Saturday 30 November 2013

Finding a Handicap RV Rental in Minnesota

Trying to find a handicap RV rental in Minnesota can be tough, so here is a guide that makes it a little easier with currently available information. As in many other states across the country, the number of rental companies that offer wheelchair accessible RVs for hire has dwindled considerably from a few years ago, so locating them has proved a tough task for many people.

I'm not going to offer any false promises here: The resources that I knew about have also gone. But by doing some investigation work, I have come up with a list of hopefuls that are well worth contacting.

Creating an RV Rental Resource


Sometimes you can actually create a resource from nothing when you apply the age old concept of demand and supply. If enough people contact a certain commercial RV rental company and demand they provide a wheelchair accessible RV for rent, the company is going to sit up and take notice that, "Hey, here is a business opportunity that needs to be followed up on!"

Remember, all business is driven by the need for products or services. If the need is not there, then the product or service won't be. Or if it is there one day, it'll be gone soon after if no one wants it.

So the trick here is to get auto rental companies to see there is a need for accessible RVs because enough folks want to rent them for their vacations or any other reason for that matter. You do that by force of numbers.

Too many people will read this article or others like it and think to themselves, "I really would like that to happen, but I don't feel like it today, so someone else can do the asking!" That probably happened a lot and could even be why the service has been withdrawn by so many of the companies that used to offer it!

You have a voice and if you want something to change, you got to use that voice or you'll never be heard!

What Can I Do To Help?


What I have done here is put together a short list of possibilities from around the place that have an online presence (website) that can be contacted via the Internet. Right now, these companies might not offer the service you want, but you can be pretty sure that enough folks contact hem requesting the service, they are going to take notice.

Renting a handicap RV should be something more companies offer and they will when more people tell them that's what they want. So really, the question should not be so much of "What can I do to help?" but more of "What can YOU do to help yourself?"

What You Can Do


That's right, you can do a lot to help yourself and the many, many people in similar situations by taking action now. It doesn't take much to visit the websites on the list below and contact the companies listed in each of their "contact" pages and asking them outright of they offer a handicap accessible RV to rent. Then be persistent.

If they say they don't then don't just accept that answer and leave it be. Get right back at them and ask them WHEN they're going to offer that service because you want to rent one and be their paying customer!

When one person does that, the chances are the company will not take a great deal of notice. But when 100 people do that, the company is going to think twice about leaving what could be a lot of money on the table for one of their more astute competitors to gratefully accept!

List of Recreation Vehicle Rental Companies Websites in Minnesota


Below is the list of top websites for Minnesota based auto rental companies that offer RVs. Pester them all into providing you with the accessible motorhome you want to rent and if enough folks do it, eventually one or more of them will crack and give you what you want while doing their business some good in the process. Everybody wins, right?
  1. Lake Region RVs, Inc
  2. Pleasureland RV Centers, Inc
  3. Brambillas, Inc
  4. Shorewood RV Center
  5. Fundarental
  6. BreeZee's RV Center
  7. MN RV Rentals
  8. Southern Minnesota Camper Rental
  9. Honstad RV Rentals
  10. Mikes RV Rentals Inc
Hope that helps you!

Monday 28 October 2013

Top 10 Features That Make An RV Truly Handicap Accessible

What actually makes a wheelchair or handicap accessible RV different from a regular RV and suitable for people with disabilities to use on vacation. Or when they need a place to sleep away from home with all the creature comforts of home?

That's something that can be answered easily by anyone who has need of this kind of vehicle for an accessible RV vacation of come kind. But for those that are maybe not so well versed on what constitutes a truly accessible vehicle, here are the top ten major features that defines this genre of motorhome.

Ten Handicap Accessible RV Features:


  1. Motorized wheelchair lift : This is the first feature you generally see that indicates this is a specially adapted vehicle for wheelchair users. Essential for raising and lowering the wheelchair user without the need to get out of the chair when you want to get in and out of the RV.
  2. Grab rails: Abundantly located inside the RV and at the entrance outside to help with keeping steady when transferring from the ramp through the entrance. Inside these are essential to help with maneuvering around the place.
  3. Wide access points and aisles: These are necessary to aid access by the chair and its user without getting stuck anyplace.
  4. Handicap bathroom fittings including toilet, washbasin, and accessible facets all at low level for ease of reaching from a wheel chair.
  5. Accessible shower with seat, wider access and unobstructed floor with water drain channels to keep water inside the enclosure.
  6. Non-slip flooring to help prevent the kinds of accidents that slippery floors have a tendency to bring about. You need to maintain a high level of safety at all times.
  7. Low level kitchen units and worktops with easy access drawers, units and cupboard doors. If you intend doing any cooking or food preparation in the RV, it should be easy to reach everything you need and be able to work on the worktop in comfort.
  8. Adjustable height dining table to suit the height of the wheelchair. Eating at a table that is the right height for your sitting position in the wheel chair is not just necessary, it's essential if you're going to enjoy your meals and eat in comfort.
  9. Low level light switches and accessible power sockets. Nothing is more frustrating that having to reach up for a light switch that can be tantalizingly just out of reach!
  10. A real comfortable bed. OK, maybe not an exclusive feature of our special RV but this is something you need in everyday life. So when you're traveling a lot during the day you need a comfy place to hunker down at night, right?

