Mobility Van

Not too many years ago, transportation for people who were bound to wheelchairs was almost nonexistent. In order to transport a person from their home to another location a family member or caregiver would have to lift the disabled person out of the chair and place them into a standard vehicle. This would make traveling hard for not only the disable person but the people traveling with the disabled. However with a mobility van you should have an easier time traveling with a disabled person. The wheelchair has been a commonly used item for disabled people for many years and in many different forms. The old fashioned wheel chairs use to look similar to a wooden chair on wheels and were considered to be most uncomfortable. However with advances in technology the wheelchair has not only become more comfortable but has also become motorized.

The downside of the motorized wheelchair is that it is now heavier than they use to be which made need for a new type of mobility van for the disabled people. With the mobility van first came into existence they typically were made out of full size vans as these vans could be equipped with the lifting devices that were needed to get the wheelchair into the vehicle. The biggest downside to these hoists is that they were not flaw free and constantly required maintenance to keep the hoist in working condition. In some cases the hoist would stop working while lifting the disabled person which resulted in the disabled person being stuck on the lift and having to be lifted off by the aid of family members of caregivers. Then in 1986 automobile manufacturers introduced the minivan which gave the mobility van industry a whole new platform. Soon thereafter many families discovered the ease of traveling and operating the vehicle. Compared to the full size van, traveling and even parking with the minivan was considered to be much easier and this made the automobile manufacturers turn this mobility van into a family car as well. As the wheelchair has evolved over the years so has the mobility van. The newer vans are now operated by the push of a button which can even allow for the disabled person to operate the system individually.

Many vans now have ramps that allow the disabled person the quickly get into or out of the vehicle. Along with the ramp, these vans also have the ability to have rear or side entry for the disabled person which has also made a difference in the loading process for the disabled person. If you are interested in renting or purchasing a mobility van and do not know where to turn you should consider MobilityWorks. This company has a wide range of new and used vans that are designed to meet a wide range of different individual needs. The knowledgeable staff of this company can explain the different features with each van and can even help you choose the most effective van for your personal needs.