, I have found that automobile dealerships work hard to assist their customers, but they are not familiar with the mobility industry and are typically unaware of the latest product developments. Again, talk to an expert before buying anything.
Other Mobility Aids and Home Accessibility Products
Items like scooters, power wheelchairs, stair chairs, porch lifts, pool lifts, and portable ramps are expensive, but they can tremendously enhance mobility and accessibility, especially in and around the home. Unfortunately, I have a lot of stories about people's misadventures buying these things, too. And just like the Johnson story, had the families simply consulted a mobility aids expert before buying a scooter, or installing a stair chair or some other home modification, they would have saved themselves a lot of time, money, and grief.
Some people say, "Advice is free." But they have either never received bad advice, or have forgotten how expensive the bad advice they once got ended up being. The good news is that a phone call to most any expert in the mobility aids profession can help your decision-making process regarding a wide range of accessibility options.
Don't be shy. We're here to help!