These are aspects of a truly accessible motor home that you would expect to have available should you decide to rent a wheelchair accessible RV for a vacation or long road trip. There are other cosmetic additions that can enhance the overall experience of using this type of RV and it really depends on what you need in an individual basis.

Do These Features Exist on All Accessible RVs?


It depends on the manufacturer or customizing workshop where the modifications were made, so the short answer is, "It depends." In other words, while the core features will be evident on all truly accessible recreation vehicles, the type and placement will naturally vat according to the model and design layout.

You often find that the best and most evident of these features are found on commercially available vehicles such as handicap RV rental models, or those that are for hire in some form or another. This is probably because the hiring company wants to put out a fully featured vehicle that they expect to gain revenue from and then word of mouth will bring in more recommendations for future business.

Whether you buy or rent a handicap accessible RV, the whole idea of an RV is to have a fully convenient and functional home away from home. Just because it is on wheels doesn't mean it shouldn't contain all the handy and useful features you have become accustomed to in your home.

With that being said, it is pretty clear that the best accessible RVs will have everything you need for a comfortable and enjoyable vacation on the open road.

Thursday 24 October 2013

Accessible RV Vacations at Disney World

The thrill of going to Disney World for a person with disabilities it's a reality they can really look forward to. Travel there in an accessible RV and it's part of the vacation experience that will never be forgotten!

If you didn't already know, Disney World Florida caters for guests with disabilities allowing anyone access to suitable attractions that can make for an awesome vacation experience. So how about making it your objective after you have arranged for a wheelchair accessible RV rental and planned your journey by road for a fantastic voyage of discovery with an awesome destination!

Let's take a look at some of the services that are provided to make your visit a memorable one with the minimum of hassle and the maximum of enjoyment.

Ambulatory Requirements


These great attractions will require guests to walk some way by themselves or if possible to be assisted by members of their party. These are of course not suitable for all wheelchair users especially those who do not have sufficient mobility.

It's always a good idea to check before you visit to make sure you will be able to enjoy the attractions of your choice.


Electric Conveyance Vehicles (ECV)


These small, four wheeled electrically powered vehicles are perfect for transporting you around the park to get to the many attractions that have special wheelchair access capabilities. You can hire one of these small cars for your stay on the day and transfer to and from your wheelchair either by yourself or with help from someone in your party.

There are many attractions that you can visit and enjoy thanks to these great little carts where you can transfer from the cart to the ride and back again. Here is a list of them:

    Astro Orbiter
    Slow Rides, Spinning
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Tomorrowland®

    The Barnstormer
    Small Drops
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Fantasyland®

    Big Thunder Mountain Railroad®
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Interactive
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Frontierland®

    Castaway Creek
    Water Rides
    Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

    Cross Country Creek
    Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Crush 'n' Gusher
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

    Dinosaur
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark, Scary, Indoor
    Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

    Dumbo the Flying Elephant®
    Slow Rides, Spinning, Interactive
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Fantasyland®

    Expedition Everest - Legend of the Forbidden Mountain®
    Big Drops, Thrill Rides, Dark
    Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

    Haunted Mansion®
    Slow Rides, Dark, Indoor, Interactive
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Liberty Square

    Kali River Rapids®
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides, Spinning
    Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

    Mad Tea Party
    Spinning
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Fantasyland®

    Maelstrom
    Small Drops, Indoor
    Epcot®, World Showcase

    Main Street Vehicles
    Slow Rides
    Magic Kingdom® Park

    Marketplace Carousel
    Slow Rides, Spinning
    Downtown Disney®

    Mission: SPACE®
    Thrill Rides, Spinning, Dark, Indoor
    Epcot®, Future World

    Primeval Whirl®
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Spinning
    Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park

    Prince Charming Regal Carrousel
    Slow Rides, Spinning, Disney Princesses
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Fantasyland®

    Runoff Rapids
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Shark Reef
    Water Rides, Animal Encounters
    Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

    Slush Gusher
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Snow Stormers
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Soarin'®
    Small Drops, Slow Rides, Indoor
    Epcot®, Future World

    Splash Mountain®
    Big Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Frontierland®

    Teamboat Springs
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Test Track® Presented by Chevrolet®
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Indoor, What's New
    Epcot®, Future World

    Toboggan Racers
    Small Drops, Thrill Rides, Water Rides
    Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park

    Tomorrowland Speedway
    Gas powered facing cars
    Magic Kingdom® Park, Tomorrowland®

Wheelchair Rentals


If you need to rent a wheelchair at the resort, this is catered for too. Naturally most will already have their own with them, but it's nice to know the availability is there if you need it.

