There’s nothing like the feeling of the steering wheel in both hands, coursing the power of the vehicle through your body and the wind blowing through your hair. These are the sensations of freedom, independence, and living life. However, if you’re confined to a wheelchair, you may have considered that such sensations were gone permanently. If you can use your arms, however, there is still a way you can have it all. By buying a wheelchair minivan, you will be back in the driver’s seat once again.

Even if you’re no longer able to drive by yourself, a wheelchair-accessible minivan will still provide you with more independence as well as a capability to travel than you have had available to you previously. These kind of vehicles are not just typical types with ramps hooked on. They’re actually revised to make it easier for you to get into them and sit down in one of many positions, which includes the driver’s seat. Floor surfaces and doors in wheelchair vans are lower by 10” creating less of an incline than would be needed in a typical van. You will be able to wheel yourself up the gradual slope without having a lot of effort, and there will be a lot of headroom inside.

Some of the other adaptations that are made when fitting out wheelchair vans incorporate:

Heavy duty rear suspension is integrated to give you more support.

A non-slip power folding ramp is built in.

Wheelchair tie-downs and anchor points are included.

Many of the add ons are colored to go with the original shade of the van.

Most of the vans that are used for conversions are top-of-the-line models, like a Chrysler Town and Country or the Honda Odyssey, and the majority of them come with 7 year/70,000 mile limited warranties, just like standard vans have. You can decide to have your van modified to have either side or back entry, whichever will make it easier for your purposes.

Even though “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose” according to a cynical Janis Joplin, it could mean the world to a disabled person whose activities have been limited by wheelchair confinement. Your world with your wheelchair accessible minivan will be one without having limitations or roadblocks, and you’ll be able to proclaim your independence far and wide.