When is a Good Time to Rent a Wheelchair Accessible Van?

Three times are ideal to rent a wheelchair accessible van.

If you’re a first-time purchaser of a wheelchair accessible vehicle, you may want to rent one first to see what it’s like, if it’s for you, and if you feel comfortable driving it.

If your present vehicle is in the repair shop, you’ll need to rent a replacement.

Perhaps you’re going on a vacation or long trip. Your present accessible vehicle may not be as comfortable as you’d like for a lengthy journey or you have a minivan and need a larger van for your vacation. (An accessible minivan accommodates 4 passengers plus 1 wheelchair or 2 passengers plus 2 wheelchairs, depending on the size of the wheelchairs.)

Actually, anytime is ideal to rent a wheelchair van sporting more luxurious or newer features. Pamper yourself!

Whatever your needs, from automatic ramps and lifts, luxury interiors, and the latest wheelchair securement systems, now is the time to try out an accessible van – rent it!

Whether you rent new or used, a quality company maintains its vehicles in optimum condition, plus you can decide on side or rear ramp access, lift options, remote features, swivel or turning seat, and all the other gadgets and necessities you’ve been dreaming of.

Delivery and pick-up are normally available on rentals that last for a week or longer. Delivery includes at your home, work, the airport, etc. (You may have to pick-up and return a daily rental.)

First things first: Which van?

Mileage. Ask about the gas mileage of different models. Better mileage will save you a bundle over the span of a long trip. Renting a new van over a used one may be the smarter move if the gas mileage is considerably better.

Help! Ask the company if it has a 24-hour hotline,  emergency towing or other service.

Make a reservation. When you find a van rental company that has the bells and whistles you want, make a reservation to ensure it’s available when you’re ready to go.

What you’ll need:

• You must be 25 and have a valid drivers license.
• Call your insurance company. You’ll need proof of full coverage insurance to cover a rental vehicle (comprehensive, collision, and liability). Many rental companies do not provide insurance. Check their requirements.
• Major credit card.

• If more than one person plans to drive, they must also be 25 or older.
• All drivers must sign the rental contract, show insurance and drivers licenses.

• A clean driving history.

Many rental companies also offer scooter rentals, power wheelchair rentals, booster seats, car seats, GPS rentals and other goodies for your travel needs.

Rent a wheelchair accessible vehicle and travel in style! We always recommend an in-person evaluation before you rent or purchase an adaptive vehicle for safety purposes. Many NMEDA dealers rent accessible vans/vehicles and can be found at www.nmeda.org.

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!

Travel Safety Tips (and Gifts) for the Holidays

What do the five most frequently reported modifications to adapted vehicles (hand controls, wheelchair securement, steering control devices, lifts and automatic door openers) have in common? They all have to do with safety. But there are other items that are vital to your safety when driving – whether you are a senior or a person with disabilities.

• Cell phone: Always have it with you. Make sure you have a list of important phone numbers in the phone’s address book, including family, friends, physician, a neighbor, and work contacts, if applicable.

• GPS: Don’t get lost anymore! Anyone who needs to keep track of where he or she is, find their way to a specific location, or know what direction and how fast he or she is going will love a global positioning system.

• Grab Handles or Straps – Installing grab handles just inside the door of a vehicle makes it easier for seniors and those with disabilities to enter and exit a vehicle. Handles can also be installed on the exterior. Grab handles must be securely installed as outlined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
• Remote start: If the vehicle battery is weak, activating equipment can drain it and you could be stuck inside (or outside). To prevent that disaster, a remote start uses the battery to start the engine first and then the engine powers access equipment.
• Remote control activation allows you to activate access equipment or other vehicle features from your house or even down the street – a real safety feature when you aren’t parked in the best areas. Also convenient if it’s cold outside or raining.
• Increased night vision headlights: Change your headlights to halogen lights, which are brighter and whiter than conventional headlights, and improve nighttime visibility. Better yet, xenon and other high intensity discharge headlamp systems extend range and visibility even more.

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!

Tips on Traveling with Service Animals

Service animals – whether they’re dogs, monkeys or parrots – make life easier for those with disabilities to do many things, including travel.

According to the ADA, “Service animals are animals that are individually trained to perform tasks for people with disabilities. Service animals are working animals, not pets.”

