Everybody enjoys visiting new places and travelling, whether it’s a sports event, film, theatre or maybe a new restaurant. But for wheelchair users some of these simple activities can present a whole host of difficulties that must be overcome.
Simply getting out of the home and going somewhere can present significant challenges. This is where an appropriately adapted disabled vehicle can be a real benefit. In some vehicle adaptations the drivers seat is replaced by the wheelchair which is clamped securely in place. Foot controls including the accelerator, clutch and brakes, are replaced with hand controls.
An alternative form of vehicle adaptation might involve the introduction of a wheelchair lift or ramp in order to make the vehicle accessible. A fine example is the Nissan NV200 wheelchair accessible vehicles which can be adapted to carry up to 4 people along with the wheelchair user and the driver. Its possible to use your Motability mobility allowance, if you are lucky enough to live in the United Kingdom.
As a wheelchair user it makes sense to make a few checks to ensure that you’ll not meet with disappointment when you get to your destination. So you may want to call ahead and ask the following questions before setting off.
Is the building wheelchair accessible? Generally this means that they will have provided wheelchair ramps.
Do they have accessible bathroom facilities? Most bathrooms are made for walking people and aren’t spacious enough for wheelchair users, so it’s worth checking.
Does the building offer elevators or stairs? Obviously stairs would prevent a wheelchair user from accessing floors above the ground.
Are there disabled parkign bays close to the building? You will definitely want to park as close as possible.
With a little preparation you can be certain that your wheelchair will not prevent you from travelling wherever you want to go and getting the most from life.
