If you or someone in your family relies on a wheelchair for mobility, it’s important to be able to bring their wheelchair along wherever you may go. You might be wondering, then, which vehicle is best for wheelchair users. Keep reading to learn more about what the best options are for wheelchair accessibility, and what additional modifications may be needed to improve accessibility even further.
Best Vehicles for Wheelchair Accessibility
Most people who need to transport wheelchairs find minivans to be among the best options for accessibility. These offer spacious interiors and can be easily modified for easier loading and unloading of the wheelchair. Their wide entry doors make getting a full-sized wheelchair or mobility scooter in and out much easier, and can easily be modified with a ramp. Additionally, they tend to have lower floors, which means ramps can be shorter while maintaining a proper slope.
Another option to consider is a full-sized van. These are good for larger wheelchairs, or if you also have to transport several passengers in addition to the wheelchair and its user. They tend to have higher roofs, so users can often remain in their wheelchairs while driving, so long as it’s been modified to secure the wheelchair. They do tend to be more costly, however, and fuel costs will also be higher over the long run.
SUVs are not as naturally wheelchair-friendly as minivans and full-sized vans, but they have plenty of interior space that can be modified for accessibility. They have higher ground clearance if you plan to travel over rough terrain, but offer fewer conversion options for wheelchair users.
Additional Modifications for Better Accessibility
Even with an accessible vehicle, additional modifications can improve usability for those in wheelchairs:
- Hand controls for driving: If the vehicle needs to be driven by a wheelchair user with little to no foot mobility, hand controls allow for the driver to operate the gas and brake pedals with their hands.
- Swivel seats: Being able to swivel the seat to the side can make it easier to transfer from a wheelchair into the driver or passenger seat.
- Ramps or lifts: Ramps or lifts, especially those that are remote controlled, make it significantly easier to load and unload the wheelchair itself, especially for much larger devices like power wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- Lowered floors: If you select a vehicle with a higher entry point, you can have the floors lowered to increase headroom as well as allow for a shorter ramp.
No matter what vehicle you choose, scooter lifts for vans and SUVs are essential for full accessibility.
