wheelchairs and vans

[Bec Paton]

Ok. Sarah is 3.5 years now and I have hurt my back a few times getting her in and out of the car. So we are seriously looking at wheelchairs and vans.
I know many of you have gone through this already. Can you please tell me what wheelchair you have for your child and the pros and cons associated with it?
Also, if you have a van, what type did you get? Did you go for a ramp or a hoist? Side or rear? Why?
Thanks so much,
Bec

[Kelsey/ cammie]

Kelsey is on her second wheelchair. The first one was a kidcart. It looks like a fancy stroller. It was just so she could be transported on the bus to school. But we did use it to get her around when she was out with us. It is collapsible so it will fit in our van without needing a ramp. But we just kept it together and just lifted into the back of the van. It wasn't to heavy.

Just a few months ago we got her new wheelchair (Zippie GS) that looks like a wheelchair and it is heavy, i have many bruises on my legs from trying to lift it into the van. We bought our van before we knew Kelsey was going to be in a wheelchair. And we haven't have the money to have a ramp put into the van, and most of them put in after the purchase of a van you have to manually lift and they are just as heavy as the chair so there was no point. We are looking at the hoist for our van but the vendor we have found the cost just for the hoist is $6000.00 and that doesn't include installing it.

On a wheel chair her PT would be a great person to help get the right one for her. I have pictures of Kelsey in both of these chairs under my pictures.

Good luck

[Bec Paton]

Thanks Cammie. Its all a bit daunting at the moment!

[Barclay family]

I added a couple pictures of Lexi's chair and it looks a lot like Kelsey's but it's the tilt-n-space so it has the bigger wheels in the back. Lexi's chair is the Invacare Spree GT with a Jayfit seat. Today we finally decided on a van, we are getting a full size Ford (E-350) it should be here in the next week or so, not exactly sure, we bought it in the U.S. then we still need to get the lift put in but we know we are getting the Ricon Clearway lift put in. The van only has door on one side in the back so this lift splits in the middle and folds to the sides so that the rest of the kids can still get in and out without having to put the lift down everytime. I will definetly post pictures once we get it all set up.

[Aidan Bergquist]

Hi Bec!
Aidan has a zippie by quickie wheelchair. The color is toxic green! Eric picked it out!
Dawn

[the zanes]

We own a ramp van by Braun - its a modified Toyota Sienna with an automatic side ramp. It has been life changing! - Here is a link . . .

http://www.braunability.com/products/minivans/rampvan/

[Bec Paton]

Do you ever find it difficult to get a park with enough space next to you? That is my main worry with side entry.

the zanes said:

We own a ramp van by Braun - its a modified Toyota Sienna with an automatic side ramp. It has been life changing! - Here is a link . . .

http://www.braunability.com/products/minivans/rampvan/

[Aidan Bergquist]

We thought it would be a problem with a side load and we also have a 12 passenger van we converted so it is rather large! However, it has not been too difficult finding parking. Sometimes we just take 2 spaces if nothing is available!

[Kate]

We are looking into this too for Luke. Right now we put him in his carseat in our minivan and take his chair in and out of the back of the van. What we are looking for is a rear entry ramp van because not all handicap parking spaces have the striped loading zone next to them for chairs and especially ramps and lifts. In fact, at the reunion, a car illegally parked in the stripped loading zone about 9 inches from Luke's side of the van. As luck would have it, a cop was in the lobby at the hotel. I'm sure it was a big parking ticket. But what if I had be out with Luke by myself? Or a driver is the wheelchair user? There would have been no way to get into the van then. So we are looking at at the type of minivan conversion and ramp Mike has for Jake. Haven't decided on side or rear ramp, though. Maybe we should more actively persue this, cause my back hurts too.

[claire wilkins]

we are also looking into vehicles...arghhhhhhh !!! decisions decisions!!

[Bec Paton]

Side vs rear is something I am really struggling with. Side means we can have luggage space and a towbar, rear might be easier to get a park... aaaarrrgh - too hard!

[Bec Paton]

We looked at one of these on Friday:
http://www.ilcaustralia.org/home/search4.asp?State=SA&MC=43&...
It seemed a bit big and clunky but it wasn't fitted to Sarah but we tried it with a couple of different cushions and made up a wish list fir what we want in the wheelchair we eventually get. We are looking at a Quickie Zippee next Friday. Main concern with those seems to be getting spare parts from the US - hence looking for Australian made if possible.
Will let you all know how it goes.
Cheers,
Bec

[Bec Paton]

Sarah tried out a Quickie Zippie Iris on Friday. It looked pretty good. Heaps of tilt so we would be able to feed her in it.
http://www.pediatriceshop.com/quickieirispediatricwheelchair-p-2942...
As far as vans go, it looks like we will go for a rear ramp, hopefully with Sarah in her wheelchair between 2 other back seats so we can have Hannah and possibly another passenger next to Sarah. On big trips we could put Sarah in a car seat and do transfers so we dont have to unpack luggage to get her in and out.
Possible cars include mercedes vito, VW caddy or Kia Grand Carnival (much like a Chrysler Grand Voyager but cheaper and more reliable). All looking very expensive though. :(
Bec