From Car Adaptations to Drive From Wheelchair Vehicles – A Helpful Guide

If your client requires adapted transport, this is a good place to start. Our helpful guide will provide the basic information you need, from standard car adaptations to drive from wheelchair vehicles.

As and when you and your client require more detailed information, we would recommend you contact Sirus directly.  We are drive from wheelchair vehicle specialists and have a team of experienced mobility advisors who offer advice and support on car adaptations, vehicle conversions, funding and assessments.

Car Adaptations

Fitted to standard cars, Sirus can fit a wide range of adaptations to assist drivers and passengers. These fully tested adaptations are fitted by highly experienced adaptations engineers on-site at Sirus. Car adaptations can be fitted to assist:

• Driving (i.e. pedal modifications, hand controls, electronic accelerator, clutch systems, handbrake modifications).
• Steering (infra-red controls, steering aids, wireless controls, reversing camera and monitor).
• Seating and Stowage – Assistance getting in and out of the car and stowing wheelchair or scooter (boot hoist, rooftop box).

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Upfront Passenger Vehicles – Enabling Inclusion

• Upfront passenger vehicles are now a very popular solution as opposed to being positioned in the rear of the vehicle.
• Ownership being empowerment and entitlement.
• Social inclusion – enables relationships through typical family or couple dynamics. Seating positions enabling communication and close proximity, family-based hierarchical structures etc.
• Sensory processing differences can make travelling upfront preferable.
• Quality of experience – view, perception, access to in-car controls.
• Mental health – some people may feel less anxiety sitting in the front of a vehicle.

Find out more about upfront passenger wheelchair accessible vehicles.

DRIVER SOLUTIONS

Drive From Wheelchair Vehicles

• Drive whilst you are seated in your wheelchair
• Complete independence and freedom
• No strenuous transfer to a driver seat
• Wheelchair is automatically locked into position
• Bespoke driving adaptations can be fitted for each individual
• An assessment can be carried out by a Sirus Mobility Specialist, Motability Assessor or a Regional Driving Assessment Centre

Find out more about drive from wheelchair vehicle solutions.

Combined Drive From Wheelchair Vehicles / Internal Transfer and Upfront Passenger

• Drive with the benefit of having the space to travel upfront as a passenger
• The benefit of being able to switch places at any time – share the driving.
• Ideal for somebody who experiences fatigue but still wants to participate in driving as their occupation or as a means of accessing occupation.
• A good option to consider for progressive conditions. Longer-term the vehicle can be used for the client as a passenger but enabling whilst they are able to drive.

Find out more about combined drive from wheelchair and combined internal transfer solutions.

Drive With an Internal Transfer  

• Drive from a standard driver seat
• Powered six-way seat aids transfer
• No need to dismantle your wheelchair and lift it into your car – doing this over a long period can cause stress on the shoulders (shoulder injuries could affect the capacity to self-propel a wheelchair).
• Safer than transferring on the roadside
• Some people prefer to transfer rather a drive from wheelchair vehicle as they are using upper body strength.
• For some people, this may not be possible or the further fatigue this may cause would be disadvantageous.

Find out more about internal transfer solutions.

Rear Seated Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Please note this is not a solution offered by Sirus, as we focus on upfront inclusive solutions.

• Very common due to the price usually being lower
• Can work well for some families (i.e. a child in the back with siblings)
• Some people experience travel sickness and have sensory differences that make rear positioning more difficult.
• Can limit social interaction

Quick Guide Checklist

Ensure you have considered and have information on the following:

• Conversion features – Interchangeable driver/passenger seat, compact footprint, high interior headroom, side entry or rear entry
• Seating capacity
• Space for equipment
• Features on the vehicle – e.g. cruise control, power start button, reversing camera, park assist, parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers.
• Adaptations – wheelchair locking system, driving adaptations such as push-pull hand controls.

Call Sirus on 0121 505 7777 or email sales@sirusautomotive.co.uk for further information and support.