Disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers have moved far beyond the standard wheelchair accessible vans and minivans to provide wheelchair users with more mobility options. Handicapped vehicles now include sedans and coupes as well as SUVs and trucks.

Accessories for mobility are also available from disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers. The latest news and trends in mobility accessories include ramps that are portable, flexible and have driving controls that require no vehicle alterations. Increasingly, wheelchair users are able to make any vehicle accessible through vehicle conversion systems for disabled persons.

Stay up-to-date on the news and trends in wheelchair accessible vehicles by investigating the following:

1. Look for improved options in customizability for handicapped vehicles;

2. Find a varied selection of disability vehicles equipped with innovative ramps and controls;

3. Stay current on the accommodations for disabled people using other forms of transportation.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Get more vehicle options from companies that sell disability vans

Handicapped vehicle manufacturers are increasingly offering more and more vehicle types with dropped floors, raised ceilings and door modifications to allow space for wheelchair access. Companies that sell disability vans now offer everything from hybrid sedans to SUVs with wheelchair access comparable to that of minivans and full-size vans.

I recommend: Freedom Motors (FMI) offers a wide range of vehicles and custom modifications of wheelchair users' own vehicles at no added surcharge. For wheelchair users who need more seating capabilities from disability vehicles, AMS Vans offers fold-down jump seats to increase traditional wheelchair accessible vans' seating capability. Get news about General Motors' newest wheelchair accessible vehicle at Autoblog, or check out Disabled Dealer Magazine for regional listings of adaptive equipment.

Use the newest ramps and driving controls from disability-accessible vehicle manufacturers

Cutting-edge wheelchair ramps from disability-accessible vehicle manufacturers can help wheelchair users gain access to all types of side-access and rear-access vehicles. Portable ramps are the best choice for wheelchair users to carry with them and use on their own, while more complex folding ramps provide many options for use with different vehicles and entries. Another one of the disability-accessible vehicle manufacturers' news and trends is the ability of wheelchair users to modify their steering and braking systems on their own without paying for modifications to their vehicle.

I recommend: 1-800-Wheelchair.com offers several models of folding ramps. LiteRamp sells portable ramps that are lighter weight and less expensive, which are useful for users of handicapped vehicle services who need to be able to lift and set up their own ramp. Sure Grip sells driving controls, including products like the left foot pedal, which do not permanently alter the vehicle and can be easily removed if necessary.

Stay informed about handicapped vehicle services for a range of transportation types

Personal vehicles are not the only modes of travel used by people with disabilities; handicapped vehicle services extend to public transportation and commercial air travel as well. The Americans with Disabilities Act, along with other legislation and regulations, guarantee certain rights to people with disabilities in need of accommodations while traveling. Before traveling, read up on the latest disability-adaptable news and trends.

I recommend: The Air Consumer Protection Division of the Department of Transportation offers information about accessibility for people with disabilities who will be traveling by airplane. The Federal Transit Administration publishes information about handicapped accessible vehicles and handicapped vehicle services available on public ground transit vehicles in the United States.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a local or national network of mobility and access advocates to stay current on disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers news and trends, and to inform other wheelchair users about products and services that benefit them. Developments are constantly emerging in mobility technology, including improved materials that are lighter weight and more durable as well as functions that increase convenience.

Companies that sell disability vans and other handicapped vehicle services increase the mobility and independence of disabled persons. Whether a disability-adapted vehicle manufacturer modifies a single car, van, truck or an entire fleet of vehicles, it is expected to maintain the highest level of quality assurance, utilize continuous quality control practices and adhere to the most current legal regulations covering handicapped van manufacturers and handicapped bus manufacturers.

If you're a handicapped vehicle manufacturer, you can ensure your company is committed to and produces the highest caliber of disability vehicles by starting with these steps:

1. Comply with all federal laws for handicapped vehicles.
2. Learn about and qualify for national quality control programs for wheelchair accessible vehicles.
3. Follow best practices and accepted vehicle modification methods for wheelchair lifts and other vehicle conversion systems for disabled persons.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Follow federal guidelines and safety regulations when building disability vehicles

The U.S. federal government has established minimum safety standards and modification regulations for disability-adaptive vehicle manufacturers.

