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Selecting Vehicles and Adaptations for Special Physical Needs
Assessing Vehicle Needs and Selecting Vehicles and Mobility Products
Buying a new car can be a daunting task for anyone. When that person has special physical needs -- from minor mobility concerns like normal aging to major disabilities -- it can seem an almost impossible task. Whether driver or passenger, owning a vehicle is like owning a pair of wings. It brings the freedom to go where you want, when you want.
Vehicle ownership is important to retaining independence -- perhaps even more so to those with special physical needs. Often people who have lost their ability to drive (their mobility) become depressed and then reclusive. This does not need to happen. People with special physical needs can use and enjoy a personal vehicle and the active lifestyle that vehicle affords. With proper assessment, many people can become mobile.
These articles are a starting point for assessing individual mobility needs and determining which vehicle best addresses those needs. Feel free to print these articles and write down whatever ideas come to you. Take time to gather information and feel confident in your purchase decisions.
Many vehicle accessibility and mobility options are available today. Unfortunately, the options are not available everywhere and require research. This search is complicated by the unavailability of cohesive information about mobility products -- who offers what, how the products work and what the enhancements cost.
This ongoing series will compile a list of vehicle adaptation resources that enhance mobility -- product lists, explanations of their use, information on manufacturers and how to contact them, federal and state mobility programs, financial aid, automaker programs, training, licensing and lots more. Additionally, there is advice regarding the evaluation process and guidelines for determining which products are right for which situations. First, I'll tell my story. It is similar to what many people experience when they choose to add a vehicle to their lives, and that vehicle requires enhancements to meet special needs.
When I started to think about getting my own car, the first question was whether or not I could drive a car by myself. I was born with Spinal Muscular Dystrophy which means my muscles are very weak and I must use an electric wheelchair. I cannot get out of the chair during the day, so I knew I needed to roll into my vehicle. The best choice for me was some kind of van -- either a minivan or a full-sized one. I could decide that later.
I went to a local Rehabilitation Center near my home in New Jersey for a driver evaluation. I underwent a battery of tests to assess cognitive processing, sensory motor function and general knowledge of the rules of the road. After that visit, I needed to obtain a driving permit so that I could have an on-road driver evaluation. When I returned with my permit, we went to a nearby parking lot to practice. After trying many different types of vehicles, we determined that I needed a full-sized van, enhanced with the Digi-Drive System. This system works like the joystick on a computer game. There is no steering wheel. All actions are performed with the hands. The feet are not involved. The problem was that this equipment cost $10,000 -- and that did not include the other necessary devices such as a wheelchair lift for entering the van and a tie-down system to keep the chair in place.
The next step in the process was driving lessons, where I drove the customized van. This was when I really began to think about how I would pay for this system. If I had been able to use a steering wheel, the van would have been affordable, but at this point I realized money was a problem.
Also, deep down I knew I could not handle a big van. When the rehab professionals were testing me in the parking lot, I was not comfortable with such an unwieldy vehicle. So, it was on to the next option -- seeking a driver. Now knowing that someone else would be driving, I reassessed my needs. I still needed a van but I had to consider the person who would drive and what they would find the most convenient -- given that they had both the responsibility to drive and to help me. I talked to my father. He was thinking about our new vehicle purchase and also about our future vehicle needs. We wanted to purchase a vehicle that would serve our current needs as well as any changing needs that may arise in coming years. Together, we looked at every type of van, evaluating configurations and costs.
Finally we opted for a Chevy van with a manual pull-down ramp and simple Tie-Down System tie-down system. This was the most cost-effective choice and fulfilled my needs. The cost of the enhancements was only $1,100 and I got a $1,000 rebate from GM's Mobility Program. For me, this was the perfect solution.Thank you, General Motors and Chevrolet!
