Category — Wheelchair Vans

Monica Chesshir recently purchased a 2011 Chrysler Town and Country Limited wheelchair van from IMED in Tea. Monica was a Navy Yeoman Records Specialist at the Grand Prairie Naval Station in Dallas, TX for two and a half years before a car accident left her disabled.  Today, Monica enjoys reading and beading. Congratulations, Monica, on the purchase of your new IMED van.

Are you tired of relying on other people to drive you around town? If you have recently become dependent on a wheelchair to move around, you have probably had to make a lot of sacrifices. However, you will be happy to know that with the proper technology, you will no longer need to sacrifice your ability to transport yourself form place to place. The wheelchair van is making it possible for people in wheelchairs to drive around town all by themselves. Driving aids can be installed that can help you control your car, making you once again independent on the road.

If you decide to purchase a wheelchair van, you will be making a decision that will help make driving easier for you. Your wheelchair van will be fitted with a lift or a ramp that will allow you to move in and out of your car with ease. You will also be able to drive with the use of driving aids. Driving aids allow you to use your hands to control the gas and brake pedal instead of your feet. With the proper research and training, you can once again be able to get around town whenever you would like. You can say goodbye to asking people to help you get to your appointments on time.

IMED Mobility is a company that has been helping people with their mobility needs for a long time. If you are looking for a professional service to help you learn whatever you can about what a wheelchair van with driving aids can do for you, you should see how IMED Mobility can help. It’s time to stop making sacrifices and get back to the quality of life you enjoyed before you needed a wheelchair. A wheelchair is not the end of the world. With the proper technology, you can find your independence once more.

Mark Giziewski recently purchased a 2010 Honda Odyssey handicap van from IMED Mobility in Tea.  Mark was paralyzed from a staph infection on his spinal cord in 1999. He had purchased a Chrysler Town and Country from IMED in the past, but after test driving a Honda Odyssey he was hooked.  Mark enjoys working with IMED’s Service Department so much he drives from Yankton to Tea to get his van serviced.

A wheelchair van provides individuals who have physical limitations with an easier method of transportation compared to a traditional vehicle. A variety of products are available to those who otherwise struggle to remain mobile. Individuals may select to purchase a new vehicle with modifications in place or to make modifications to a pre-owned vehicle. The options are yours depending on pricing and physical limits on the vehicle purchased.

Making Adjustments to Your Mobility

Perhaps the easiest way to get into a vehicle is to purchase a new or used vehicle with pre-placed mobility features. You can choose from an assortment of products from IMED Mobility for just these needs.

Wheelchair lifts can help you increase your mobility without having to purchase entirely new vehicles. IMED Mobility offers options from Bruno, Freedom, Harmar and VMI, to name a few of the options you can select from for your purchase.

Many people do not realize just how many features are available to make getting around easier.  For example, handicap ramps in the design of the van can make entering and exiting the vehicle far easier. Choosing features like rear entry can also make it easier for you. You may be able to drive, get in and out of the vehicle, or choose lowered floors, turning seats and hand controls.

With the options in a wheelchair van readily available for you to choose from, realize that now is the perfect time for you to invest. IMED Mobility provides you with the resources to find just the right equipment and vans for your needs.

Wheelchair vans give people the power to go from place to place easier than with a traditional vehicle. One way to get a good price for a vehicle like this is to buy a used one. Often, these well cared for vehicles are outgrown and replaced with new ones. They may have few miles and excellent added features. For those who are considering the investment, a used wheelchair van can be one of the best investments possible.

One of the first decisions to make when buying a wheelchair van is the source. Always buy from a trusted provider who has experience and extensive inventory for you to select from rather than limited options. IMED Mobility provides you with all of the information and resources you need to find the perfect wheelchair accessible van for your needs.

From here, choose wheelchair vans that meet your needs specifically.

• What is the condition of the vehicle’s body, engine and interior?
• Does the vehicle have a lowered floor for added headroom?
• Does it give you options like quick release seats so you can customize the interior of the vehicle easily?
• Does it come with a wheelchair ramp, if needed?
• Does it offer power steering and other driver adjustments as needed?
• Power is important. Everything from power doors to power windows is important.

When buying handicap vans for your particular needs, it makes sense to buy trusted products from trusted companies. Those offered by IMED Mobility are going to give you the ability to get around comfortably and without limitations. In addition to giving you options in vehicles, IMED Mobility also gives you the ability to get secure financing so you can afford this type of freedom.

Recently four members of the IMED sales and management team underwent training to become presenters for an AOTA approved presentation on Comprehensive Automotive Mobility Solutions for Health Professionals.  The one hour course teaches the many options available to persons with mobility challenges, and how to best fit those options to specific situations.  The four employees, Rich Struss , Ron Iverson, Jon Becker, and Dutch Te Slaa are now certified as course instructors through NMEDA can offer one hour of CEU credit through AOTA for those who participate in the workshop.  “We feel this is another service we can provide to the community that so effectively serves people with mobility challenges” said Ron Iverson, General Manager of the Roseville, Minnesota location.

If you would like to schedule this presentation at your facility, contact Dutch Te Slaa at 605-351-2227 or e-mail him at dutch@imedmobiity.com.  This presentation works very well as a lunch time seminar, and if you schedule over lunch, IMED will provide the lunch.

Buying used is an increasingly great way to buy something that you need. You want to be sure though that you’re buying the right thing. Purchasing a used wheelchair van isn’t anything like buying a used piece of exercise equipment or a used washer and dryer. This is a big purchase and it’s something that is going to further contribute to your independence. So, how are you supposed to go about purchasing a used van?

