Reilly Needs A Wheelchair Lift Van
10 year old Reilly of Clinton, MI needs a wheelchair accessible van. Like all 10 year olds, he is growing and is getting too big to lift into and out of the family vehicle. Not only that, but Reilly uses a power wheelchair, which is too heavy to lift into and out of a vehicle. Problem is, with the economy struggling, both parents are out of work and can’t afford the expensive wheelchair van conversion. However, their community has responded. So far they have raised about 5800, which is almost 10% of their goal for a new wheelchair van. Visit Reilly’s blog, and consider making a donation.
Categories: Living Tags: accessible van, wheelchair accessible van, wheelchair lift, wheelchair lift van, wheelchair van conversion
Portable Wheelchair Lifts
A portable wheelchair lift is specially made for simple, convenient accesssibility for disabled individuals using wheelchairs. A disability may mean accommodations are needed for stairways, porches, elevated platforms, and stages. A sturdy portable wheelchair lift is possible in many models which are usable in commercial or in-home applications.
Wheelchair lifts that can be moved wherever you go are an affordable solution for mobility device users. The cost is nowhere near as high when compared to traditional handicap stair lifts and elevators that are traditionally used. Portable wheelchair platform lifts are possible for indoor or outside applications, and will work with most of the current models of wheelchair on the market. Whether you use a manual wheelchair, power chairs, sports wheelchairs, or sometimes even a mobility scooter, there is a mobility lifting solution. Electric wheelchair lifts have battery backups, so they work even when the power goes out. Hydraulic wheelchair lifts have more options, but can also be more expensive.
Safety is a big concern when dealing with portable wheelchair lifts, and features to watch for include seatbelts, easy controls, and automatic braking systems.
Categories: Mobility Wheelchair Lifts Tags: handicap stair lifts, mobility device, Mobility Wheelchair Lifts, wheelchair lift, wheelchair lifts, wheelchair platform lifts
Extreme Wheelchair Van Adventure
The whole point of wheelchair accessible vans or vehicle is to allow people with disabilities to experience the fullness of life that able bodied individuals have. Maybe that means taking the wheelchair van to the mall, to a ball game, or out for a night with friends. For one non profit organization, it means off road adventures:
Disabled Explorers is a non-profit organization that exists to enhance the lives of disabled people through independent four-wheel-drive backcountry travel.
The Wheelchair Accessible Van for Expeditions (WAVE) is an off-road capable, four-wheel-drive recreational vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift and hand controls. It is designed to be driven by a wheelchair user, taken into remote areas, and lived in while traveling. Disabled guests on the Desert Solitude Series of trips will drive the WAVE on remote roads and trails and experience independent adventure travel.
An accessible wheelchair van is one thing. But it is entirely different to take a fully accessible vehicle offroad in rough terrain. Most mobility vans have lowered floors or raised roofs and don’t exactly do well on back roads. But these beefed up vehicles for wheelchair users are specifically designed to withstand the demanding nature of off road activity.