Mobility Products for Handicapped Travel

Today’s mobility market offers a variety of equipment that helps disabled individuals live more fulfilling, independent lives. Modern wheelchair lifts are more reliable and convenient than ever, and provide assistance in homes, public places, and for traveling in a vehicle.

Residential and commercial wheelchair lifts allow disabled individuals to get from one floor to another without requiring the assistance of other people. Residential stair lifts offer a practical solution for homeowners who are unable to get up and down the stairs otherwise. These stair lifts can be installed in a way that does not obstruct the stairway. Most importantly, this type of equipment allows a person with disabilities to get from one level of a home to another while minimizing safety risks.

Vehicle wheelchair lifts make it relatively easy for handicap individuals to enter or exit a vehicle. There are many styles of these lift systems. For instance, the equipment can be installed on the back or side of the vehicle allowing the installation to be tailored to individual needs. You can choose between an electric or hydraulic vehicle lift system. Some lifts are designed to only lift and secure a wheelchair or scooter to the vehicle, while others can lift both wheelchair occupant and wheelchair safely into and out of the vehicle.

Adding convenience and safety mobility features to homes, vehicles and public places ensures that disabled people are offered the greatest potential for living independent lives. Improved accessibility in a home, during travel and when navigating public places can make all of the difference for a person with disabilities. Equipping a vehicle with a handicap lift, for instance, allows a disabled person to travel to work, to see friends and family, to perform daily tasks, to attend school, and many other opportunities that would otherwise be much more difficult. Mobility equipment is often the key to opening up a world of opportunities for a greater number of people.

Recent studies in Sioux Falls, South Dakota show that close to 50% of all homeless in the area are veterans. That’s why “Veterans Build” was created. The American Legion Post 15 in Sioux Falls developed “Veterans Build” to raise $56,000 to build a “Home” in Sioux Falls for a South Dakota Veteran and his or her family.

Most veteran programs are focused on the mental and physical well-being of the veteran and not the veteran and his or her family.  Veterans Build in conjunction with Sioux Falls Habitat for Humanity will provide a veteran and his or her family a place to heal and for self development, in addition to giving the veteran a chance to acclimate back into society.

The veteran and family will also earn equity in the home by making the commitment to help with the building of the home.

To help support this project, check out their Facebook page by clicking here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Post-15-Vet-Build/172857246153526?ref=ts or contact Dean DeLashmutt, Chairman for Veterans Build at 605-367-9484, guam1973@gmail.com.

Many of us take for granted our ability to conveniently travel to public places. For individuals living with disabilities, getting out of the house to visit family and friends, to attend school, get to and from work, run daily errands, or perform any other task that involves travel can present many challenges. Public transportation for handicap people has improved over the years, but to truly optimize independence and convenience for disabled individuals, a privately-owned wheelchair van is a great solution.

There is a wider selection of wheelchair accessible vans than ever before. With the introduction of the minivan, you will be able to choose the vehicle size that best suits your needs. Full-size vans are still available, and offer extra cargo and passenger space if required. However, if you don’t need the extra space within the vehicle, a smaller minivan may be the better option since they use less gas and are easier to navigate.

The variety of handicap van features allows owners to tailor their vehicle to their precise needs. For instance, wheelchair ramps or lifts are available and can be installed either on the rear or side of the vehicle. A rear entry mobility van will allow you to park in tighter spots and, therefore, does not require you to park in only handicap parking spaces. However, side entry systems are necessary for disabled individuals who will be sitting toward the front of the vehicle.

To find a vehicle that suits your needs best, talk with an expert in handicap vans and mobility features. The professionals at IMED Mobility will be happy to answer any and all of your questions or concerns so that you can find a customized option that fits your budget and your lifestyle. You will then achieve greater access to the outside world at your convenience.

So, you decided to begin the search for a brand new wheelchair van. You head to a few different websites to check out what is available in terms of new wheelchair van inventory and you begin to get a sinking feeling. There are so many styles, names, makes, models, gear and options that your head feels a bit dizzy. How can you know exactly what you need?

That is where the experts at IMED Mobility can save the day. Not only do they have convenient locations, but they can offer all of their vehicles to anyone who visits their shops. This means that you can see one wheelchair van listed in Roseville, but get it delivered to Tea, South Dakota. Of course, getting it delivered is the END of the story. We are only at the very beginning of the process…

So, how do you even know which wheelchair van to consider when faced with the many excellent choices available through IMED Mobility? You begin by putting yourself into the knowledgeable hands of their Mobility Consultants. This company is unique in that it doesn’t rely on a big staff of professional auto or truck sales people but instead uses only professionals who have been trained by the makers of the mobility vehicles. This means that they can consult with you about your personal preferences, but also understand what you need in terms of gear, lifts, ramps, driving aids, and more.

The entire staff also understands that an investment in a new mobility vehicle is always substantial, and is never going to pressure anyone to spend dollars that they just don’t have to. For instance, if you begin the entire process with a very clear statement about economy and a simple means of transportation, the sales staff is not going to persuade you to purchase extra gear or devices that will bump up the cost in an unnecessary way. You get what you need, and plenty of support in making the best choice!

“A Hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles.” – Christopher Reeve

Please watch or read these our local hero’s stories and vote for them! Please use code 831 to give them 5 extra votes.

Heather Coffee – Tea, SD

Kendra Gottsleben – Sioux Falls, SD

Erica Hoffman – Sioux City, IA

Kyla Snelling – Sioux Falls, SD

Thank you for supporting our local heroes!