You and your service animal have many rights when traveling on airplanes.

• Airlines must provide animal relief areas for a service animal.
• If the flight is 8 hours or longer, you may have to provide documentation that the animal can fly without needing a relief area.
• Those flying with emotional support or psychiatric service animals must provide advance notice and check-in, plus a current letter from a licensed mental health professional.
• Foreign air carriers are not required to carry service animals other than dogs.
• Screening a passenger with a service animal usually takes more time, so inform a security officer that your furry companion is not a pet, but a service animal. (They will normally move you to the front of the screening line.)

Service dogs

Because service dogs usually wear a harness identifying them as a service dog, they do not need health certificates when traveling in the U.S., or certification, tags, or ID cards. For special rules for Hawaii, visit Hawaii Department of Agriculture, Animal Quarantine Station at http://hawaii.gov/hdoa/ai/aqs/info or call 808-483-7151.

Documentation may be required for an animal traveling to international destinations.

Cab companies cannot legally refuse to provide services to individuals with disabilities or their service animals. They also cannot charge more for transporting individuals with disabilities and their service animals than they charge others for equivalent services.

If you have questions about service animals or other requirements of the ADA, call the U.S. Department of Justice’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 800-514-0301 (voice) or 800-514-0383 (TDD).

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!

For Those with Disabilities: Tips on Holiday Traveling

Going to see the family for the holidays? If you’re flying or renting a vehicle, here are a few helpful hints.

Vehicle rental

Car rental companies are required to install hand controls on vehicles at your request, but you must give them 48-hours notice.

Your own portable hand-controls can be installed quickly in almost any automatic vehicle, and leave no marks or holes. Get approval from the rental company first (in writing), as insurance may be voided if you don’t.

If you need a lift-equipped van, contact a travel agent who specializes in accessible travel or contact a specialty van rental firm.

Call a cab! Larger cities usually have taxis equipped with lifts. Call the destination taxi authority.

Airlines

Tell the airlines your specific needs ahead of time, whether it’s a wheelchair, oxygen tank or other accommodations. Ask about fees for using their assistive devices. If they can’t meet your needs or charge too much, you have time to call another airline or make other arrangements.

Confirm the reservation and other accommodations at least 48 hours before your trip.

Let the airlines know if you have a power or manual wheelchair, as rules vary as to where it will be stowed (or even allowed).

Find out the latest security regulations – like what’s allowed on the plane. To avoid Home Security hassles, check the Federal website www.tsa.gov for current updates before you start packing.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has travel tips like “3-1-1” to speed screening:

• Ensure all of your liquids or gels are in 3 ounce or smaller containers. (More than 3 ounces are permitted in checked baggage.)
• Place those containers in a 1 quart-size, clear plastic, zip-top bag.
• Place 1 bag only per traveler in the security bin for screening.

For more information on airline travel for those with disabilities, visit the U.S. Dept. of Transportation at http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/airacc.asp.

Have a great holiday!

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!

Why Are Vehicle Conversions For Those With Disabilities So Expensive?

Converting a vehicle to suit the needs of those with disabilities is costly. The conversion alone can cost upward of $20,000. Add on the vehicle and the bottom line will run between $40,000 and $60,000+.

Why? Three things: The vehicle, the adaptive equipment and 3 to 4 weeks of intensive labor.

The work is not merely bolting in equipment. Extensive alterations to the body and electrical system are made. Depending on what is installed, the entire vehicle may be taken apart, the components installed, and the whole thing reassembled. And because structural modifications can affect the safety rating of the vehicle, it must be crash tested to government standards – another expensive process.

Lowering the floor alone is massive. If the fuel tank must be moved to lower the floor (a common procedure in a minivan), it must be shown that the conversion did not change the evaporative emissions of the original vehicle, and still meet strict government requirements.

You can save in areas that are less complex and require less work. For example, a rear-entry ramp entrance typically costs less than side-entry because its installation is less complicated and takes fewer hours of labor.

Converting an older vehicle or one with high mileage will cost more in the long run and may be a safety issue.