Hotels


It may seem a little off course to be even mentioning the word "hotel" to an RV'er for obvious reasons. But there will be times when it's just nice to pamper yourself for a night in a really nice hotel with accessibility.

If there's one thing you can count on at a Disney resort that's the high standard of hotels available to guests. If you do feel like pushing out the boat and leaving the rented handicap accessible RV in the parking lot for a night, the availability is there but you might want to book in advance.

You can find out a load more about visiting this exciting and must see resort by visiting the official Disney World website and opening the page covering "Disneyworld guests with disabilities" (follow that link).

Tuesday 22 October 2013

Renting a Handicap Accessible RV Privately

As it gets tougher to find a rental company that offers wheelchair accessible RVs for rent, taking a look at privately renting might be a solution. There are advantages and disadvantages to taking this route, but the end result could be a happy one if you manage to secure a private rental for your vacation.

So what is involved in the process of finding and then negotiating a private handicap RV rental deal that is mutually beneficial for both parties? This article takes a look at the pros and cons of this option to see if it could work out to be the best solution to your problem.

Finding a Suitable RV to Rent


The first step is to go looking for a suitable RV that is owned by someone who would consider renting it to you for an agreed period of time. The best way to do this is to start with the classified section of local publications to see if anyone is actually advertising this service.

The likelihood of such an ad appearing is slim, but you never know what you will find in such advertising media. While you are in that area, you might want to consider placing a classified ad in the wanted section specifically to make it known you are looking for a private RV rental arrangement. This might prove more fruitful.

There are plenty of places you can place a small want ad like this. Online, you could try Craigslist for your local area. The ad itself could look something like this:

"Wanted: Wheelchair accessible RV to rent privately for two weeks starting June 10. Price negotiable. Cash waiting. Call 123 456 789 anytime."


Negotiating a Private Rental Deal


Once you have found a suitable privately owned RV that the owner is willing to rent to you, a mutually agreeable deal needs to be hammered out. Several factors need to be taken into consideration, such as:

  • Auto insurance that will fully cover you to drive the vehicle for the stated duration and provide the owner with peace of mind for all eventualities
  • Providing proofs of your identity and address
  • Providing proof you are suitable qualified and able to drive an RV
  • The provision of a deposit to cover the owner for any internal damages
  • A legally binding rental agreement between the two parties (may involve a lawyer to verify its legal standing)

There will probably be some minor aspects that will need to be agreed on, like for instance:

  • Agreeing the RV is taken and returned with a full tank of gas
  • All the internal appliances and lights are undamaged and working correctly
  • All fittings, seating, covers, beds etc are undamaged and in good condition
  • The RV wheelchair lift is in good working order
  • The vehicle is roadworthy and well maintained
  • You (the renter) is made fully conversant with the operation of the RV and its features and appliances

Getting to Know the Vehicle


Of course the onus is on you to make sure you get to know the vehicle before you set off on the open road to wherever. You certainly don't want to end up pulling into a camping spot and then have no idea how to operate the shower or hook up the water, electricity etc.

You'll have to spend some time with the owner going over the main points and just making sure you are happy with the operation of all the internal features of the RV from the bathroom fixtures to the kitchen appliances and anything else.

If you are taking the RV during summer, you'll need to know how the air conditioning works and similarly, if you're going during winter, you'll want to be aware of the heating system and how it works.

Driving a large vehicle like an RV is not necessarily as easy as driving your own car. You'll need to make allowances for the greater length, width and turning capabilities along with the basic driving, stopping and parking the vehicle.

Respecting the Vehicle


This probably goes without saying, but one thing you need to remember is that you'll be driving a vehicle belonging to someone else and it's a nice mark of respect to show common decency in treating it like it were your own.

I know of plenty of people who rent cars or vans and drive them like they don't care about the vehicle. I've been a passenger in rental cars where the drivers treat them like junk, screeching tires and driving fast over bumpy surfaces etc. It's not nice, I can tell you!

In the end, if you are lucky enough to have found a private individual who is willing to rent you their handicap adapted RV so you can have that vacation you've been dreaming about, be grateful and make sure you return it in the condition with which you took it. You never know if you'll want to repeat the deal and if the owner was happy with the way you treated their much loved RV, they'll be happy to do it again next year!

Monday 21 October 2013

Wheelchair Accessible Handicap RV Rentals Texas

Trying to find a wheelchair accessible handicap RV rental company in Texas can be a tough job simplified some with the resources you'll find here. While there's no sure fire guarantees of anything these days, you can at least follow a trail that can lead you to uncovering a resource that is not known about in the main.

That's what we're trying to do with this little site here and this post follows on from where I was looking into he same problem for residents looking for accessible RV rentals in California. I understand it can be frustrating to contact companies that used to rent RVs specially adapted for wheelchairs only to find they're not doing it anymore.

Who Rents Handicap Accessible RVs?


This is the big question facing many wheelchair users that needs some answers. And what happened to the companies that used to rent these specially customized vehicles and why did they stop offering wheelchair accessible motorhomes for rent?

