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This page is :
> Motoring
> Adapting a car
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Adaptations for wheelchair access
Driver-side entry
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Passenger-side entry
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Driver-side entry with a lightweight wheelchair
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Rear hatch entry
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Transmission tunnel
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Hand controls
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Driving in your wheelchair
You may choose to enter your vehicle from the driver's side. To do this, wide
doors are essential and a sliding and swivelling aid is a great help for this
transfer.
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turn the wheelchair to face the car seat, and fold it up
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lift the front castors over the sill and behind the seat, securing the wheelchair
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edge yourself and the car seat forward, to make enough space to drag the
wheelchair in behind your seat
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now pull the wheelchair in, letting the back wheels ride over the sill
If you are worried about damaging your car when pulling in your wheelchair,
you may want to fit a protective strip over the sill (from motor accessory shops)
or use a small piece of carpet to cover it. This will also make it easier to
slide the wheelchair over the sill.
Another thing to keep in mind - try to park facing the traffic. This way, you
can get out on the kerb side.
You may want to enter your vehicle by the passenger side. This method is useful
if your car is parked in the direction of the traffic. Keep in mind that wide
doors are essential for this entry.
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open the car door and get the wheelchair close to the car seat. Allow enough
space to get your legs inside the car, and transfer
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fold up the wheelchair and lift the front footrests or castors over the
sill to stabilise your wheelchair and prevent it from rolling away or toppling
over
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slide across into the driver's seat, slide and tip the passenger seat forward
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drag the chair into the car behind the passenger seat, with the footrests
protruding behind the driver's seat
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slide across to the driver's seat. Unless there is no obstruction in the
centre of the car, sliding over involves bringing your legs well up to get
over the transmission hump, console and/or gear lever
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now move the passenger seat forwards as far as it will go, lean through
the space between the back of the passenger seat and the door, and pull the
wheelchair in over the sill. You may need a stick or a rope to help you do
this, and a swivel seat may help. This operation is much easier if the whole
of the passenger seat tilts forwards. If the lever to release it is on the
far side, you may need a cable
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you may need a hooked stick or a cord to shut the passenger door afterwards
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avoid this manoeuvre if you are wearing catheters or other continence gear.
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once in the car, remove the larger wheels from the wheelchair and stow them
behind the seat or on the floor in front of the passenger's seat
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lift the wheelchair frame over your stomach onto the front passenger seat.
You may need to recline your backrest for this
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secure the wheelchair with a strap or the passenger seat belt.
If you have a hatchback vehicle, you may be able to enter the car through the
rear hatch and stow the wheelchair in the back.
This transfer most suits vehicles which have a flat or level rear sill and
a low floor. On small cars, this will only work if the rear seats fold flat.
This transfer involves a degree of agility. You will need to be able to move
your upper body freely.
Some drivers prefer to enter the car from the passenger's side and slide across
to the driving seat. This can be difficult if the transmission tunnel in your
car is large, or if the gear or brake lever gets in your way.
A board or cushion may help and adaptation manufacturers should be able to
fit a detachable gear stick.
If you use hand controls remember that these may restrict the space available
for manoevering your legs in and out of the floorwell. If possible try a car
fitted with hand controls of the type you intend to fit.
Quite a number of people who use wheelchairs find it difficult or even impossible
to transfer from their chair into the driving seat of a car.
If this applies to you, you may require the use of a board, lifting belts or
leg lifters.
If these do not suit you, there are three main alternatives. All are available
for both drivers and passengers:
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hoists: which can lift you from your wheelchair to the car seat. You need
to be able to bend your head and neck, and most hoists need someone else on
hand to help you operate them
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a system which lifts you and a special wheelchair into the car: in this
case, one of the front seats has to be removed
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a specially converted car or van which you drive into in your wheelchair.
In this case, you can either stay in your wheelchair while travelling or transfer
once inside.
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