subject: Do You Need a Handicap Accessible Van? [print this page] Deciding whether or not to buy a handicap accessible van can be difficult. Many families who have handicapped loved ones get by without an accessible van for a while. For these families, it can be difficult to decide when to switch over to a true handicapped vehicle. Before you make the switch, decide whether or not this is something that you really need. Here's some advice on how to do it.
First of all, consider how simple it is to use the vehicle arrangement you have right now. If you're dealing with a small child who is wheelchair bound, using a regular car might not be a big deal, as long as you only have one or two children in the back seat. Even a relatively small adult can lift a handicapped child into a backseat and take care of folding up a wheelchair for stowing in the trunk. This isn't a huge deal for you, then.
As your child grows, though, you may have more and more trouble working out the details of transferring your child into the vehicle. This is where a handicap accessible van comes in handy. Instead of having to lift the child into the van, you can let the child wheel herself into the van. This process is much simpler, and it doesn't require any particular strength. You won't have to worry about having someone who's strong enough to lift the child or adult, for that matter along for the ride.
Another thing to think about is how often you'd actually use a handicap accessible van. You want to be able to take your children and adult family members along with you no matter where you go. If someone who lives in your household is handicapped, then a van might be an excellent idea. Don't, though, go out and buy a van with a wheelchair lift because Grandmother needs picked up from the nursing home once in a while. When the van is needed less often, you can afford to make other arrangements or to figure things out with the vehicle you already have.
Finally, don't forget to look at what you can and cannot afford. Different types of handicap accessible vans are available, and each has its own price. You may need to hold off on this type of van altogether. You may, though, find that you can afford a van that meets the needs of your family easily.