I think the most common reason for withdrawing the offer of renting these vehicles is that it probably wasn't very cost effective for the companies. The high cost of purchasing and maintaining these vehicles to the very high standard required for their use may have proved too much for most to keep them going.

But that doesn't mean that nobody is renting anymore and neither does it mean that the demand isn't there, because it certainly is. Where there is a demand for a product or service, the supply usually follows, so the chances are that some investigating will turn up some positive answers.

Searching for a Needle in a Haystack


So I put on my thinking cap and figured if the information is not available where you expect to find it, then go where you don't expect to find it and see where that takes you! Sure, the obvious place to start such a search is with existing rental companies that offer regular RVs for rent and see what they can tell you.

Now the chances are they're not going to have any wheelchair adapted RVs on their books. But they might just know of a business that is local of maybe out of state that does.

So instead of going at this head on and trying to find those elusive handicapped RV rentals, I chose to get together a short list of ten of the top names in RV sales and rentals as a starting point to make the search.

Top Ten RV Rentals in Texas


In the meantime and with the possibility of that information coming to light from other sources, it makes sense to look in some fairly obvious places first.

Below I've listed what I consider to be the top ten RV and motorhome rental companies operating in the state of Texas and provided their website addresses. For launching your own personal search for a rental firm in your own locality, this is a pretty good starting place.
Hope that helps you some.

Sunday 20 October 2013

Wheelchair Accessible RV Rentals California

If you're searching for wheelchair accessible handicap RV rentals in California, this article may help you find what you're looking for or at least steer you in the right direction. While fewer and fewer rental companies are offering these specialized accessible motorhomes for rent, it is still possible to find prospects.

At the end of this article you will find a short list of RV rental companies in the State that may be able to help you. The best way to get what you want is as always to do it yourself. No arguments there! But a little help in providing some resources that you can cross reference will I hope go some ways to getting you to where you need to be.

Renting an Accessible RV in General


Whether you live in a particular state and need to locate a reputable auto rental company in your state or perhaps in another state that you intend to visit, finding the best resources is not always as easy as picking up a book, but here's a thing. There's nothing stopping you using the Internet to find what you're looking for and there are actually some great resources on there that will help you not only in your own state but in remote ones too.

In general, I find the best starting place are existing RV rental companies. That's because even if they don't provide handicap accessible RVs for rent, they may know of another company that does, or that may be looking to start this service in the near future.

Out of state businesses can also be helpful, but they are less likely to know of any local businesses you can contact for more information. So to start with, I say stick with the local people and if you don't find what you want then extend your search to neighboring states.

Resources


Below I've listed some resources that are well worth your while checking out to find the information you need or a suitable rentals company that may be able to help you.

The first port of call I prefer to recommend to folks is the Handicap travel Club. That's because they are probably best placed to know if there has been a recent change to the situation and which company may now be providing rentable wheelchair accessible RVs and motor homes


Top 10 California RV Rental Companies


Failing that, here are the top ten local auto and RV rental companies in California that you might want to visit the websites for the following:

  1. Cruise America RV Rentals and Sales
  2. El Monte RV
  3. Corona Motorhome Rentals
  4. Expedition Motor Homes
  5. Budget RV Rentals
  6. 1st Choice RV
  7. Vacation RV Rentals
  8. Camper USA
  9. Family RV Inc.
  10. San Diego MotorHomes & RV Rentals

From time to time, there will be companies that advertise their services online in a variety of formats. It pays to keep an eye out for these web-based ads that show up every now and again as they might just be from companies that could provide what you need, or at least point you in the right direction of the information that will help you.

Wednesday 9 October 2013

Where Would I Find a Good Quality Wheelchair Lift?

If you ever wondered where you will find good quality wheelchair lifts that provide much needed access in building and public places, this article may help. It looks at the concept of accessibility and improvements to existing forms of access.

You may have heard of certain devices that are fitted to staircases that enable the elderly, or those with limited mobility to get up and down them in safety and comfort without needing to call for help. They look like a simple set up consisting of a chair, a rail mounted the length of the staircase and a small electric motor to move the chair up and down the stairs.

But what about people who need to use a wheelchair and can't easily get out to hop onto a chair to get up or down the stairs? What's more, what becomes of the wheelchair left at the other end?

Solidly Built Lifts for Wheelchairs


The solution to this problem comes to us in the form of solidly built wheelchair stair lifts, which operate on a similar principle to the stair chair lift. That is except in place of the chair there is a sturdy, horizontal platform that is able to take the wheelchair and its user up or down the stairs.

The platform itself folds away in a vertical position when not in use so the stairs are unobstructed for physically able people to use. They make it possible for wheelchair users to use stairs without help, in safety and with dignity.

Where Do You Find These Lifts in Public Places?


These handy transportation devices are often found in staircases in older public buildings where there is no facility for an elevator. They are also found in places where there is no other way to get a wheelchair from one level to another.

