Designing Wheelchair Vans for My Toughest Critics
Posted by Chris on Monday, April 13th, 2009
It’s the responsibility of the BraunAbility engineering team to design safe, dependable, and attractive wheelchair vans for our customers. From reliable wheelchair ramps to crash-test compliancy to comfortable passenger rides, our customers’ safety and satisfaction is our greatest motivation. It’s especially motivating for me because I know my work as a BraunAbility engineer is being scrutinized daily by two very intimidating critics – my in-laws!
My wife’s parents have been BraunAbility Entervan owners for over 15 years. When I became an engineer at BraunAbility in 2003, I knew I’d been given a unique opportunity – the chance to continually impress my in-laws and become their favorite son-in-law.
Granted, I am their only son-in-law, but still, knowing that my father-in-law relies on his BraunAbility Entervan for his day-to-day independence gives a very personal face to our customers. Because they use their vehicle on a daily basis, they offer suggestions that are very helpful in trying to meet and exceed customer expectations.
As a frequent driver and passenger in their wheel chair van, I have the unique opportunity to experience our Entervans as many of our mainstream customers do. I’ve been along for the ride while navigating through stop-and-go Chicago traffic, plowing through ice and snow on the interstate, and weaving through the Smoky mountains. I’ve even watched my mother-in-law drive over a…well, maybe this isn’t the best place to criticize her driving decisions. The point is, I’ve been with my in-laws through all kinds of driving circumstances, from mundane to extreme, and the feedback and advice they have is honest and helpful.
My motivation is taken one step further knowing my three young children are frequent passengers in their grandparents’ wheelchair van. Taking part in the design of the first side-entry lowered floor wheelchair van to pass a 50-mph rear-impact crash test was especially important to me because I know it could be my children sitting in the back of that Entervan.
I’ll admit it’s a precarious position, but it’s a win-win-win for BraunAbility, my in-laws, and me. As long as we keep working to design the safest, most reliable handicap ramp vans on the market, I can proudly stand behind my work as a BraunAbility engineer. And most importantly, my in-laws will be happy.
Tags: entervan, rampvan, Wheelchair Vans
April 19th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
Chris,
looking over the website for someone to e-mail or call, I saw your article. Perhaps you can help me and others who happen to be 5′10″ or taller. Your company now makes no minivans adaptable for us. You have stop making the eyebrow opening. Your new ADA Van does not lower and the slope on the ramp is too steep for my power wheelchair to get traction, even in dry weather. I just talked to another paralyzed veterans like myself, and he was forced to get a full-size van with a raised roof because he is 6 foot tall. My local dealer, United access in St. Louis, tells me you may have another model this summer. Will that be accessible for persons like myself who are 5′10″ or taller? Please feel free to call my office (314) 427-0393 or e-mail me back.
Stan Brown
President
Gateway Chapter, Paralyzed Veterans of America
April 20th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Stan,
Thank you for taking the time to respond to my blog.
We have a couple of options that hopefully will help you out. Our GM Entervans, Chevy Venture/Uplander and Buick Terraza, have much taller doorway heights. They meet the American’s with Disability Act (ADA) requirements of 56″. We’ve produced these minivans for many years now with or without a kneeling system. Unfortunately, GM has opted out of the minivan market, so we have recently developed an ADA compliant Dodge Grand Caravan/Chrysler Town and Country, which also has a 56″ doorway height. We are currently only selling our new Dodge/Chrysler ADA Entervans in commercial (paratransit/taxi) type markets, but have started work on a retail unit that will have a power passenger slide door, power ramp, and a kneeling system that will hopefully be available this summer.
My father-in-law’s Chevy Uplander works great, and he is 6′ tall with a very upright sitting wheelchair. We’ve never had traction problems with either of his power wheelchairs. His Chevy Uplander Entervan is equipped with a kneeling system, power ramp, and a power passenger sliding door.
We are no longer able to modify the upper doorway with an eyebrow opening due to side curtain airbags now standard in most minivans. By federal law, we cannot disable or make the side curtain airbags inoperative.
I hope my comments have helped answer some of your questions. Please discuss further with a trained Ability Specialist by calling 1-800-THE-LIFT.
Thanks, Chris
February 4th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Stanley
My 2007 Chrysler T&C wheelchair ramp was too steep for me as well, in wet or dry weather. After constantly nagging when taking my van in for service problems with the sliding door and ramp opening (or not opening) I was told there was an extension that I could purchase for a couple of hundred dollars that extended the ramp and allowed for a better slope. At least I don’t slide back down when entering on a sunny day. I’m sure they’ll sell you one too.
Much success.