Everybody enjoys visiting new places and travelling, whether it’s a sports event, film, theatre or maybe a new restaurant. But these simple activities can present some significant difficultes to wheelchair users.
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. Hand controls are provided for the gears, clutch and brakes making it possible for many wheelchair users to drive themselves wherever they want to go.
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 mobility vehicle which, when expertly adapted, can accommodate up to 4 people in addition to the driver and the wheelchair user. Its possible to use your Motability mobility allowance, if you are lucky enough to live in the United Kingdom.
But before setting off for that new restaurant or sports hall its a good idea to make certain that you’ll not be disappointed when you get there. Here are just a few questions that you may want to ask before you set off.
Is the building wheelchair accessible? This generally means that they have provided 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.
Do they provide disabled parking 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.