The general idea is to provide good access for wheel chair users that is easy and safe in place of more traditional staircases that most physically capable able bodied people have no real problem with. The idea is pretty obvious really, but it just took someone with the realization that such a thing could become a reality with the inventiveness that exists in abundance but is so often passed by.

As far as inventions that help people in amazing ways go, these wheelchair lifts are a wonderful addition to the incredible creative inventiveness of humankind. Imagine how much further we could take such ideas into the future.

Could you imagine a world where nobody had to rely on mobility aids of any kind to get around? It's possible and it can happen, but it just takes the creativity and application that surely exists to bring such an ideal into the real world!

Sunday 22 September 2013

How Great is a Stair Lift for a Wheelchair?

When you can't climb stairs but need to access upper floors in your home or a public building, a wheelchair lift can make all the difference. It can bring you the joy of being able to access the rest of your home where before you were maybe limited to only using the ground floor.

I said in an earlier post that I would take a look at stairway lifts designed specifically for transporting wheelchair users and their wheelchairs up and down flights of stairs. So after checking out some information on them, I got busy writing this one up and here it is.

Obstacles for Wheeled Mobility Situations


When you are having to get around in a wheelchair, there are some things that get in the way that can be as impassable as a mountain unless you have help. Stairs fall into this category and unless there is an alternative way up or down, then you either have to sit there glaring at them or wait for some people to come and help you.

This is not much of a solution and is undignified and can even be a little dangerous to have two guys carry you up or down a set of stairs if one of them slips halfway.

What Are the Alternatives?


But there is an alternative that would make this problem go away. And that alternative solution is having a wheelchair stair lift installed on the stairs. Now this is a solution that is perfect for wheelchair users on those flights of stair that are in a public place where people need to get from a point at the bottom to a point past the top and vice versa.

Of course, the expense would prevent this option being added to every flight of stairs in public places, but then most have alternatives like ramps or elevators, so this is a pretty great solution to only those stairs where no other way up or down exists for wheelchair users.

Something to Keep Hope Alive


When all is really said and done, when you need to gain access to upper floors in any building and you can't climb stairs, an alternative solution needs to be present. Most public buildings have already dressed those needs and of those that haven't yet, most are planning or implementing schemes to make it happen.

In your own home, you don't always have the luxury of having the funds available to make expensive alterations to your upper floor access, but less expensive solutions do exist that you can follow up on and make your home a better place for you to get around in.

Saturday 21 September 2013

Where is a Stair Lift Needed Most?

There are plenty of situations where a wheelchair user or someone with a physical disability that prevents them from climbing stairs comes face to face with the very thing that prevents them from accessing an area they want to go to. As I already talked about some forms of accessibility options for people with disabilities in previous posts, I want to stay on that subject this time out too, because I think it deserves plenty of discussion.

Stairs are a real problem for many people and often all they can do is sit there and stare at them and wait for a kind person or people to come along and help them climb those stairs.

A Very Viable Solution to the Problem


However, there is an option that is available and is fast becoming a regular sight in many public buildings and places where people need to get from one level to another. This option comes in one form or another but collectively, they are generally known as handicap lifts. These small, personal moving platforms or chairs allow individuals to ride up or down stairs in a variety of ways.

For wheelchair users, there are dedicated wheelchair stair lifts that comprise a horizontal platform onto which the wheelchair is rolled, locked in place and then raised along a fixed rail up or down the stairs. I'll be talking about those specialized accessibility devices in a future post, in a load more detail which should be useful to anyone needing to know more about them.

How Are These Lifts Useful?


For those who don't need a wheelchair but still find climbing stairs difficult, the stair chair lift is an ideal solution which allows the user to ride up or down the stairs on a chair which glides along a rail in a similar manner to the wheelchair lift. These special needs lifts are needed most in places where anyone who needs to get up or down stairs but is restricted through their physical condition.

They are useful for people because it basically gives them access to upper floors in their homes (and public buildings) that they couldn't easily get to by themselves. Imagine living in a house and you could only ever use the ground floor through your inability to climb stairs.

I think that then you'll see how suddenly being able to get up the stairs would seem like a miracle to you!

They are a truly great invention and a dignity saver for countless numbers of happy and grateful people, for sure. So research them all you can because it's worth the extra effort to be prepared in advance before you go window shopping in catalogs for one of your own.

Friday 20 September 2013

Why We Have Handicap Ramps

We see them all over the place but most of the time they are ignored or never given the slightest second glance, but handicap ramps play a vital role in providing wheelchair users and those who use mobility aids a way of accessing places that they would otherwise be prevented from because of steps that they would be unable to climb. So there are lots of good reasons why we have handicap ramps and here are some thoughts on them.

This article is going to give you some ideas that I am sure will help you a lot. Do you want to know some more? Yes, mobility scooters do use them a lot and many users say they're not going to stop trying in places where they haven't been put yet!

Developing Relationships with Authorities


Many groups have developed distinctive relationships with their local authorities but also it can be tough to do. I heard from them the other day. Fortunately the days of better access are never over. You need to just be good at what you do and be yourself.

