I am almost an adult, and my Trust really thinks it is time for me to get a car/suv, whatever. I have been holding off for a while because I am scared of driving because of the car accident. I know it is a fear I need to overcome, and I am ready to do it. I am ready to face it head on, and just do it. I am tired of asking for rides, and I want to be more independent.

So I was thinking about getting a Honda Element with the lift in it. http://www.aeromobility.com/accessible.html#exterior

I have lost a lot of muscle, and I don't think I could lift up my chair, even though it is a folding one. They bolted one of the wheels on because it kept sliding off, and my chair back has locks on it, and it is just a pain to take apart. But I was wondering, maybe if I lifted weights for a while, and was able to lift my chair, then I could drive a car. I am pretty sure I could accomplish that goal. Another issue is hand controls. The idea of driving with one hand kind of scares me, but obviously if it is something that I need to do, I will do it.

So my questions are...

1. What cars do you think are great for wheelchairs?
2. What hand controls do you use? (I know it is possible to test them out beforehand)

Whatever choices you make, do get proper training on all aspects of driving - off the public roads if possible. The more you put into learning, the more confident you will become. The last thing you want is to be on a fast, busy road, feeling out of control. You can do it. Just don't rush, and above all - enjoy.

Hi Beautiful, I think you are right to get on the road, it will make you so independent. I returned to driving a year after my sci and it was the best thing that I ever did. As for the best car, it depends on each persons individual taste. At the moment I drive a Citroen and I have a Braun chair topper on the roof which lifts up the chair automatically all I have to do is transfer on and off. Im sure
you could test out hand controls in a driving school, I use the push and pull method and it works great for me. As for driving with one hand, I can't imagine driving any other way now. Good luck with choosing a car and keep us all posted on how you get on.

Thank you! I can get into my sisters car without a transfer board, but I have to get out using one. I have been looking at SureGrip hand controls, and they seem nice, but of course this isn't a decision that needs to be made right this second, so I will continue to research and try out all the different kinds. Also, my mom bought some 10 & 20 pound weights that have pouches inside of them, and in the pouches have 1/2 lb bars. So I can take out 10 bars and have a 5 lb weight, and it goes on. I had these when I was in physical therapy, and I absolutely loved them, and they helped me with my arm muscles a lot.

So I am going to try and target for doing the whole transferring idea. Honestly, I think I would feel safer. This way, IF someone dangerous were to come up to me, I could just transfer and close the door and take off. Also, I wouldn't be sitting in my chair, and I would be in an actual seat, which makes me feel better. I know that lifts are some peoples preference, but for me, being in the situation I am (a bit scared of all this), I think I need to do what feels best for me.

Well . . . nothing quit says "I'm a gimp" like driving one of those!

. . . sorry

Congrats on gaining more independence and good luck!

I'm also trying to get driving. Havn't gotten far though, still need my licence, and hand controls, and a new trasnmition. lol
And now that christmas is around the cornor, i'll have to wait abit longer.

But if I were you, I would go for a two door car, alot more room to transfer in/out.

Crossovers and SUV's are, IMO, the easiest when you have trouble exiting the car. Getting in is pretty much the same, and you will perfect the lifting in no time... Im like you and have more trouble getting out of cars that are even with or lower than my chair, there's a million ways to transfer out of a vehicle and I feel as though I have tried them all, and in the end its always the higher seat to wc jump that is quickest, easiest, and 'safest'.

As for taking the chair apart, a lower car would be easier for all the obvious reasons, but a higher car isnt much harder.. Its all technique.. the muscle will come as you practice.

I just recently got my car,, first few days I would only go places with friends.. just incase. It took about 4 days before I was going to run errands solo. I still hate getting to a public place and being surrounded by people in the parking lot, something about a young girl in a big lexus pulling up in the Handicap spot that makes everyone turn there heads and stare.

I still have the portables I was given my Chefzapp, Im hesitant to install perm ones cause I cant stand the thought of driving with just one hand or the other.. I like to switch my arms for turns and comfort. Portables arent really any trouble, moving them in and out of the way when transfering will become second nature.

And one more thing,.. When the time comes and your wheels rolls out of reach, while breaking down chair, you will have the portable hand control to pull apart and use as a "poker"!! Ive had to do it twice now, loving it!

Hello dear. Well you've seen how I do it now which I think you could totally do if you get that wheel fixed. I love you.

Definitely go for the driving lessons. Some of the instructors will have a variety of cars and controls, which will allow you to get a feel for what you like.

Bigger doors are better,, hence the idea about the two door,, but you will find that any car you really like will be accessible with enough practice. Once you have your license you can pick up a set of the portable controls,, then you can try out ALL the different vehicles. Don't let anybody rush you into anything. You'll find the deciding to be a lot of fun.