You should start by having a qualified mechanic look over the wheelchair van that you’re thinking about buying. You’ll want to know that the engine, tires, brakes, and other systems on the van are in perfect, working order. Assess how the van’s other qualities look. For example, if there is a lift, is it fully functioning? Is it the correct lift for your chair?

When you’re looking at all of those qualities, you also need to check out the van’s other mobility add-ons. Do the hand braking and steering controls that are on this particular wheelchair van work for you?

Size is another very important consideration when you’re purchasing a mobility van. How much room will you need? Are you going to be carrying passengers? How much room will you need for your chair or scooter? Choosing between minivans and full-size conversion vans is a decision that only you can make based on your own personal needs.

Most importantly, you need to determine that the van is safe for you to use. Make sure the equipment on the van, such as the lift and hand controls, have been crash-tested for reliability and safety. You should also test drive the van before you make any kind of purchase or decision.

IMED Mobility has a variety of used vans for all of your needs!

Anytime you make a big purchase, you generally have the option to finance. After all, big items such as cars and homes are too expensive for most people to just pay with cash. If you’re looking to finance your purchase of a new wheelchair van, IMED Mobility offers affordable financing so that you can have the van you need to get from place to place. If you’re looking for great rates on financing, look no further than IMED. Their website offers a very helpful contact form where you have the option to speak with a representative who can help you with your financing options.

Before you look into financing for wheelchair vans, there are a couple of things you can do. First and foremost, you will want to start researching. If you know exactly what you want in your van, you may be able to find an organization or government grant that can help you pay for your van so that you do not have to finance as much. Know what specifications you will need, such as a lift for your chair or scooter and hand steering and braking controls. Once you have an estimate as to how much you are going to be spending, you will be better able to determine what types of financing and assistance you’re going to need. Knowing how much you should be paying when you’re looking at wheelchair vans also ensures that you don’t pay too much.

While financing is a great option, be sure to look for grants that can help you cover the cost. There are many nonprofit agencies out there that will help you if you are using your mobility van for certain purposes.

IMED Mobility offers quality wheelchair vans and quality financing options for your van. Visit a dealer today!

The Veigel Automotive Company recently released an innovative new hand control, which aims to improve the convenience for all users. This new product is called the 4100CL Floor Mount Hand Control. Numerous clients who have utilized the new product prefer it the traditional hand controls that are installed on the console of a vehicle.

What are the benefits of this new hand control? First off, the styling is very appealing to customers. The 4100CL has a plastic cover on its main shaft that comes incredibly close to matching the interior color of any vehicle. In terms of appearance, the 4100CL is very modern and stylish. It has the appearance of a factory component, rather than an added aftermarket product. In addition to an elegant look, the 4100CL takes up far less space. There is much more open area when using this product, especially in the region where your knees are intended to go. This is beneficial to users who transfer in and out of their vehicle.

One of the most notable features is the 4100CL’s ability to fold. To fold, you simply push a button that allows the hand control to fold back for storage when it is not being utilized. When an individual who does not require a hand control wishes to drive the vehicle, this floor –mount style control is conveniently out of the way. This feature provides an extra facet of safety, as the gas or brake will not be triggered by accident.

The 4100CL Hand Control if rapidly gaining popularity, and rightfully so. This product is not installed near the vehicle’s column like traditional floor mounts. Multiple benefits are correlated to its style of being installed as a floor mount. If any of the benefits appeal to you, perhaps you should check out the Veigel 4100CL Hand Control! For more information on their products, please visit www.veigel-automotive.de.

In addition, Bruno Manufacturing, a leader in accessibility products, has come up with a convenient way for you to lift and stow your scooter, power chair, or manual folding wheelchair. The Out-Side Micro Exterior Vehicle Lift is convenient and easy to use. This exciting new product is designed to work on most minivans, SUVs, station wagons and sedans.

This convenient lift is designed to minimize rear view obstruction and handle a lifting capacity of 145 pounds. It can be installed in less than an hour and attaches to any receiver hitch. The lift platform is easily folded and unfolded due to gas-spring assistance. A safety latch prevents unintentional lowering of the lift platform and an ultra-strong strap system secures the scooter to the platform. This lift is so easy to use it can be operated with one hand!

An extra benefit of this lift is that it can be powered by the vehicle’s battery or the optional Bruno Power Pack, which will allow operation even if the vehicle is inoperable.

If you have a scooter, power chair, or wheelchair and drive a mid-size vehicle or van, the Out-Sider Micro Lift is a great option for you! Sales, installation and service are provided by factory-trained worldwide dealers. For more information about Bruno and its wide range of vehicle lifts, visit www.bruno.com.

Though much of Alaska can only be reached by bush plane, the highways of Alaska offer some of the most amazing scenery and wildlife. Simply driving through Alaska is an experience in and of itself and not one that anyone should have to go without. From the mountains and the forest to the wildlife wondering along the highway, it’s amazing how untouched Alaska feels just by driving down the highway.

Whether you currently live in Alaska or plan on visiting us, it’s vital that you have a wheelchair van that works with you instead of against you. There are a variety of mobility conversions available for wheelchair vans in Alaska, but you want to choose one that will work for you efficiently and consistently. Far too often, clients find that chairs and lifts breakdown and don’t operate on a consistent basis. Side and rear entry ramp conversions are often the most reliable and efficient options. [Read more →]