There are always folks helping people with handicaps and nobody really knows anything about them except they are kind and really helpful as they help people get over physical limitations and barriers. It is very easy to get started on your path to becoming such a good member of society, trying to help with the long-term solution for handicap mobility that creates a usable scheme.

Ramps and Access


In my own experience I find that access for handicap scooters varies quite a bit, depending on where you are. Many places promote doing this with mobility initiatives so people are generally very happy because we they see action happening about those things soon.

When you see some incredible results, it is a marvelous opportunity for somebody to push out the envelope and get even more accomplished. Now that's something you'll soon see every day and that would work with all kinds of needs.

You can avoid feeling left out by getting involved, if that sentence reads smoothly and also that was a breathtaking idea. This can represent a large savings in time and effort when you have the use of handicap ramps in your town.

Keeping Up the Pressure


Some folks wrote their local authorities with handwritten letters, others used email, but the idea is to keep the pressure up and things will get done. Lastly don't forget to make sure that the follow up is that workers make improvements to your town's handicap mobility facilities.

Handicap ramps don't cure all problems, but they help more than hinder and don't disappoint many people in the end. So next time you see one of those ramps, give it a second glance and spare a thought for those who need them.

Tuesday 17 September 2013

Renting a Handicap RV

So you have always liked the idea of taking a vacation where you are free to travel wherever you want simply by hitting the open road and letting the direction you take be dictated by no set plan. In short, practically complete freedom to go wherever you want along the many highways of this great country.

The only problem you can foresee is that you will need a suitable vehicle such as an RV and when you are a person with disabilities, you have to wonder if that is even feasible.

Yes You Can!

How RVs Are Customized for Wheelchair Access


Well, happily it is not just feasible but a reality thanks to the availability of handicapped RVs that are specially adapted to enable wheelchair users to get access via powered ramps and get around inside thanks to wider aisles. Not only that, but you are not limited to being a passenger, as these magnificent vehicles can even be adapted for physically handicapped people to drive themselves, although these are harder to find.

The most common form of customization for wheelchair access in RVs is the inclusion of a motorized wheelchair lift or ramp to enable easy access to the vehicle from the road or sidewalk. To operate, you simply lower the ramp to ground level wheel yourself onto the flat platform, apply locks or brakes (if fitted) and raise the platform to the level of the RV's side entrance.

You then simply wheel yourself in through the entryway and position yourself ready for hitting the road either in a specially fitted locking wheelchair bay so you travel in the chair, or transfer to a special seat with space at the side to make it easy to transfer.

RV Adapted for Wheelchair Users


The next thing you'll notice about an accessible RV is the equipment that is adapted for wheelchair users. This includes ample grab rails in the places you need them, wider access aisles, fully functional handicap bathroom and shower, lower kitchen worktops and units and low level light switches and power sockets for convenience.

So now you know that the right type of vehicle is available to you so that you can live out your dream of a vacation on the open road, stopping over wherever you please and not being restricted to having to find a motel or for that matter pay their prices! There is one last thing nagging you and that is that you don't own one of these great handicap RVs.

Renting is Economically Sound


No problem as you can simply rent one! That's right, instead of spending many thousands of dollars to buy an RV that will end up spending most of the year parked up on your drive, or worse, you having to pay to keep it in special a parking lot because your neighbors don't like to see an RV parked in a drive in their street, you can simple rent one!

Handicap accessible RV rentals are made possible by a network of auto rental companies that specialize in this service. They can have your RV delivered to your home and picked up again when you're finished with it just the same and as easily as renting a car.

So if you are considering handicap RV rental as your solution to what is no longer a logistical problem thanks to this service, the open road really can be your ticket to an adventure into the great outdoors as you ride off into the sunset without a care in the world. For more information, please feel free to browse through the several articles published n this blog dedicated to this service and the pleasurable experiences that can be derived from it.

Renting a wheelchair accessible RV can be a dream come true and all you need to do is either check it out online via this website or get on the phone and you could be planning your next vacation like no other you ever had before. How amazing is that?

Monday 16 September 2013

Vacationing in a Wheelchair Accessible RV

How would you feel if you were given the choice of taking a very different kind of vacation to those that you have always taken in the past? Would you embrace the idea as a way of breaking out of the rut that you have been restricted to all these years?

Or would you reject the idea because you have grown accustomed to what you have been used to and don’t understand why anyone would want to do anything that might be slightly dangerous or extravagant? Let's tackle these options and look at why you might be interested in breaking free of the "usual thing" and try something a little more exciting.

A More Exciting Vacation Option


Well, if you fall into the first category, then you might be really interested to hear about a really great way to see places you would no normally get the chance to visit on a regular vacation. I'm talking about renting a handicapped modified RV and hitting the open road!

This really is a very cool vacation option for wheelchair users. This is especially so when they have always been used to resort style vacations in places that have all the facilities for people with disabilities but who want to try something more exciting and different.