You won't really know independence until you get in your own car and take off,,,, where doesn't matter, just the idea that you can go,, when and where YOU want. Great feeling.
ed

Yay, Beautiful! That is awesome! You're gonna see that a car gives you so much freedom and independence. It took me a long while to drive again after my accident. I got hurt when I was really young and had only been driving for a few weeks when I was hit so I didn't have much driving experience. I have driven SUVs (currently own a Nissan Xterra) since I started driving again and the one thing about bigger cars is that I feel much safer in them. I actually know a para guy who drives a Honda Element and it seems to work really well for him. Crossovers are a really good option if you don't want to do the climb into a full sized SUV. It'll probably take some trial and error before you master the transfer into a big car but it'll come together. I look like a monkey when I climb into my truck but as Ches said, over time those muscles will develop and it will be easy. I'm even thinking of getting the suspension lifted on my truck (I have a thing for big crazy looking monster SUVs haha) so that should be an interesting transfer if I do it hahaha. Check out the Sure Grip hand controls but portables also do the trick and are a good option if you want to switch cars or drive a friend's car, etc. Sportaid sells them. I like them and everyone else I know who uses them has also had good experiences with them.

My wheels come off, but my chair folds up, like those hospital wheelchairs. I think this might be a problem, because it is large, and its hard to fit in the car...

Maybe think about a small, ultralight chair, first. Your trust should think of that as a good idea,,, and you'll like it better than the heavy one. A rigid with a cantilevered frame should be light enough and will fit past the steering wheel easily.

It will eventually be a necessity, anyway,,,, cause you are going to want to go places by yourself, soon.
ed

It sounds like you need a new wheelchair first. Almost anyone can handle a light weight rigid frame with pop off wheels.

A car is a simpler, more reliable option. Lifts require maintenance, etc. If you go that way, access to service is critical. Before you get a van, try the model out. I know of a couple people who did not do that and ended up with a van that was very inconvenient for them.

Gah, I just feel so bad, because I REALLY wanted this chair, and it cost so much money, I hate the idea of just getting a new one, even though it is something I know I should do/need to do.

Before you go down that road, just check the weight of your current chair and compare it with the weights of the lightweight rigids that you find on the web. There may only be a few pounds difference and you may feel that a few weeks of exercising will beef up you strength enough. Only consider a new chair if your chair is a real clunker by comparison.

Got it! Will do

It isn't so much the weight anymore, its the fact that I can't pull it into the car. When I ride with my sister, I transfer over, and she can pop off the wheels, and put the chair in the backseat. But if I were sitting in the seat, it would be impossible to pull the chair over my body because of the lack of space.

But I will definitely keep researching and testing things out. Thanks everyone

About not being able to get it past your body,,,,, Ben Franklin said it best... "Necessity is the mother of invention".

If you need to do it,, or want to bad enough,,, you'll find a way.
ed

Could you manage if you get in the passenger side, take the wheels off and stow them behind you. Then shuffle over to the driver's seat dragging the chair in behind you and on to the passenger seat?

Climbing over from passenger seat to driver seat or vise versa is annoying.. I would think, unless you had a bench seat in the front - or tiny little legs to deal with, it would get really old really fast.

You're probably right, Ches. It obviously depends on the layout of the car. It was just something I saw on YouTube. (In fact I might even have posted it for you a while back).

To get the chair between me and the steering wheel, I've always reclined the seat. By doing this you'll also decrease the distance you have to hoist the chair.

My newest car is a Ford Mustang-it is so far the most wheelchair friendly vehicle I've owned. The seat of the car and the chair are exactly the same height, wide door opening, rear seat seems like it was designed for a wheelchair (it certainly isn't for human use). Unless you live where 4 wheel drive is essential-you might give one a look. Added bonus: people no longer annoy me by asking if I need help-now they want to talk about the car.

Nice ride Tim.
ed

Do you like the chair otherwise? Cuz if you really like it and the only issue is the car thing then it's probably not worth it to get a new chair until you wear it out (we all know and understand how expensive chairs are and most of us don't have the luxury of buying a new chair every 6 months) but if you don't like it, switching to an ultralightweight rigid chair is definitely something to look into. Having (or not having) a really good lightweight chair can make all the difference in the world. If you're going to go with an SUV or crossover, you're definitely not going to want to struggle with getting the frame in there. It will be a massive pain in the ass. The frame snagging on stuff can ruin your clothes and your car upholstery and in cold/wet weather it sucks even more! Or you can look into the adaptive options for the car you want, like maybe one of those chair lift thingies. A quad I know drives a Matrix (I think it's a Matrix--Toyota) and he has this robotic arm thingie that picks up his chair and puts it in the car for him. However, that sort of thing is super costly. Maybe look for a chair that fits you online? TiLite sells their demo chairs on Ebay and I bet you could find one in your measurements if you keep looking and they're generally like $700-900.

