Bay Area Disability Network

Archived Mobility Reviews and Recommendations

(also see Mobility Advice)

Wheelchair evaluations

Post Polio Sequelai

Places to "hike"

Top of the line Ramp Builder

Portable ramps

Renting an accessible minivan

Toyota Sienna IMS Rampvan

Toyota Sienna IMS Rampvan

I'm thinking of buying a Toyota Sienna IMS Rampvan and I'm wondering what problems (if any) people have had with this model. My last van was a Dodge Caravan and I had nothing but problems with that #@%$! Piece of @!$#%. I was also wondering what dealer you used and if you have any recommendations in that area. I don't think anyone likes dealing with car salesmen but I really feel like there's not much room for negotiation when you're buying an adapted van. Any tips for getting a good price?

Renting an accessible minivan

I'd like to rent a wheelchair-accessible minivan but the best price I found is $100/day (Wheelchair Getaways). Any ideas? Anybody have experience with this company?

• Like you, I haven't found anyplace better than wheelchair getaways. I don't know if their price is the best but I've always found them reliable.

• About rental vans: if you have an AB or two to assist, and can transfer into a front seat, you might consider getting a portable ramp (about $400, and useful for many things) and renting an un-modified minivan. Rental companies will put hand controls on it for you, and let you remove the middle seat to make space for your chair. The lowest local price I found was $50 a day, which is half the price for a modified van, so in just over a week your ramp is paid for. This works even if you’re flying somewhere, since airlines will let you haul it (along with a backup manual wheelchair, which is a good plan in case chair # 1 has a breakdown or gets mangled during the flight).

Portable ramps
Sometimes I want to visit someone whose house has 2 or 3 steps, but my power chair needs a ramp. Is there a portable ramp I could get to carry in my car?

• Contact Grandmar - they have ramps that they rent, but they could hook you up with a manufacturer. 428-0441. They are in Emeryville on 63rd Street.

• Van Duerr Industries in Chico makes a great portable ramp - its fiberglass with rubber coating, and has a handle that lets you fold it in half so it can be transported easily. They have them in different sizes (the one I have is for going up one step). You can reach them at 800-497-2003

• For ramps and other medical or disability-related products, try web sites where individuals can buy/sell equipment: http://www.medmarketplace.com or http://www.solumed.com or http://www.d-r-d.com/classifieds.html Probably the cheapest place to buy used medical equipment (or almost anything) is http://www.eBay.com

• Grandmar in Emeryville sells a couple of portable ramps in the range of 0. The one I have is 5 feet long by 28” wide, weighs under 30 lb, and folds lengthwise into a long skinny suitcase with a carrying handle. I’m told there is another ramp available, 8 feet long, that folds twice to make a 4 foot “suitcase.” Over the last 10 years, I’ve used mine to load my power chair into un-adapted minivans, and to get up 2 or 3 steps at friend’s houses. When I needed to take it on a plane trip (to use with a rented van at my destination) the airline allowed it as a disability accommodation without batting an eye, though it exceeds their length limit for luggage. It has been hauled along on numerous trips, bashed about plenty, and shows no wear The 8 foot one would make it possible to go up even more steps, but might sometimes be TOO long, if there’s not enough space for it in front of a set of stairs.

Top of the line Ramp Builder

Does anyone know of a good builder or contractor? The ramp in front of my house is starting to fall apart (it was put right on the dirt, so it's rotting) and I need someone who can put in a concrete pad and rebuild it.

I'm not just looking for someone to throw up another ugly ramp on the front of my house - I want something that blends with my house (or actually, gasp, enhances it) I want something that makes the neighbors envious. I want the best working, most beautiful ramp in the Bay Area. Let's all start contributing to a list of really skilled people who like working with people with disabilities and understand that function and form should go together.
Signed, A ranting rolling esthete.

• George Wright has built a lot of ramps. He really is an artist, though not the fastest worker on the planet. I don't know how to contact him, but I know he has worked through CIL - give them a call at 841-4776.

• Don Alert did a lot of work on my house, and it was all highest quality. He also always showed up on time, and was great to work with. 925-283-7688

• Looking for places in the Bay Area to 'hike' using a wheelchair? This is a link to a page where I've posted some information about places I've been. It's far from complete--I'd love to hear from anyone who has information to add. http://www.netwiz.net/~dann/trails.htm Ann Sieck

Post Polio Sequelai

Has anyone with PPS had experience with muscle building hormones? I have used Serostem for almost three years...at a very low dose, and had much more energy; however, I developed carpal tunnel in both wrists. This went away very shortly after I discontinued the Serostem. I am thinking about using it again because my body has lost a lot of ground and my quality of life could be better. Are there any other suggestions for increasing energy? Andrea

• I haven’t used growth hormones myself but I found that water based aerobic exercise (not swimming) helped me a bit. I took a program that was designed for senior women and I found that helped a little to increase my energy levels. Talk to your Doctor about cholinesterase inhibitors – they’ve been tried with PPS. Some people have had success with them, unfortunately many more haven’t.

Wheelchair evaluations

Question:
Is there a good place online or publication offering unbiased evaluations of different models of wheelchair, especially whether they are likely to break down often, and how well they can be expected to survive hard use? Specifically I'm looking for a power chair, with tilt, a small "footprint"-short and narrow-and at least 7 mph speed. I've been fairly happy with my Invacare Arrow, and before that a Quickie (don't remember the model) but now I need the tilt function, and it looks like I may need to go to some other brand.

Answer:
Some consumer-authored wheelchair reviews are available at http://www.usatechguide.org/reviews.php. Jane Vincent.