Not Dangerous


OK, it may not be all that dangerous for the user, but there is the exciting element of taking yourself out of the comfort zone of the special needs vacation resort and trying something a little more off the wall. You can easily rent a handicap RV and pick it up wherever you want your journey to begin and drop it wherever you think it might end.

The major benefit of this type of vacation is that you get to see stuff that you would not get to see any other way. Traveling the road from one place to another opens up small towns and off the beaten path sights that you only get to see in this way.

Getting out into the great outdoors and seeing some of what the United States has to offer is not exactly going to risk your life, but it is going to give you the opportunity to see sights and visit places you might never have seen or visited had you stuck with the comfort safety net of the same old vacation resort for the rest of your life. Think about that one!

Sunday 15 September 2013

Getting Around on Handicap Scooters

I know I've already been over some of the benefits of smaller, lightweight mobility solutions but I wanted to include these great electrically powered handicap scooters as an accessory for taking along on a wheelchair accessible TV on vacation. It's also something to just have a look at the general getting around in them part!

Yeah, there's probably a story in there someplace and why not?

Real Life Story


Well, my aunt loves to go into town on her scooter and she's very fond of zipping along the sidewalk and stopping in every store to chat to the owner for some time. Well, it's not as if she has too much else to do with her time, so she spends it catching up with the local gossip and adding her own into0 the ever flowing mix.

She ends up meeting some friends for coffee in a little coffee bar along the way and on sunny days they all like to sit outside on the wide terrace and talk about just everything under the sun while watching the world go by.

Another of her favorite haunts is the local library in our town. There she can spend a few hours browsing through some reference books on some of the subjects that interest her on the day.

She chops and changes often, so you never know which books she will choose on any particular day. She likes the library as the building is fairly modern and is equipped with a shallow ramp out front for wheelchairs and motorized scooters such as her own.

Inside, access to the upper floors is via a central elevator. They also have a wheelchair lift fitted to the main stairs just in case there is anything wrong with the elevator, so there is always a backup for folks that need that facility.

Once she has bought all her day's knickknacks and her few grocery items, she heads off back home to prepare her dinner. Now this is all made possible because she owns a great little three wheel motorized handicap scooter.

Otherwise she would have to rely on someone to push her in her wheelchair that she uses in her home as she is not strong enough to push herself all the way into town and back again.

So you can see that handicap scooters really improve people’s lives by enabling then to get around, just like my aunt does. And when you're on vacation in an RV, you can leave the vehicle parked up and just use the scooter to get around the place!

Saturday 14 September 2013

Traveling with a Lightweight Wheelchair

When you are in the situation where you need to rely on a wheelchair to get around, a regular model is usually sufficient for most of your needs. But there are some situations where a lighter weight model has huge benefits and as a standby for traveling, really comes into its own.

In fact, it's the highly mobile side of these wheelchairs that is of such interest to me. So it's this aspect of this type of chair that this article will look into.

Regular Models


Most wheelchairs designed for general use are built to be sturdy as they often have to carry the often hefty weight of the occupant as well as be wheeled along often less than smooth sidewalks or along paths that were never originally intended for this mode of transportation. That means the frame is often rigid and of tubular steel which is of necessity fairly robust to be able to bear the burden of its occupant and navigate the terrain they have to traverse.

That's fine for day to day use, as it needs to have a long and useful lifespan. But there are many situations where this high level of sturdiness is not so essential and a lighter framed version can be used to great effect.

Lightness and Portability for Traveling


When traveling, especially by air, a lightweight folding wheelchair is a really useful aid. This is because it can travel with the user on the plane and not take up very much space or overbalance their weight restrictions.

Lightweight rigid wheelchairs are similarly useful when traveling by other mediums such as by train or coach for the same reasons of low storage space requirements and carry-ability. When being transported by road in a suitably adapted vehicle with wheelchair access such as a handicap van or MPV or even a wheelchair accessible RV, the space limitations are not so great, but are still very welcome.

Getting Around in Crowded Areas


This type of chair is also much more maneuverable in places like airports, railway stations and even shopping malls where the flooring tends to be of higher quality and smoother than general sidewalks. There are often large crowds of people to have to navigate around in these kinds of places, so there is another benefit!

Get the Max Benefit


Getting the most from lightweight wheelchairs is possible when they are put to the right uses and in the right situations. These are just about anywhere where the chair is not going to have to be manhandled by helpers up and down stairs or rough steps, or have to be bumped along an uneven sidewalk or track.

However you use yours, you'll be much happier at being able to move yourself around more easily. This is thanks to the lower weight and a helper will also be thankful for the easier load to push around!

Friday 13 September 2013

Getting Over Physical Limitations and Barriers

When you are limited in your ability to get around because of a physical disability of one kind or another it can get pretty frustrating at times. This is especially so when you see plenty of able bodied people who seem to waste what they have by sitting around all day, eating themselves into the obesity statistics books.

