Transporting a Child with Disabilities
At Auto Mobility Sales, we believe that all children, including those with special health care needs, should have access to proper resources for safe transportation. We can help you understand the basic guidelines for selecting restraints, positioning children into them and securing these restraints in your handicap accessible van. We have been helping families who have children with special needs, since beginning in the industry over 18 years ago. Every family is unique and we will take the time to listen and understand your needs.
There are many factors to consider when looking for a handicap van to transport your child, such as:
- The rear seat is the safest place for children under the age of 12, since the impact of a deploying air bag can severely injure or kill an infant or small child. We will work with you to find the ideal position to transport your child for safety and convenience.
- For a child with special needs who requires frequent observation during travel, being close to the driver or attendant while traveling in the wheelchair van may be critical. We have many wheelchair accessible van options to meet your needs and will work with you to determine which will be best for you and your family. For example:
- A rear-entry handicap accessible minivan might be a better option if you need a caregiver to sit next to the child or want them closer to the driver.
- If you have a lot of equipment or luggage you will need to also transport, a side-entry full size handicap conversion van will allow for more room.
- The size of your family also will impact your decision of wheelchair vans.
- Do you require tinted windows so your child does not become too hot from the sun?
- When a child with special needs is in transit, ancillary pieces of medical equipment should be secured on the vehicle floor or underneath a vehicle seat or wheelchair in order to avoid them becoming projectiles during a crash and striking someone.
- Electrical mobility equipment for use during transit should have portable self-contained power for twice the expected duration of the trip. Whenever possible, for improved safety, lead acid batteries or electrically powered wheelchairs or other mobile seating devices and respiratory systems should be converted to gel-cell or dry-cell batteries. To house and protect batteries during transportation, the use of external battery boxes is recommended.
