According to the World Health Organisation, there are approximately 1 billion people with a disability on the planet. This equates to around 1 in 5 people in Europe and the USA, so this is a fairly significant amount of the population. Fortunately, there have been many incredible advances in technology in recent years that are assisting those with disabilities in their daily lives.
The Automotive Industry
One area where this is particularly evident is the automotive industry. Thanks to a range of inventions and clever designs, many disabled individuals now find that they are able to drive and do so with confidence. One of the main benefits of this is that it provides these individuals with a great sense of freedom and independence as they no longer have to require on others or public transportation to get around.
Adaptive Devices:
There are various automotive adaptive devices that can reduce the physical effort that it requires to drive a vehicle, or change the way in which the car is controlled by the user. Although there is no “one size fits all” when it comes to mobility vehicles as each individual is different, many people are able to use these devices and drive with confidence.
A few examples of how a vehicle can be adapted include raising the foot pedals, or replacing them with hand-controlled devices. With a hand-controlled device, typically a push-pull handle, is mounted by the steering wheel and the user pushes to accelerate and pulls back to brake. There are various other hand controls that can be used, as well as the possibility of replacing the steering wheel with a joystick control. Although it can be expensive to make these adaptations, financial programmes are available that help to pay for some or all of the modifications.
Accessibility:
Entering/exiting the vehicle can sometimes be another issue that disabled individuals face. This has seen the rise of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) in recent times, where automobiles are adapted to make them easily accessible. This can include using a ramp or lift and creating an interior which can safely stow a wheelchair. Specialists like Allied Mobility will be the best place to find a wide range of WAV’s where you can also get home demonstrations.
These excellent advances in the automotive industry have completely revolutionized travel for disabled individuals. Public transportation is not always easy for those with a disability, plus it is an expensive and unreliable way to travel, but WAV’s and adaptive measures enable those with a disability to either drive themselves or be able to travel safely and comfortably in the automobile.