Archive for Wheelchair

Swivel Seats: Everything you need to know

Posted by Mark on

April 22, 2022

Vehicle seating made simple

Swivel seats can offer a great alternative to wheelchair accessible vehicles, enabling both drivers and passengers to transfer into and out of standard vehicles more easily.

Free assessment service

However, they do not work for everyone – with only one in every three people making a viable candidate, it is vital that every client has had a full demonstration and assessment with us. This free-of-charge service enables us to determine which type of swivel seat will best meet a customer’s needs and the suitability of the vehicle being considered.

Click here for further information on our free assessment service.

Types of swivel seats

Standard swivel seats

There are a number of variations of the standard swivel seat available, from fully manual to fully programmable. Semi manual and/or electric versions are also available.

Lowering swivel seats

These seats turn out 90 degrees from the vehicle, then electrically lower to allow easier transfer from a wheelchair, or from standing. Because they lower, these models are suitable for vehicles with higher seating positions (e.g. MPVs and SUVs).

The swivel function can either be manual or electric, or the seat can be fully programmable.

Manual

Manual swivel seats are the base model, with a manually operated swivel and forward/backward movement. In many cases, this is all that is needed. However, if the seat has a lowering function, this will be controlled electrically.

Electric

These seats are available with an electric swivel function, electric forward/backward movement, electric lowering/raising or a combination of all three.

Programmable

Unlike manual and electric swivel seats, a programmable seat is fully automated. To maximise legroom our technicians will programme the seat’s movements for each vehicle individually. This allows these seats to be fitted in a wider range of vehicles than most other seat types.

The Carony Wheelchair System

The Carony is a wheelchair system that is compatible with the majority of swivel seats. Designed for people who struggle to transfer from their wheelchair into a swivel seat, these systems feature glide rails that allow the car seat to slide onto a wheelchair base. The seat then detaches, allowing it to be used as an everyday wheelchair.

Models include Carony Classic, which operates with a manual wheelchair base, Carony Go, which is designed for use with an electric wheelchair base and Carony Kids and Carony GS, which are designed specifically for children.

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VB full air suspension for wheelchair accessible vehicles

More accessible wheelchair transportation

Posted by Mark on

October 28, 2021

Wheelchair users want to experience a sense of security, comfort and confidence when they are taken to their destination. Wheelchair transporters, therefore, want to be able to offer tailor-made transport. Ensuring the safety and physical comfort of their passengers is of paramount importance to these carriers. This is what the passenger ultimately considers to be the most important. So what’s better than wheelchair users who choose to travel with you – just because your vehicle has that extra bit of comfort?

The problem facing wheelchair accessible vehicles

No one likes to feel all the road humps and bumps while travelling. Since the weight distribution in a wheelchair-loaded vehicle is usually not optimal, the journey for both the wheelchair user and the driver can become significantly less comfortable. This non-optimal weight distribution also has further adverse effects on ride comfort: the original suspension on the rear of the vehicle can become “stuck” when the weight of the wheelchair cannot be optimally distributed. The vehicle may also normally be too high – or too low – or the vehicle may have a too high approach angle. This would make it even more difficult to optimally assist passengers and would cause even more inconvenience.

How can Ergomobility and VB Airsuspension help?

A constant ride height is therefore essential for both the driver and the wheelchair user. This is easily achieved with one of our products. When using our air suspension – and electronic ride height control to achieve a constant ride height – ride comfort increases significantly. This means the passenger feels comfortable and safe, as well as you as a driver. Would you like to know more about the matching products – such as VB-FullAir – for this category of vehicles?
Take a look at the product leaflets here.

Discover the many benefits of VB Airsuspension’s wheelchair vehicle solutions

For more information contact us on 01444 882 233, email info@ergomobility.co.uk. or fill in our online Contact Form.

