Buying a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is one of the biggest decisions you will ever make. Moreover, there is a lot to figure out. For example, what type of vehicle do you need? Furthermore, what adaptations are right for you? And how do you pay for it?
Fortunately, AARP just published a guide that answers all of these questions. Better yet, NMEDA is proud to be a featured resource throughout it.
NMEDA’s Amy Lane Helps Lead the Way
Amy Lane, NMEDA’s Director of Education, Training and Conference, is a central voice in the guide. Specifically, she is an experienced occupational therapist and driver rehabilitation specialist. As a result, she helps readers understand what to look for, what questions to ask, and how to find the right fit for their specific needs.
Because every wheelchair user has different needs, Amy emphasizes personalized solutions. In other words, first you match the person. Then you match the vehicle.
What the AARP Guide Covers
The guide walks you through every major decision in the buying process. Here is what you will find inside:
What a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is. WAVs are modified minivans or SUVs. They feature lowered floors, power-operated doors, extendable ramps, and latching systems to keep your mobility device secure.
Driver or passenger? This is the first question to answer. Your answer determines the entire vehicle setup. The guide explains your options clearly for both situations.
Adaptive controls. Additionally, the guide covers hand controls, left-foot accelerators, modified steering wheels, and repositioned switches. There are solutions for a wide range of physical needs.
How to find the right fit. The guide recommends working with a driver rehabilitation specialist before you buy. This step helps you avoid costly mistakes.
What it costs. A new WAV typically runs between $80,000 and $100,000. However, pre-owned options and funding programs can make it more accessible.
How to fund it. Finally, the guide covers state vocational rehabilitation programs, VA benefits, nonprofit grants, and automaker rebates. Your NMEDA dealer can also point you toward additional funding resources.
The Guide Recommends Starting with an NMEDA Dealer
The AARP guide is clear on where to buy. Specifically, it recommends using the NMEDA Dealer Locator to find a qualified retailer. That is because an NMEDA dealer brings something a standard auto dealership simply cannot offer.
“Mobility dealers are almost a hybrid between a retailer and a health care professional because they’re experienced in finding the right accommodations and adaptations to fit the wheelchair user.”
Megan Wegner, BraunAbility, as quoted in the AARP guide
In fact, every NMEDA dealer in our QAP-Accredited network meets rigorous standards for training, safety, and service. Furthermore, they do not just sell you a vehicle. Instead, they help you find the right one, set it up correctly, and service it over time.
Therefore, when you are ready to start shopping, your first call should be to an NMEDA dealer near you.
Find an NMEDA dealer near you:
Why This Guide Matters
For many people, a wheelchair-accessible vehicle is the difference between staying connected to the world and feeling left behind. Consequently, getting this decision right matters enormously.
In short, the right vehicle, with the right adaptations, from the right NMEDA dealer, changes lives. As a result, this guide helps you get there.
Above all, NMEDA is proud that Amy Lane’s expertise and our NMEDA Dealer Locator are part of a resource that reaches millions of AARP readers.
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Read the full AARP guide, then connect with an NMEDA dealer near you.
About NMEDA
The National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA) is the trade association behind the dealers and manufacturers who make adaptive mobility possible across the United States and Canada. Our Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the nationally recognized accreditation standard for mobility equipment dealers.
0 Comments