Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles Aren’t the Sportiest. Does it Matter?

and all it often takes is anticipation for the possible pitfalls of choosing a wheelchair accessible van for it’s style over it’s substance. The best way to avoid letting your ego get in the way of your or a loved ones ability to move around town is to understand both the particular needs of your situation and the required and suggested specifications that the U.S. Department of Transportation has laid out.
The Honda Odyssey is a very popular van model with the option to accommodate a wheelchair or even two. This is especially the case for any gear heads out there that want a van that looks a little sexy. But understand the sacrifices that are made when picking something that hugs lower to the ground and has limited electric power distribution. Vans like the Odyssey might not have enough headroom for full-grown wheelchair users sitting inside, despite dropping the floor. They also might struggle long-term to manage the power demands of the most advanced of platform lift system
Avoid a vehicle that has an outdated platform lift system, as the DOT last updated their in2005 and anything built before that year likely lacks some of the most state-of-the-art features of wheelchair mobility. You might think these things are inconsequential, until you consider the aforementioned limitations of power and size
when buying a sporty van. It’s also very important to factor in the future. You might be adding onto the family, or the individual in the wheelchair might still be growing. Knowing what long-term factors should influence your choice, and what short-term desires can inhibit the right one, is the most important breakthrough you may have when buying a wheelchair accessible van.
Nobody who has a love for the automobile particularly likes the frumpiness and lack of luxury the average van and minivan offers, especially those that accommodate
wheelchairs. But not only is it not impossible to find a stylish compromise, it’s also not impossible to realize that what your family needs supercedes what yourlovinginstincts tell you.