WAV

Tags : air suspension, air suspensions, WAV, Wheelchair, Wheelchair Accessible, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle, wheelchair accessible vehicles

Assessing Boot Hoists

Posted by Jean Cheesman on

March 6, 2017

Boot hoists are used to lift wheelchairs and mobility scooters into the car safely and effortlessly and are one of the most popular adaptations on the Motability Scheme.

Hoists are the biggest growing market since Motability started subsidising through the Adaptation Scheme. They are a necessary product for thousands of people who rely on their scooters and wheelchairs for their daily independence.

To a direct client, they can cost from £800.00 to £1,800.00, but the Motability Scheme offers huge subsidies on hoists, meaning many cost a fraction of that!

Whilst it’s all good news, we have to ensure your customer receives the correct hoist to lift their scooter or chair and that it fits into the correct vehicle.
When we receive an online order for a hoist we always contact your customer, check what size of chair they are looking to lift and make sure it will fit into the vehicle whilst retaining sufficient seats. You’d be surprised how often we receive an order for a hoist only to discover that your customer’s chair/scooter doesn’t actually fit in the car!

So, what can you do as a Motability Specialist?

Make sure your Motability customer brings their scooter/wheelchair with them at their initial visit to look at your range of cars.
Make sure it can fit into the vehicle – many scooters and wheelchairs are foldable and can be dismantled to a point, but, depending on their disability, your customer may or may not be able to do this.
Make sure your customer is fully aware that their chair/scooter may take up some of the car seating capacity.
Use your Adaptation Specialist! Call us when you are with your customer so we can offer on-the-spot advice and help. Every day we talk to Motability Specialists advising on appropriate vehicles, hoists and their chair/scooter combinations. We spend many hours demonstrating hoists to customers to ensure their hoist and vehicle combination is spot on! Use our expertise so you can offer the very best service to your customer.

Please click here to see further product information on our website.

Hoists

Tags : Adaptations, hoists, motability, motability specialists, powerchairs, scooters, Wheelchair

Does your Motability client really need a WAV?

Posted by Jean Cheesman on

December 22, 2016

Motability Dealerships regularly message us saying they have a client who would like to travel in a vehicle, sitting in their wheelchair. They will typically have researched the internet and off the back of this have called their local dealership, asking for a particular vehicle to be converted into a WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle). ‘Chances are the Motability Specialist will spend time showing cars to their client, looking at the internet with them and pulling together prices.

It’s usually at this stage the Specialist calls us only to hear disappointing news…..

Motability will not allow a vehicle on the Standard Car Scheme to be converted into a WAV. It doesn’t matter if it’s a Mini Clubman or a full sized van that could be converted into a WAV. It’s not allowed on the Motability Scheme.

The reason why?

Motability have a WAV Scheme with a selection of Motability approved vehicles that have already been converted by Motability approved converters. If someone wants to travel in a wheelchair in a Motability vehicle it has to be purchased through the WAV Scheme.

So, if one of your clients is looking for a WAV, you could direct them to the Motability website, where they can find all the information they need…

But you can always call one of our team and ask us to get in touch with your customer.

There may well be other products your client is not aware of that would solve their accessibility issues, eliminating the need for a WAV altogether. You’d be surprised at how many people are unaware of the existence of swivel seats, sliding plates, wheelchair hoists, person hoists, etc. Any one of these, or a combination, would allow many of your clients to travel in the front seat of a standard car. A WAV is not their only option.

If, after all this, your client does need a WAV, we will always point them in the right direction.

WAV

Tags : motability, Vehicle Adaptation, WAV, Wheelchair, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Ergomobility Sussex
Units 1 – 4, Crosspost Industrial Park,
Cowfold Road, Bolney,
West Sussex, RH17 5QU

Telephone: 01444 882233

Ergomobility Thames Valley
Tylorstown,
Caversham
Reading, RG4 7XW

Telephone: 0118 321 8193

Ergomobility is a trading name of Equivalent Engineering Ltd. VAT Registered Number 776341117
Company registered in Cardiff number 4321179 Registered office – Units 1 to 4, Crosspost Industrial Park, Cowfold Road, Bolney, RH17 5QU