It wouldn't be a hassle to get a new chair, I just feel bad for paying all this money for it, then just leaving it behind. It is going to sound SO stupid, but when I am out in public, and I have a piece of hair on my shirt, I feel bad for pulling it off, because it was a part of me. Even if it is a piece of fuzz I still get a little sad. I know it sounds super pathetic, lol. But I feel like I'm close with this chair because it helps me, and I feel bad for just being like "okay, well see ya!"

My trust doesn't mind getting a new chair. They put in the budget a new chair every xxx amount of years, and I never really ask for anything from them, even though I know they will help out. I have only had 3 chairs (including this one) in all my 14 years. When I was going from my 2nd to this chair, the trust was asking me if I wanted a new chair yet. I just told them no, not yet. I can handle it a bit longer. Then when I finally went to get a new chair, I told them I had been having knee pain, and I guess it was because the chair I had been using was too small for about 2 years, lol. So they don't mind at all, it just has more to do with ME not wanting to get a new one...

I really like the idea of a Coupe. I haven't tried any out yet, but I am going to soon. Some days I wish I wasn't in on this continent, because I think driving on the right side would be easier because my right hand is stronger, lol.

Forgot to add,

I have a Tilite now, and it is supposed to be lightweight, but with all the customizations they made on it, it actually ADDED weight. It is a folding one too. The funny thing is, we got this folding chair, because we thought I would be driving around that time, and with it being able to fold, we totally thought it would work out. Haaaa. Not.

I don't know if I want a Tilite, even though my last one was one. I like Quickie chairs (it was my first "real" chair), but I have also been looking at Top End ones too, and they seem lightweight.

I just need to actually go OUT and look. Sure, research helps, but I would get a lot more knowledge if I just went out and looked at everything.

An option for your car you probably want to have is cruise control. Cruise control lets you change your hand on the steering wheel because you don't have to use one on the gas all the time. I just drove 800 miles and without cruise control my right arm would have fallen off from having to steer the whole time. My car for work doesn't have cruise control and my right arm gets sore because it always has to steer.

Yeah cruise control is a must. My first car after my accident didn't have cruise and I hated it for that reason. Drove it for 6 years and for a year of it I was driving on a 5 hr trip twice a week, without cruise it was horrible. Now the one thing every car must have for me to get it is cruise.

Kay, I will try and remember that. Gracias.

I got a TiLite back in August in preparation of getting a car and wanting a lighter chair to transport.. I think its a great idea to go w/ a lighter, easier chair but being just a few months ahead of you in pretty much the same boat I just want to point out how scratched my new chair has become. I halfway expected it and luckily didn't pay the extra money for a shiny finish (can't remember if they call it Satin or Polished - I get the two mixed up)........and I suggest you don't pay the extra 500 for the shiny or a painted finish either!

And........ this is none of my business, and Im not trying to make an issue of it but when you mention your trust, you make it as though you dont have the ultimate say... I know those guys are there to slow your spending and help you think twice before spending money but don't forget that is YOUR money and YOU'RE THE BOSS.

I think I am just going to get the color they usually come in... that smoky silver. I was talking with my friends earlier and trying to figure out what color car to match it with, lol. I was like "I like a pink chair and a silver car! But a lot of people have silver! So maybe a silver chair and a red car!" Hahaha. Decisions decisions!

& the trust situation... I know. But unfortunately some things have happened, and one of the members had to be replaced. The guy isn't my favorite... to replace the previous person, they had to be a female & a nurse... he is neither. I can't fire him, and he won't quite. When I am 18 though, it won't be an issue anymore. He is really irritating. He wants to know what I spend on everything, and I get a monthly allowance, and he is all like "just give me a range on how much you spend & on what." My mom and lawyer were really angry, because I am a teen. I spend it on clothes and makeup! He doesn't need to butt in.

Thanks for being concerned though

Yay, an update!

Yesterday I was measured for a Top End Crossfire Titanium! :]

The weird thing is that I haven't gained or lost any weight really, and I have had the chair I am using not for that long, and the guy who was doing the measuring wanted to take an inch or two off the seat width. He said it would help put not so much stress on my arms because the wheels would be closer to me.

I'm a complete C5-C6 quad since 1977 and have driven again since 78. I use Push-Pat Monarch hand controls, find cruise contol indispensable, drive an old SAAB 900 Turbo 3 door (easiest car to transfer due to seat height and narrow sill.

I can't lift my chair but have a side folding TiLite X that I have an electric hoist called a Wymo that puts it on the roof with limited strength needed (electric motor does that). I use a slide board in and out for safety and find two or three door cars much better for transfers.

Wymo website WYMO CARTOP WHEELCHAIR CARRIER

UPDATE!

After months of research, I went out to do some car shopping today, and after visiting a couple dealerships I finally decided on which car I am going to get! Its a Honda Accord Crosstour! Absolutely beautiful car. Honda also works with a mobility place, and they are going to move the drivers seat closer to the door, because right now the seat is far over, making transfers a little harder. Honda also helps out with paying up to $1000 for adaptions. I guess it has to do with policy, but its still nice of them. I am so excited to get this car!