But it's not so much about getting angry with other people as getting smart with yourself and what you can do to make the best of the situation as it affects you personally. This article looks at the ways and means we can adopt to get around the obstacles that may otherwise hamper us in our progress or restrict our movements.

Overcoming Obstacles


There are many ways in which overcoming handicaps can become an obsession and with an amazing amount of determination can become a reality of sorts. We see evidence of this in particular at handicap sports events where athletes have overcome seemingly impossible odds to be able to compete at high levels especially in areas of running or jumping which in the past would have been totally heard of for paraplegics reliant on prosthetic limbs.

You only need to remember the London paralympics in 2012 as an example of what is being achieved.

The latest in technology has produced artificial lower legs that enable runners to achieve impossible speeds through a combination of guts and sheer determination. It is really quite amazing what can be and is being achieved right now in that field.

Climbing Out of the Rut


For the average person who spends life looking in at that fascinating world from the outside, it can bring a lot of new hope where before there was less of it. The future holds possibilities and potential benefits for people with disabilities that we can still only begin to imagine right now.

So when we are sitting at home watching these amazing and truly fascinating sporting events and we're very much aware that we have to view life from a wheelchair, it's important to remember that nothing is impossible no matter how difficult it may seem. With determination, attitude and the need to be more than what a mere physical limitation says we can be, we can achieve much more than we ever believed we could.

Motivating words or just mere pipe dreams being put into words? I like to think they are more like a collection of probabilities that are just waiting to manifest in our lives.

It just takes some imagination and belief in ourselves that whatever we can imagine ourselves doing, we can bring that into our own reality in one way or another.

Thursday 12 September 2013

Vehicle Wheelchair Access Issues

One very big issue for wheelchair users is ease of access into and out of vehicles designed for transporting folks with disabilities and those that have special needs. While the latest models of most vehicles are better constructed and designed to permit very easy access, others and most older models are not so easy to navigate.

It can really get into a big deal when you talk to folks about wheelchair accessibility in transportation because it is an area that frustrates many. This is especially so when a vehicle turns up to take you someplace and the ramp doesn't work properly or the access is so small that it really is uncomfortable getting in and out.

What Can Be Done?


The remedy to these situations is pretty simple, but one that will cost money on the part of the vehicle owner or operator. This is something that pulls a lot of people up short because if it's not a charity run organization, then it will be a private business and they base their business on a budget that extra costs would make unprofitable.

Okay, while you might say that someone shouldn't be making a profit out of people's disabilities, you have to realize that the drivers need to get paid if it's their job; mechanics need to get paid for maintaining and repairing the vehicles and management needs to get paid because it's their job too.

So running a business needs to make a profit, which is fair enough.

The Stumbling Blocks


Renting an RV with wheelchair access for example can work out to be pretty expensive in the long run. So when you start talking a thousand dollars for this improvement or another thousand for that upgrade, the operator's eyes are going to glaze over because that cost translated to a fleet of vehicles could put him out of business! That would not be good for anyone as the people who need the transport would go without, the people who work for the business would be out of a job and everyone loses.

So there has to be a solution where vehicles can be made better without incurring costs great enough to put the future of the business in question. There are solutions, but it takes the involvement of the likes of local authorities or large bodies to fund them.

We can get over handicaps and go back to charities and local community driven fund raising that can help to get vehicles improved and help local transportation businesses stay viable so everyone wins. It just takes some imagination, cooperation and action and it is surprising what can be achieved!

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Renting an RV with Wheelchair Access

One of the problems many people with disabilities face is obtaining a wheelchair accessible RV to rent. There used to be several rental companies up and down the country that specialized in this type of rental, but it seems that lately, those that used to provide this service have ceased to do so.

That means at present, renting a specialized RV that will provide for wheelchair access is pretty tough without the availability that we used to rely on being there. But that doesn't mean it is impossible to rent one of these vehicles. Nothing is impossible, right?

What's This About


Welcome to this specialized website that intends to seek out those companies that have availability in this area and publish their details so people can get in touch with them. As it stands, I have no contact information, but I'm sure that will change as I get deeper into this business.

For now, I've got the site up and at least that's a start in the right direction. I'll be providing some space for advertisements just in case there is someone out there that decides to place some ads and the software will pick them up and display them.

Marking Time


In the meantime, I'll be checking out some leads to see what I can find out and report back in this blog. Also, I'll be writing some related articles on the subject so there's something of interest up here to read and provide some information on other aspects of transportation for the wheelchair user that might be helpful.

I guess when you start delving into this subject, it gets pretty big with related topics cropping up as you go. I'll be looking at vans and other smaller transport vehicles, ramps and other accessibility options, wheelchairs, accessories and just about anything else that I can think of that will help to add some usefulness to this site whole keeping it interesting, on topic and as helpful as I can make it.

That's about all for this opening post and the introduction to handicap rv rentals as it stands. Stay tuned and drop in whenever you want to see what's new and interesting!

Modified RV Rental Sites:

Please follow the link(s) below to RV Rental websites that offer handicap modified RVs to rent:

www.cincinnatirvrental.com