The Search For An Accessible Van

by Jared Wayland

Well, after almost a year of searching, my fiancee and I have found the perfect minivan to accommodate my Quantum Edge 3 Stretto power wheelchair! It has been a long and sometimes tiring process, but we finally got there - and we couldn’t be happier.

Since I received my Stretto motorized wheelchair in April of 2020, I’ve been on the search for an accessible van so that I can truly experience the full capabilities of my motorized wheelchair in a variety of settings, rather than just zipping around my house or neighbourhood. Before my Stretto narrow motorized power wheelchair, I was using a manual wheelchair and the process of taking a trip in the car was definitely a challenge. While it was easy enough to transport that chair, the actual process of getting me in and out of a vehicle is a tiring and taxing effort for all parties with lots of chair-to-car, and car-to-chair transfers.

I knew that having a vehicle I could just roll right into and strap myself in would be a game changer. Not only would it be more comfortable and safer for both myself and anyone accompanying me, but I would be able to experience so much more on a day-to-day basis without getting tired and sore from all the transfers. However, not all wheelchair accessible vehicles are created equal, and to be quite blunt about it - they aren’t cheap by any means. Even a used one in decent shape can start at about $25,000CDN - so it is absolutely an investment, and you want to make sure that you make the right choice.

We knew from the get-go that we wanted a van with low mileage, in good condition and working order, and from a reputable dealer close to home for convenient service. We also knew that we wanted an automatic side-entry ramp for the van as opposed to a rear entry. We found that a side-entry ramp ultimately gives more space in the van and allows for more passenger seats. It was also important to me that I was able to sit “shotgun” and get the full passenger experience, as opposed to sitting in what would normally be the middle row of seats.

Our search took us all over Ontario (virtually and by phone because of the pandemic), but we didn’t have much luck finding anything to meet our needs in Niagara until one day a few months ago at a dealership in Welland. The owner had a used van coming in the very next day, and from everything he told us and showed us - it looked like it was a perfect fit for us. A few days later, the van was brought to us to take for a test drive, and the rest is history. It checked every box for us, and then some (better speakers than our last car!) We are now the proud owners of a beautiful blue 2014 Dodge Caravan that has been immaculately cared for, and it should give us a good 10 years if we treat it well. We couldn’t be happier, and we can’t wait to take you all on so many adventures with us!