At Braunability we do not make handicapped vans.  We make wheelchair vans of all types and descriptions.  We make or have made Entervans using Dodge, Chrysler, Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, and Ford minivans.  We have made Rampvans using Dodge, Chrysler, Ford, Toyota and even the Scion Xb.  We make paratransit vans using Ford vans and have made these heavily modified vans using General Motors, Dodge, and even the Dodge Sprinter vans.

But we’ve never made a handicapped van.  Phrasing it that way implies that the van is handicapped.  Our conversions actually do the opposite, they enable our customers.

Handicap Van or Wheelchair Van - what do you call it?

You could call them wheelchair vans, lift vans, mobility vans, accessible vans, modified vans, and freedom vans.  I once heard a Chrysler Entervan called a “silver rocketship” as it was presented by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays professional baseball team to a member of their staff who needed the transportation.

So, what’s with all the language?  Well, many of our customers with disabilities do not like the word “handicapped.”  The term tends to have negative connotations.  Many people believe its derivation is from “cap in hand” used for begging.  Snopes.com, however, points out the more likely derivation is from a 17th century game called “hand in cap,” which makes more sense.

Andrew Imparato, President and CEO of the American Association of Persons with Disabilities (AAPD), one of the country’s largest advocacy groups, noted “There is a strong consensus among the disabled community that ‘disabled’ should be used.”

Many of our customers believe that “handicapped” has a negative power when used.  However, our research has indicated that many people who are unfamiliar with our vans use this term when searching for our products on the internet.  So in effect, “handicapped” also has a positive power in that it allows people to find our website and see all of the lifts, ramp vans and other good things we have to offer.  So we’ll use the word from time-to-time and we hope that the results are positive.

This is sure to be an issue for some, so I’d love to hear what you think.  Please leave a comment below!

Tags: entervan, rampvan, Wheelchair Vans

Find your nearest dealer to learn more about BraunAbility wheelchair vans and wheelchair lifts, and to schedule an Entervan or Rampvan demonstration at your convenience.