Chair Lifts

Auto Chair Lift

An auto chair lift is one more tool toward a person achieving complete mobility. What an auto lift does is enable a disabled person to add to their mobility by giving them the ability to drive alone. This prevents a person bound to a wheel chair or scooter from having to rely on others to help them get around.

Basically, you're going to have your choice of inside or outside chair lifts. Those that are inside will lift the wheelchair from outside to inside, but the entire unit is stationed inside. The auto chair lifts that are outside can still lift the wheelchair into the inside of the vehicle. Vans and other vehicle types are the best. Some are available to those who need to be lifted along with their wheelchair into the vehicle.

If you are not sure whether or not you want to look at chair lifts for your auto, think about your current position. Do you want to be able to go somewhere when you want to go? If you do, then the auto chair lift will help you do this. You also want to ask yourself if you require the help of others to be able to acquire some semblance of freedom. If that's the case, you do have a tool that will enable you to not rely on others.

How it Works

The operation of the auto chair lift is rather simple and very similar to a wheel chair stair lift. A platform is lowered from the rear of the vehicle, particularly a van. That platform is then raised flush with the back of the vehicle so that you can roll your wheelchair into the back and then position in front of the steering wheel in order to drive.

Some of these platforms remain outside of the vehicle and others are tucked away inside the back. Those that are kept inside may cost more than one that simply goes up and down and the platform remains elevated behind the automobile, even when in movement.

Overall, the operation is rather simple with controls that command which way to go. The learning curve is almost nonexistent, so the ease of use is not something that you should have to worry about. After using your auto chair lift for a while, you will get the hang of it and it will become second nature. When you want to go somewhere, you will find that using the system is a part of your routine. You won't have to rely on anyone else to take care of simple errands for you anymore.

Public Transportation

Not only can an individual have an auto chair lift installed on their automobile, but public transportation does as well.

There are many senior services vans and busses traveling throughout communities in order to help senior citizens go from one place to another. These vans and busses are outfitted with these wheelchair lifting devices so that the senior citizens are able to be transported while using their wheelchairs. It can be very convenient to make a phone call, be picked up, and be able to go take care of errands or simply go shopping.

Bus lines within cities have busses that are outfitted with chair lifts. Even if you need transportation to an airport and you need an airport shuttle, you can specify that you need a handicap accessible shuttle with an auto chair lift on board so that you can comfortably and conveniently ride to the airport in your wheelchair.

Even school busses will utilize the auto chair lift. The emergency exit on the bus serves as the access point to the bus. As far as emergency exits go, the bus may have side emergency exits so that those that are not disabled can exit the bus via the sides and those who are disabled can exit the back. It is important to note, however, that although the auto lift is present that those who are not disabled still can't access that emergency exit, but only when there are not wheelchairs present on the bus.

Most schools have at least one bus that utilizes an auto chair lift. Sometimes it may be a bus specifically for special needs students. In some cases there are busses that service both in order to conserve on fuel, so auto lifts are installed so that all students on a bus route can access the bus regardless of a student's disability.

So as you can see, there are many individuals and organizations using the auto chair lift. A person bound to a wheelchair can use their chair lift to give them the ability to drive by themselves. This means no more having to wait on everyone else before going anywhere. If you want to go somewhere, then you can go. Your auto lift will help you do this.