I recommend: Understand the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's (NHTSA) Make Inoperative Prohibition that governs how much you can alter stock cars or vans to make handicapped accessible vehicles, for instance by increasing the weight with wheelchair lifts. The U.S. Department of Transportation also has minimum Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), which all structural vehicle modification businesses must meet.

Participate in respected quality programs for handicapped vehicles

Quality drives a successful business. Altering vehicles to fit them with adaptive equipment for the disabled demands rigorous quality assurance.

I recommend: The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) offers a comprehensive nationwide quality assurance program for structural vehicle modification companies. Adaptive equipment professionals can broaden their knowledge and education through the Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED) information and training programs.

Benchmark against successful handicapped vehicle manufacturers

There is no reason to reinvent the wheel when there are companies that are leaders in retrofitting vans and cars for adaptation to handicapped drivers. If your business is a start-up, or you are striving to improve the handicapped vehicle services your business offers, take a chapter from some of the industry-leading disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers.

I recommend: Find reputable handicapped van manufacturers and handicapped bus manufacturers in your state that qualified for NMEDA's Quality Assurance Program. Strong expertise in wheelchair-accessible vehicles can be found at Liberty Motor Company and Advanced Vehicle Modifications. The National Institute for Rehabilitation Engineering and the Technological Research and Development Authority are examples of novel ideas in vehicle adaptation for the disabled.

Disability vehicles must be manufactured or adapted to allow space for wheelchair access and to provide driving control functions for drivers who may require special modification of the hand and foot controls. Although large vans have traditionally dominated the available selection of disability vehicles, it is becoming increasingly common for handicapped vehicle manufacturers to customize drivers' existing vehicles.

As handicapped vehicle services have become more available for a wider range of vehicle types in recent years, disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers' basics in producing and selling vehicles have changed and expanded. Disability vehicles now include smaller and less expensive cars than have previously been adapted for wheelchair use, but which require creative solutions to become more accessible. Disability vehicle manufacturers and suppliers also offer many used models of full-size vans and minivans, giving wheelchair users more flexibility in buying.

Before modifying, supplying or purchasing disability vehicles, consider the following:

1. Gather crucial information about new wheelchair accessible vans and cars;

2. Learn about basic wheelchair lifts for customized vehicles;

3. Understand the benefits of buying used handicapped vehicles and vans.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Look into new vans and minivans that can function as disability vehicles

Companies that sell disability vans now offer two main types of vans-- full-size vans and smaller, less expensive minivans. Both types of vans can be customized with a lower floor and ramp, or to use a wheelchair lift. Disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers also offer additional vehicle options like SUVs, where available, which may be more appealing to a broader base of consumers and families.

I recommend: AMS Vans and Rollx are two disability-adapted vehicle manufacturers offering a full inventory of mobility vehicles online, mainly full-size vans and minivans. While many types of vehicles can become disability vehicles through customization, most wheelchair-accessible vehicles that come direct from the manufacturer are vans of some kind.

Understand how to modify handicapped vehicles using conversion systems

Vehicle conversion systems for disabled persons are wide ranging and may include ramps, wheelchair lifts, transfer assists and driving controls. Adding driving controls and wheelchair lifts to existing vehicles is desirable for consumers because these options are less expensive than buying a manufactured wheelchair-accessible vehicle. In addition, many modifications don't require structural alterations to an existing vehicle, and can be added and removed without body work.

I recommend: Wheelchair lift manufacturers like BraunAbility and Access Unlimited offer a range of wheelchair lifts that have a variety of features and suit different vehicle types and sizes. Access Unlimited also offers non-mechanical transfer products for use in cars, SUVs, trucks and vans, and a useful comparison chart to help you choose the right product for specific mobility needs.

Investigate used handicapped vehicle options to reach a wider customer base

Wheelchair accessible vehicles are also widely available from companies that sell used disability vans at lower prices than new vehicles. When buying disability vehicles used, make sure that all mobility adjustments, like wheelchair lifts and driving controls, are fully functioning and will not require replacement before resale.

I recommend: Mobility Vans USA sells used full-size vans and minivans with wheelchair accessibility modifications. Wheelchair Getaways' handicapped vehicle services include an online inventory of used wheelchair accessible vehicles as well as the option of listing used vehicles for sale.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Learn about credits available for handicapped vehicle services performed on standard vehicles. Several car manufacturers offer a $1000 credit applicable toward the addition of accessibility functions to standard vehicles.