If you have a child with special needs, you want the safest protection for them in your car or van. A regular child seat just isn’t enough, and you should never try to alter a car safety seat to fit a child with disabilities.
Some basic seating guidelines
- The back seat is the safest place for all children to ride.
- When possible, an adult should ride in the back seat with the child to watch him or her closely.
- Never put a rear-facing baby in front of a passenger air bag. In a crash, the air bag inflates with great force.
- Never recline a vehicle seat to transport a child. In a crash, the child can slip out of position and lose the protection of the seat belt.
- If you have no other option than to transport a child who is medically fragile in the front seat and your car has a passenger air bag, you should have an air bag on/off switch installed. Contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for a permission form and details (202-366-0296 or 888/327-4236, www.safercar.gov or www.nhtsa.dot.gov).
- Apply for a handicap parking permit on behalf of your child if it is hard to get him or her in and out of the car safety restraint. Handicap parking allows more space to maneuver.
To find the safest car seat for your child, locate a Driver Rehabilitation Specialist in your area. A DRS makes sure the seat or other equipment fits your child and is properly installed.
Contact the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists, 2425 N. Center St., #369 Hickory, North Carolina 28601 or visit www.aded.net. Call 828-855-1623, 866-672-9466 toll free in the United States and Canada.
For more guidelines, visit the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.AAP.org and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration at http://www.nhtsa.gov.
This mobility safety update has been brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your vehicle wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!
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