If you have any questions regarding Mobility Awareness Month and the contest to win a custom wheelchair van, please visit our website at www.imedmobility.com or call us at (855) 843-2614.

Are you talking to your family or friends about handicap vans and think you don’t have the budget for one? After all, they have higher price tags because they are equipped with so many excellent “extras”. You may begin think that you won’t ever get to enjoy the convenience that handicap vans provide when a friend suggests used handicap accessible vehicles as an option.

While there are always plenty of used “everyday” cars, you wonder if there are any good opportunities for buying used handicap vans. A simple online visit to IMED Mobility will provide you with a very satisfying answer. [Read more →]

What is your preferred car maker? Dodge? Honda? Chrysler? Maybe you like Toyota? If you have a preferred minivan maker, you may have convinced yourself that you won’t be able to get anything like it in terms of handicap vans. You may believe that you can only get one of the large commercial looking handicap vans with all of the handy lifts and ramps that make getting around to different places pretty easy.

You are right that there are massive commercial vans that can fit two or more wheelchairs or mobility scooters inside, but that is not all that you will find. For instance, when you check out the inventory of IMED Mobility you see all of your favorite brands, and all as beautifully converted handicap vans that look just like regular minivans. [Read more →]

If you are someone interested in purchasing a wheelchair accessible van you may initially think that it is a relatively simple topic. After all, it is a modified or converted van that can accommodate one or more people seated in wheelchairs or mobility scooters…right? Well, you are somewhat correct if you were limiting the topic to the most basic of the commercial or private vans, but a wheelchair van can be a lot more than just basic. It can be one of those dream machine minivans with all of the best and latest “bells and whistles” or it can be a basic vehicle to get you from the proverbial point A to point B…the buyer’s job is to figure it all out according to their needs and budget.

This is particularly easy when you begin shopping at IMED Mobility. Though the company focuses on accessibility on many levels, they have a tremendous emphasis on vehicles of all kinds, including the wheelchair accessible van design.

To begin understanding what type of van you require is simple, but what makes the issue so easy to manage is the fact that the company has factory trained consultants who can work with you to ensure you make the best choices possible. Here’s what we mean: if you  have a particular brand name in mind, they have specialists trained by the manufacturer to help people make the right decisions about gear, ramps, lifts, driving aids and more.

So, let’s say you are an individual who wants a new Honda minivan. The company will have specialists who know all about this line of vans. They can review with you the different equipment you need and help you to decide if a conversion is necessary or if you can just purchase something from one of their lots.

It really can be that simple. You don’t have to become a mobility van expert to begin understanding which options are the best for your needs and working with IMED Mobility is a great way to begin.

IMED Mobility has always been known for industry-leading handicap vans and automotive mobility solutions. Those options will now be joined by home accessibility products and services. We have gathered a reputation of excellence due to involvement in not only sales of mobility products, but in installing and servicing each product sold. We will now bring this same dedication to customer service to our home accessibility services.

As an example of IMED Mobility’s commitment to providing their customers with the highest quality products and service possible, Jon Hoskins will be involved in the process. Jon is no stranger to accessibility solutions, having more than four years of experience with durable medical equipment, as well as home and vehicle accessibility equipment.

Jon holds an automotive technology degree from Universal Technical Institute in Glendale Heights, IL, and became a Certified Mobility Consultant with VMI in 2010. In addition, he completed factory training for sales and service for Ergolet in 2011 and Bruno Independent Living Aids in 2010 and 2012. Jon also has firsthand experience with health and wellness problems, surviving a rare form of cancer when he was only nine years old.

Jon says, “I absolutely love helping people solve their mobility problems by finding the most cost-effective solutions while paying extra close attention to every person’s needs. Seeing the look on a person’s face when they gain back mobility is very rewarding to me.” In that, Jon exemplifies IMED Mobility’s drive to serve their customers.

IMED Mobility remains dedicated to providing outstanding customer service throughout the Midwest, by providing more than just sales – installation, service and advice for mobility solutions for every corner of a person’s life can be found here.

IMED Mobility maintains the highest commitment to providing our customers with the information needed to make the right decision for their mobility needs. No story illustrates this more than that of Carol Schnepf and her daughter, Karla.

Karla was looking for a mobility van for her mother, and she contacted IMED Mobility in Tea, South Dakota. Karla left a message and Jon, one of our certified mobility specialists, returned her call immediately. Karla expressed her interest in two handicap vans she’d seen on our website and Jon made arrangements for her and her brother to come to the dealership to see them both, and to get more information about the various mobility systems available for her mother.

Karla arrived just two days later, and she, Jon and her brother spent time looking at both models. By answering Karla’s questions immediately and going further to provide even more details about the different features available, Jon was able to help Karla find the perfect mobility van for her mother. Karla didn’t make a decision that day, but communicated with Jon throughout the next week, helping her determine exactly what her mother needed in a wheelchair van.

Only five days after her first visit to IMED Mobility, Karla made her choice and returned to pick up the van that would give her mother back her freedom and independence, a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. The very day that she purchased the van, Karla watched in wonder as her mother was able to enter the wheelchair van on her own, and then took her to see her grandson play in a basketball game. Carol was delighted and Karla told us, “My mother couldn’t have been happier.”

We’re immensely happy to have been able to help give Carol back some of her freedom and independence, and proud of being able to give Karla the assistance she needed to find the perfect wheelchair van for her mother.