| Most of the time, disabled individuals often | | | | |
| rely on friends and family for transportation | | | | Finding a used wheelchair accessible vehicle, |
| to send them to, appointments, work, and | | | | in the local area, can be a hard thing to do. |
| recreational activities. Generally, loved | | | | To make things easier, many dealers, like |
| ones are only too glad to help the wheelchair | | | | Bruno, offer services to deliver the van to |
| bound person gain a little independence and | | | | the disabled individual. If the van is to be |
| live a better quality of life. Nevertheless, | | | | delivered, trusting the seller is imperative. |
| with a handicapped accessible van, a | | | | For the lucky few capable of buying locally, |
| physically challenged individual can become | | | | a loved one can test-drive the van, and if |
| more self-sufficient. | | | | further modifications are necessary, it can |
| | | | always be done with a local mechanic. |
| Unfortunately, an appropriately equipped van | | | | |
| is usually cost prohibitive. Added to the | | | | In most cases, the wheelchair van will be |
| original cost of the van, the price of newly | | | | adequately equipped, often with low mileage. |
| converted wheelchair vehicles simply put | | | | For persons with debilitating and progressive |
| people off. However a used wheelchair van | | | | diseases, driving with hand-controls is only |
| would make it possible for the average income | | | | a temporary reprieve from increasing loss of |
| family to afford to get a wheelchair | | | | independence. About two or three years old, |
| accessible vehicle. | | | | many used wheelchair vans tends to have less |
| | | | than 50,000 miles. Already converted, the |
| Consider the follow scenario: "Bob" has | | | | vans are ready to be used by its new owner, |
| suffered a devastating car accident, leaving | | | | it just takes some time to get used to it. |
| him paralyzed from the waste down. Once an | | | | |
| active person, "Bob" still wants to be | | | | Vans are more commonly altered to accommodate |
| self-supporting, able to take family | | | | a wheelchair, because the back seat is still |
| vacations, run errands, and a plethora of | | | | available for ambulatory friends and family. |
| everyday occurrences he used to take for | | | | Although new vans are converted to |
| granted. He desperately needs a wheelchair | | | | accommodate both driver and passenger, a used |
| accessible vehicle, but new models are not | | | | van generally has low mileage and a |
| within his price range. "Bob" begins by | | | | reasonable price tag. So, before giving up on |
| asking local car dealers and checking on the | | | | gaining an increased level of independence, |
| Internet. Eureka! "Bob" has found a mini van | | | | check the local dealers and Internet sites |
| with low mileage, located within 500 miles. | | | | for a used wheelchair van. You never know if |
| The van has hand controls, built-in | | | | you can find an affordable and yet practical |
| wheelchair restraints, and relatively low | | | | used wheelchair van locally. Start looking. |
| mileage. Now what? | | | | |