The journey to finally receiving his customized wheelchair accessible vehicle has taken a little over a year in the making for one of our lovely clients. I first met our client in June 2023. He was a young man living with his parents following an acquired brain injury. Our client experienced some functional decline and could no longer stand to transfer into their existing unmodified van and standard car seat. The transfer into the van was difficult and placed both he and his carers at risk of injury. In turn, this severely limited and restricted his community access and participation.
Fortunately, our client had a manual wheelchair, that was suitable for wheelchair occupant travel as it had been crash tested and had appropriate postural support including backrest and headrest.
We were able to successfully trial a lowered floor conversion Kia Carnival through KM Kite, an experienced vehicle modifier with a tried and tested engineering certification with this type of vehicle modification for wheelchair occupant travel. Our client was able to be positioned in the second row, behind the front seats with his carers or family being able to sit on either side beside him.
Following the successful trial of this vehicle modification, we were able to apply for ‘In principle approval’ of this vehicle modification through the extensive NDIS Assistive Technology Vehicle Modification process. A few months later we were given NDIS approval for this request, pending purchase of a suitable vehicle. The client’s previous van was traded in for a new Kia Carnival, and after a few months wait, the vehicle was able to be taken to the KM Kite Factory where over a period of six weeks was successfully modified with a lowered floor, ramp for wheelchair access that has electronic front retractors and a winch to reduce the manual handling demands on entry and exit of the vehicle. An additional 2 rear folding seats have also been installed to enable our client to travel with other family members as well.
While the journey was a year in the making, the client, his family and carers are exceptionally pleased their modified vehicle which has been completed to a high standard, that not only looks amazing, but is safe and complies with Australian Standards for wheelchair occupant travel. Our client and his family can now travel safely daily in the community to attend appointments, go shopping, church on a weekly basis and get back into swimming and visiting family as well. The options for places to visit are almost endless!
If you or someone you know wants to know more about wheelchair accessible vehicles or wheelchair occupant travel, contact us at Driving Well Occupational Therapy to find out more.