• The average lifespan of a wheelchair van is around 10 years.
• A vehicle with more than 20,000 miles that has not been properly maintained may have hidden corrosion, and may no longer be structurally sound enough after adaptive equipment has been installed. The structural integrity – and your safety – will be compromised.
• A van’s value depreciates by 10% each year, so if you put $20,000 worth of adaptive equipment into an older van, the modifications will probably outlast the vehicle. To remove that equipment from the van and have it installed in a newer van is another chunk of change.

While it may all be overwhelming, an adaptive equipment distributor helps determine which vehicles can be modified to best suit your needs.

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!

Be Safe With Wheelchair Tie-Downs

It’s the law to wear your seat belt. But a seat belt alone is not enough if you’re sitting in the back of a van in a chair on wheels. Any quick or sudden movement – hard braking, accelerating, or a sharp turn – can send you careening. That’s why wheelchair tie-downs are vital to the safety and sense of security of a person with disabilities.

Tie-downs feature heavy straps or harnesses mounted to the floor in a four-point restraining system. Fasteners attach to the wheelchair, holding it securely in place and giving the greatest amount of front-to-back and side-to-side stability.

Additionally, a personal belt system adds up to maximum protection for the passenger. The belt system is a lap and shoulder belt secured to the vehicle or to the wheelchair tie- downs. Be sure it is a crash-tested safety belt – and don’t take it off!

Together, this two-prong approach allows the wall and floor of the vehicle to absorb any bumps or jolts.

Popular types of tie-downs

• Self-tensioning tie-downs: The spool of the tie-down takes up the slack in the belts if the wheelchair moves (in case the strap was not properly tightened). This system provides strong anchorage in case of an accident and prevents sideways movement of both wheelchair and passenger.

• Retractable tie-downs: These tie-downs retract onto a spool. Properly used, the strap cannot loosen until a manual release is pressed. Because the straps are in the spool, they are not in the way or lying on the floor.

There are more types and not all tie-down systems work for every type of wheelchair. Check with a professional before purchasing one for your vehicle. A certified mobility specialist can demonstrate the different types of tie-down systems.

For more safety information on wheelchair-seated motor vehicle occupants, visit the Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Wheelchair Transportation Safety at www.rercwts.org.

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!

Pitfalls of Internet-Only Dealers

When looking for the least expensive car, van or accessible equipment for a loved one with a disability, Internet-only dealers may seem to have great deals. They can offer cheap prices because they don’t pay for a brick-and-mortar storefront, don’t pay for a staff of professionals, service people or much else.

But, there are many disadvantages from buying your adaptive vehicle online.  You can’t see, feel and try out the product. And most products for those with disabilities must be customized to that person. If it doesn’t fit their height, weight or special needs, it will cost much more to have it altered than just the original price.

When you buy locally from a National Mobility Equipment Dealer, you can see, feel and try-out the product, meet the owner or staff and shake their hands. You will also receive an in-person evaluation before your purchase so you can be sure you are getting the right solution customized to your needs.  That doesn’t hold true with an Internet-only business.

According to the Council of Better Business Bureaus, before you buy you should:

• Check with the Better Business Bureau at http://www.bbb.org.
• Inquire if it is a member of a reputable dealers association.
• Ask about follow-up service, if you need it. Many sellers don’t have the expertise or facilities to provide service for the goods they sell.

• Never give out your bank account number, credit card number, or personal information unless you’re certain a company is legitimate.
• Always use a secure Internet browser that “encrypts” or scrambles your personal or financial information. The http in the web address should say “https” – the “s” is for “secure.”
• If you do business with an Internet-only company, print out a copy of your order and confirmation number for your records.
• Try to pay by credit card. If you don’t get the merchandise, you can challenge the charges with your credit card issuer.

Remember the old adage; you get what you pay for.

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!

Transporting Children With Special Needs

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!



Mobility solution: adaptive equipment

Before nixing your ability to drive, a disabled prospective driver and/or the disabled caretaker should look into current, state-of-the-art adaptive vehicle equipment. We’ve come a long way, baby, since Henry Ford came out with the Model T. Adaptive aids for those with disabilities now make it possible for them to drive. They may compensate for your disability or inability to perform any driving function.

