Power units allow for more independence -- you just roll into place and the chair automatically locks down. Because there is no way a person can operate a van from a scooter, users must be able to transfer to the vehicle seat to drive. Electronic seats are available to help with the transfer.
The cost of modifying a vehicle varies greatly. Find a qualified dealer to modify your vehicle. Ask questions, check credentials and references. The joystick has enabled individuals living with quadriplegia to hit the road. Joystick car systems have been around long enough to establish their safety, reliability and performance. It may come down to your comfort level with electronics and any worries about a total power shutdown at 70 mph.
A California company called dSi custom fits its Scott mechanical system to each driver. The firm says mechanical is more reliable and more refined than electronic.
EMC offers an electronic solution called Aevit 2. A main advantage is that Aevit does not require modification of original equipment brakes, steering and airbag assemblies. This means you can resell the vehicle without the mods.
Also, an Aevit system can be operated by a non-disabled driver. The Scott system, by contrast, is joystick only. If you're thinking about going joystick, you can't get one without a referral from a driving instructor. Also, the importance of training cannot be overstated. Third parties, including private insurance, vocational rehab and the VA, have paid for these modifications, so investigate your options. Additionally, ask each manufacturer for user references and if at all possible, check out each system yourself.
See dealer for more. Mobility by Volvo Center. If you are looking for more information on adaptive vehicles or have a specific question, our information specialists are available business weekdays, Monday through Friday, toll-free at from am to pm ET.
Additionally, the Reeve Foundation maintains a fact sheet on driving with a disability with additional resources from trusted Reeve Foundation sources. Check out our repository of fact sheets on hundreds of topics ranging from state resources to secondary complications of paralysis. Reeve Foundation.
Getting back on the road There's more to having a set of wheels than getting from here to there. Driving is quite possible for many people who are paralyzed, even those with very limited hand and arm function. A wide range of adaptive driving equipment and vehicle modifications are on the market today.
Depending on one's specific needs, an adapted vehicle may include the following: Hand controls for braking and accelerating Power assist devices for easy steering Touch ignition pads and gear shifts Adjustable driver's seats Automatic door openers Joysticks for people with extremely limited hand function For a person who has had a stroke, a spinner knob might be attached to the steering wheel for one-hand steering.
These buttons can be pushed with the elbow, which makes turning things on and off while driving a breeze. Most quadriplegics use electric hand controls; while these are more expensive, they are safer. This can even be swapped out and used in other vehicles, which is great for rental cars. We also want to make a note about keeping your balance while driving if you have paralyzed torso muscles.
But this strap may not be enough for some. Side-supports, which are traditionally used for wheelchair seating, can be used to improve balance when driving. Driving is one of the greatest things you can still do after a spinal cord injury.
The only problem is the expense. However, many funding options are available. Please check out the resources below. SPINALpedia is a social mentoring network and video archive that allows the spinal cord injury community to motivate each other with the knowledge and triumphs gained from our individual experiences. Learning Portals. Search for:. Tackling Everyday Life. While there are amazing products you can buy to make your life easier when you have a spinal cord injury,. Send us a message.
In order to operate the blinkers, horn, lights, as well as other operations that are important while driving, many quadriplegics use an elbow-controlled system they can reach from where they are sitting behind the wheel. This touch pad will include all of the controls you would use that typically would be found by the steering wheel — the horn, lights, dimmer, blinkers, cruise control — and it will be said aloud on a voice system.
When the voice says the operation you want, you hit the touchpad with your elbow again, and it activates it. This device is fitted the first time a driver begins driving in order to ensure their hands fits appropriately.
Others that have a little bit of hand movement usually opt for a steering knob. A smaller steering wheel can even be installed for anyone with limited arm movement. For many quadriplegic drivers, and even some paraplegic drivers, they will stay in their wheelchairs while driving.
In order to do this, an automated lockdown system is used. These systems have a sensor that senses when the wheelchair is over the lock. When you drive over it, a peg that has been previously permanently affixed to the bottom of your wheelchair will slide into the lock, creating a safe seal around it that is the just as safe as sitting in the vehicle seat. As for your seat belt, this is on its own separate stand, so you can drive right into it as you drive behind the wheel.
For many quadriplegic drivers, keeping their balance is something about which they need to be concerned. There are other instances however where lateral support may also be required. Lateral side supports can be used to help the driver sit upright, placed along each side of the torso. As for drivers able to transfer out of their wheelchair and drive from the seat of their vehicle, balance is not a concern. The takeaway: Hand controls are awesome.
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