Maybe you are looking to start driving for the first time or are returning to driving but this time with a disability. Either way there are a lot of adaptations on the market, designed with independence in mind.
Now, I’m not going to lie to you…the options are overwhelming and not cheap. In this post I will roll you through the majority of options with links to the vendors. As for the finances, we won’t go into details here but I encourage you to research grants and funding assistance in your area for purchasing adaptive vehicles or making aftermarket modifications.
Check out Adaptdefy’s 5 low cost accessories that make driving simpler.
Let’s roll into it!
First, connecting with the right people from the beginning. Get a referral or self-refer to your local rehabilitation center driving occupational therapists. They can go through various options, let you try out/find what works for you, and ideally provide driving lessons with the adapted gear. This step is particularly needed if your licence has been suspended due to new onset disability such as stroke, TBI, amputation, SCI, MS, etc. As a medical professional trained in driving rehabilitation needs to evaluate your ability to drive with adaptations to renew/restart your licence. Note: This is specific to your province’s rules & regulations.
Now the fun part…what are your options!
Adaptive Wheelchair Vehicles
Wheelchair Vans
Ideal for
- Power wheelchairs due to the weight
- Manual wheelchair users that don’t want to take their chairs apart for driving
- Reduced ability to transfer (these vehicles offer the option to drive into the driver’s seat with your manual or power wheelchair).
With side entry ramp, allows you to park on the street, have more passenger seats, typically used if you are going to be the driver.
With rear entry ramp, has to park with space left behind the vehicle, may have fewer passenger seats (but not always), typically used for passengers in wheelchair rather than drivers (again, not always).
Wheelchair Trucks
ATC Conversions allow you to remain in your wheelchair while driving but does limit where you can park for the door to swing up and open.
Wheelchair Trunk Lift allows you swing your wheelchair securely into the back of the truck (can be used on vans/SUV cars). For trucks, it is not recommended if you face snow or rain often, and parking options can be limited.
Cars/SUV
Cars/SUV with top box lift option, keeps your wheelchair folded on top of the vehicle even in poor weather. Must be used by manual wheelchair users, some have to be folding others can be rigid wheelchairs. Does not limit most parking options.
No modifications
Not every wheelchair user needs a modified vehicle with a ramp, conversion, or lift. Manual wheelchairs can be taken apart into ~6 pieces and loaded into the passenger seat or trunk. This is easiest with rigid manual wheelchairs and does require some upper body strength/function. Additionally, if ambulatory, then loading your wheelchair into the back of the car and walking to the driver’s seat is a possible option.
Want to learn more about wheelchair to car transfers? Take a read through Adaptdefy’s blog post!
Driver Seat
Now that you have found a way to load your wheelchair or mobility aid into the vehicle let’s explore the driver’s seat!
Swivel Seat – this seat is electrically controlled and swivel’s allowing for an easier transfer outside of the vehicle. Often paired with a Trunk Lift or in vehicles without ramps.
Transfer seat – this seat is electrically controlled with the ability to turn, move, and raise up/down. Allowing for easier transfers inside the vehicles often paired with a ramped van. This seat choice in a van is popular for a variety of abilities, including some decreased hand function as the controls can be used without grip strength.
Transfer seat lift – this option is added to the exterior of the vehicle where the seat is higher off the ground (such as trucks, SUVs). Best paired with trunk lifts, or non-ramped vehicles.
Don’t want to transfer? No problem, explore the options where you drive from your wheelchair! This requires you to drive your wheelchair into the vehicle either with a ramped van or an ATC conversion truck. Once in the vehicle, the drive seat will be an empty space that your wheelchair attaches into. This is possible for manual and power wheelchairs, requiring a docking system like the QLK system, there a pin is installed on the bottom of your wheelchair which attaches to a floor mounted system. Keeping you in place while driving, and secure even in an accident. If this is the decision for you, check if you need a seatbelt still in the vehicle of if your wheelchair is crash tested with a seatbelt for driving.
If you are using a ramped van, check out the Qstraint system to lock your wheelchair in place while driving if you are transferring into a driver’s seat.
Gas & Brake Options
To press the gas and brake with your hands and not your feet, hand controls can be installed into any automatic vehicle. Permanent hand controls involve bars that attach to the pedals then lever near the steering wheel where you push for gas and “pull” for brake. There are various types of hand controls all with similar mechanisms but slightly different hand motions. Exploring these options is an important step of the process, the various types can work for varying levels of hand dexterity and vehicle size.
SureGrip is the leading vendor in Canada for these options! Check out their website.
Steering Wheel Attachments
When using hand controls, it takes away one hand from your driving set up. Having a steering wheel attachment allows for one handed driving and there are plenty of options!
Pin System: Single pin with V-grip, tri-pin, and five pin attachments are great options for decreased hand, wrist, and grip control as the pins support your hand.
Palm grip attachment supports your hand without having to grip the wheel. This option does not support weakness at the wrist but does support weakness in the hand/fingers. For long distance driving with full upper body strength, some people like the palm grip as it does not tire out your grip.
Spinner knob is the most popular attachment and is designed for those using hand controls with full upper body strength/control.
For all the attachment options mentioned they the same attachment system to the steering wheel allowing for easy swapping between grips if you use more than one. Just don’t swap grips while driving!
There are more steering wheel attachment options to explore – check out SureGrip!
Additional Accessories
Pedal guards: used to block your feet from hitting the gas pedal unintentionally while using hand controls. Especially useful if you have uncontrolled leg spasms.
Turn Signal Buttons: When using hand controls it can be challenging to reach the turn signals. This does come with practice but if that is not an option for you there are buttons that can be added to the steering wheel or hand controls to activate the turn signals. Also used for other car functions!
Steering Wheel Extender: Brings the steering wheel closer to you.
That’s it! Those are the big players in the adaptive driving world. This list is not exhaustive, there are driving control options that involve joysticks, additional buttons, and custom vehicle builds. If you don’t see what you need on this list, don’t give up – keep searching. If you found what you need here, bring those options to your driving occupational therapist. I wish you the best in your driving experience, whether you are finding the road for the first time or returning after disability. You got this!