Personal Vans and Wheelchair Seating
By Van Roosmalen, Linda; Lane, Amy; PN: Paraplegia News, Vol. 63, No. 2, pp. 22-23Publication Date: February 2009
Article discusses safety measures to be taken by wheelchair users driving or riding in personal vehicles. Safety precautions recommended include: (1) a driving evaluation by a certified driving rehabilitation specialist (CDRS) to ensure compatibility of driver, passenger, vehicle, and adaptive equipment; (2) transfer from the wheelchair into the motor-vehicle seat, which is designed to protect the rider in case of a crash; or, if not possible, (3) the use of a WC19-compliant, transit-ready wheelchair; crash-tested wheelchair models are listed at http://www.rercwts.org/wc19.html; (4) a crash-tested securement system that anchors the wheelchair to the vehicle floor, either a 4-point tie-down system or an automatic docking-type systems such as the EZ-Lock, QLK, Dock’N’Lock, and Permolock; (5) a safety-belt system comprising a shoulder and lap belt that fit snugly across the pelvis, chest, and shoulder to prevent excessive rider movement; and an “open-style” wheelchair armrest to allow the lap belt to lie close to the body; and (6) disconnecting air bags if the wheelchair-seated driver must be positioned close to the steering wheel to reach adaptive vehicle equipment. Also discussed is the procurement of vehicle modifications through a van modifier belonging to the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA). The article is a project of the RERC on Wheelchair Transportation Safety funded by the U.S. Department of Education, National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation (NIDRR).
Assistive Products Discussed: PERMOLOCK TIE-DOWN SYSTEM
Published by: PVA Publications (Website:http://www.pvamagazines.com)
Paralyzed Veterans of America (Web Site: http://www.pva.org )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J55885