Common aids include:

• A left foot accelerator eliminates the need to cross your left leg over to the accelerator
• Turn signals to the right of the wheel eliminate that awkward right hand cross-over.
• Foot pedal extensions raise the height of brake and accelerator pedals.
• Hand controls operate the horn and wipers, and even the brake, parking brake and accelerator.
• The quad fork, palm grip, v-grip and triple pin are great for those with grip or tensor control problems, allowing them to stabilize the driving hand.
• One-handed driving control lets you steer using a spinner knob, and an amputee ring can be used by those with prosthetic hooks.
• One device prevents accidental acceleration due to leg spasms.
• If your seating is unbalanced or unstable, look to custom seating solutions.
• And there are, of course, lifts and ramps to help you into and out of the vehicle.

There’s more, but a qualified driver rehabilitation specialist will conduct a clinical evaluation to determine your physical, visual/perceptual, and cognitive capabilities and recommend any others. Actual driver training should use the adaptive aids determined necessary, allowing the future driver to get a driver’s license.

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 car wheelchair accessible or upgraded with the latest and most convenient features? Contact a NMEDA dealer in your local area at https://www.nmeda.org/. Your local NMEDA member is a mobility equipment and accessibility expert!

5 Top Travel Destinations for Nature Lover Travelers with Disabilities

Traveling for those with a disability can be challenging, but it doesn’t have to be overly so with careful planning and preparation. Following are 5 fabulous travel destinations to consider for nature lovers with disabilities:

1. Hat Head National Park: Captain Cook’s Lookout, Australia

Captain Cook’s Lookout at Hat Head National Park has magnificent lookout has panoramic views throughout its vast expanse. It’s an ideal place for whale watching, sight-seeing, and relaxing in the sun. The picnic area has easy-access facilities and toilets. At the Hat Head National Park, there are picnic tables, gas/electric barbecues, and a non-flush toilet. Just don’t forget to bring your camera and maybe even an oxygen tank if you need it, views here have been known to take a person’s breath away!
 

  2. Acadia National Park: Echo Lake, Maine 

With a wheelchair accessible path to the water and no reservation necessary all your dreams of a stress-free trip on a more natural vacation can come true.
At Echo Lake you can fish, go boating, or canoe with less than 10 horsepower. All you have to do is obtain a Maine fishing license from the Municipal Building or from Bar Harbor’s Rite-Aid Drugstore or the Wal-Mart in Ellsworth. Within Echo Lake are brook trout, salmon, and perch. The best time to fish is between May and September and deep-water trolling is best by midsummer. Echo Lake is one of the most beautiful glacial mountain lakes; you can do almost anything from fishing to swimming to travelling along one of the many accessible trails including Beech Cliff, Canada Cliff, and Beech Mountain.

3. Yosemite National Park, California

Yosemite National Park is one of the world’s most striking, natural sights. There are nearly vertical, 3,000 ft. cliffs, plunging waterfalls, and peaks that form a jagged outline against the sky. On the ground, there are lush, vast prairies surrounded by several different types of tall trees and wildlife that can often be seen. You can visit at any time of year, even in the winter when trails are blocked by snow and waterfalls have iced over. Even with the many tourists that come year-round, Yosemite can still absorb its visitors without becoming overcrowded. In the summer visitors can also park at the day-visitor parking area and take a free shuttle that has wheelchair lifts and tie-downs, to the main visitor’s center.

4. Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho

Yellowstone National Park is America’s first national park. Located in Wyoming, Montana and Idaho, Yellowstone is home to Old Faithful, Yellowstone’s Grand Canyon, and a startling group of geysers and hot springs. A large variety of wildlife also call Yellowstone home including grizzly bears, wolves, elk, and bison. Camping, hiking trails, fishing, exhibits, films, and attending Ranger-led programs are among some of the many ways to experience the glory and grandeur of Yellowstone. They even have Fee-Free Days!

5.  Hawaii: Kailua Beach, Waikiki

There are several hotels, lodges, and resorts and offer wheelchair accessible options to tourists. In fact, Waikiki, Hawaii is such an important spot for travellers with disabilities, that roll-away beach mats and wider-wheeled wheelchairs were practically invented for the purpose of visiting these beautiful beaches. One beauty in particular we would like to mention would have to be Kailua Beach, not just for its undeniable beauty, but also because you can go to concession for a beach access wheelchair, on-duty lifeguards, and its typically smaller waves.

This information is brought to you by NMEDA – the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association. Need some information on how to make your car 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!