Category — wheelchair accesible

Are you looking for a way to increase your mobility and your freedom? Traditionally, this has been very difficult for handicapped individuals to accomplish. However, an accessible van can give you back the freedom and independence that you thought long lost. How do these vans work? What should you know about buying one? Here, you’ll learn a few important tips for finding the right vehicle for your needs.

Find the Right Configuration

Much like regular vans, you will find that you have a wide selection of vehicles from which to choose when you decide to purchase an accessible van. However, all of this can be boiled down to two primary options – minivans and full size vans. Both have pros and cons. For instance, minivans usually need to have their floor lowered, which means modification to the original body. However, they are more maneuverable. Full size vans do not require any lowering of the floor, but they are larger and more difficult to maneuver. You will need to determine which configuration appeals to you the most. [Read more →]

By this time next week, if all goes well, the Bill and Adair Grommesh family of Moorhead will be in a new home – at the same address.

The Grommeshes were “ambushed” Sunday morning at a Fargo ice arena by ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and told that they would be the recipients of a new, handicap-accessible home.

“I was shocked. I couldn’t believe it was happening. Very intense. Very exciting,” Bill Grommesh said of the announcement by the “Extreme Makeover” cast at Southwest Ice Arena.

“It’s still not really sinking in. We still feel like we’re part of this dream. We don’t want the dream to end. We feel so blessed,” Adair Grommesh said. [Read more →]

IMED Mobility locations offer customers the innovative Sure Grip hand controls to aid in driving their wheelchair vans. The Roseville, Minnesota location will now have all four different styles on display.

These include a “lock out” disable feature which comes in handy if someone else is driving the van because the driver cannot accidentally hit the brake or the gas. “This really comes into play when you take your vehicle into a service station or to get the oil changed,” Ron Iverson of IMED Mobility in Roseville said. “There have been numerous incidents of techs smashing someone’s vehicle by accidentally hitting the gas on the hand controls.”

Four Types of Hand Controls
1. The Push/Rock Hand Control is the original Sure Grip device which allows a driver to keep both hands on the wheel and is the lowest fatigue available. By pushing forward for break and locking for gas, this convenient hand control position is the most versatile of anything on the market.

2. To operate the Push/Right –Angle, a person pushes forward for break and pulls down for gas, allowing for continual contact with the steering wheel while accelerating. The shortened throw system stays out of a driver’s lap and has a shorter stroke, making acceleration easier. No need to worry about extra leg clearance while accelerating.

3. The Push/ Pull hand control also has a shortened handle. Push this handle forward to break and pull back for gas. The shortened handle reduces the amount and range of moving components while acceleration. It also allows your hand to maintain contact with the steering wheel while at all times applying accelerating. This frees up your other hand to operate secondary functions while driving down the road. The Sure Grip Push/Pull control is much more comfortable to use than other Push/Pull controls on the market and has plenty of leg room.

4. The last new hand control is the Push/ Twist, which has a great pedal feel and an adjustable handle to allow for maximum comfort. By pushing forward for breaking and twisting for gas, this hand control offers smooth acceleration and easy breaking. The standard adjustable thumb/hand support is utilized to provide leverage to reduce fatiguing while accelerating.

If you have any questions about the Sure Grip hand controls please contact our mobility consultants at IMED Mobility in Roseville, Minnesota or Tea, South Dakota by visiting imedmobility.com or dial toll free at (800) 570-0236.

Depending upon your budget, you might not know whether you should buy a new or used wheelchair accessible van. If you want the latest model van and conversion, and you do not want to drive something that another person has driven, you should buy new. Those who are on a budget or who do not care if they have the latest model may want to check out the used vans in stock.

To find the best mobility van for your needs, you will want to contact one of our reps for a consultation. If you decide you need some extra help in affording a van, our mobility consultants can help you with a lender and/or their local bank.

Jack Reich, mouth painting artist and author, came to IMED Mobility in Tea, SD yesterday, accompanied by his daughter Kathy, to pick up his silver 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan with the Amerivan Conversion by Eldorado. This is Jack’s first wheelchair accessible van.

Jack was born with a birth defect that limited the use of his arms and legs. He overcame these issues in his own way, learning to paint and draw with his mouth and became a member of the Association of Foot and Mouth Painters of the World. He focuses his paintings on country inspiration he has found living in western South Dakota.

He also has written three novels. Jack likes to focus on the Sioux Indians and would categorize his novels as fantasy fiction in the way that they do not depict life as it happened but perhaps the way it should have happened.

Jack has three daughters and is from Isabel, SD.

Shopping for your wheelchair accessible van is an exciting experience. Wheelchair vans can offer you an incredible amount of freedom. One of the best perks of having a van is the power to no longer rely on someone else. With the use of a hand control and your wheelchair van, you can be completely independent.

You will be able to browse the different vehicles that are available and find something that matches with your aesthetic sensibilities and personal needs. With dozens of different van conversions and models available, you should be able to find a van that is just right for you. Sometimes, however, choosing a vehicle that is the right fit for you can be a bit stressful.

The first step you need to take is to contact a certified mobility consultant to ensure that you pick the vehicle you pick is right for you, with as little stress as possible. Mobility consultants can make sure you are aware of the different types of conversions and accessories that fit your specific requirements.

Contact a mobility consultant to learn more about wheelchair vans today!

IMED Mobility in Tea, SD and Roseville has some of the best certified mobility consultants out there. Don’t hesitate to give IMED a call or stop on in.

IMED Mobility in Tea: 1-866-803-2200

IMED Mobility in Roseville: 1-800-788-7479