- Make or Manufacturer - who made the power mobility device?
- Model or Part Number - be specific, usually found on a dataplate on the device or in the documentation you received when you got the equipment.
- Accessories - does your scooter have the seat elevator? Do you have leg extenstions on the wheelchair?
Other factors pertain specifically to you in the mobility device and may require some assistance to measure.
- Seated Height
- Eye Level Height
- Wheel Width
- Overall Length
Seated height is the distance from the top of the persons head down to the floor when they are sitting in the wheelchair. This measurement is used to identify the opening height and appropriate interior height of the wheelchair van. Eye level height is the distance from the persons eyes to the ground while sitting in the wheelchair. This measurement helps us understand where their line of sight is so we can keep that in mind. The measurement of the wheeled part of the wheelchair, the outside of the large wheel hubs on a manual chair or the power wheels on a power wheelchair is called the wheel width measurement. This measurement assists us in making sure that you have adequate room inside the vehicle and enough space to go up the ramp. The Overall length is a measurement from the furthest part of the rear of the wheelchair up to the very tip of the toes in the front, with the person sitting in the wheelchair in a comfortable position suitable for riding. This measurement also is helpful when considering the manueverability of the mobility equipment inside the vehicle and will answer questions about positioning and seating once inside.
Knowing these measurements and information before you start shopping for a wheelchair van will give you an overall idea of the space you will need to accomodate your mobility equipment in an accessible van. Knowing this in advance not only shows that you are an educated consumer, but also that you have thought the process through.