Category Archives: Mobility

Mobility needs for wheelchair users including wheelchair vans, ramps, foot and hand controls.

Connecticut Assistive Technology, Financial Aid & Disability Programs

Connecticut may be a small state in terms of land, which is why it is nicknamed the Nutmeg State, but the services it provides to it’s people with disabilities is huge.

Connect-Ability
Information about services and resources concerning employment, transportation, youths with disability and being a parent of someone with a disability. Vehicle modifications and funding for necessary modifications can be found by following the transportation link on their homepage.

Assistive Technology Exchange in New England
The exchange program serves residents in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. The CT Tech Act works to make assistive technology equipment accessible at places of employment, education and at home.

A Guide to Services for Senior Citizens
This pdf file discusses resources available to senior citizens in Connecticut concerning at home care, transportation and health care.

ConnDOT Paratransit
The Connecticut Department of Transportation provides paratransit for its public transportation users throughout the state offering a flexible schedule and affordable payment system.

Disabled Drivers in Connecticut
Provides information about disabled drivers in Connecticut such as parking spaces, qualifications and training services.

Able Lives
Able Lives is a 10-part series that focuses on disabilities as they relate to family (marriage, children, personal assistants and other aspects of family life); access (housing, transportation, emergency preparedness and facilities); culture; work (self-determination); social aspects; education (early development, inclusion); and science.

National Spinal Cord Injury Association
The Connecticut chapter of the national association consists of individuals affected by spinal injuries and are looking for ways to improve their lives.

Rhode Island Technology, Assistive Financial Aid & Disability Programs

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Living an independent life is a part of Rhode Island’s history. RI was the first of the 13 original colonies to declare independence and the last to ratify the U.S. Constitution. State programs exist to help people with disabilities to be more independent through transportation, assistive technology and becoming involved in their communities.

Assistive Technology Access Partnership
The ATAP is a statewide partnership of organizations with an Assistive Technology focus. They provide a range of services including training, public awareness, demonstrations and loans.

Ocean State Center for Independent Living 
The OSCIL advocates for an individual’s right to live independently by offering services , information and peer support.

Paul V. Sherlock Center on Disabilities
Located at Rhode Island College, the center assist individuals to live a productive and independent life within their community. They also offer assistive technology equipment, tools and services.

TechACCESS of Rhode Island
Provides information about Assistive Technology and how these devices and services can improve or maintain the capabilities of a person with disabilities.

Rhode Island Developmental Disabilities Council 
Council members and staff work to develop programs and work with agencies to ensure accessibility for people with disabilities.

Easter Seals Rhode Island
Provides programs and services for children and adults with disabilities, their families and their communities.

Wheelchair Van Ramp Information

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Wheelchair ramp information
There are two types of wheelchair ramps, the in-floor ramp and the fold out ramp.

In-floor ramps are stored inside the floor of the van so that it is out of the way and allows more access space inside the cabin.

The Pros of The In-Floor Ramp:

With no ramp in the doorway, passengers who are not in wheelchairs can enter and exit the vehicle without having to deploy the ramp.
If you’d been bothered by the foldout ramp interfering with the front passenger seat reclining, that issue is eliminated with an in-floor ramp.
Out of sight, out of mind! An in-floor ramp is completely concealed, so the interior looks closer than ever to that of a standard Vehicle.

The Cons of The In-Floor Ramp:

The in-floor ramp has a slightly higher ramp angle compared to the foldout.
Deploying an in-floor ramp onto a high curb could be a problem.
An in-floor ramp may require more maintenance because the ramp tends to collect more debris.

Fold out ramps are stored folded up inside of the cabin which reduces the Cabin space, but does allow a lower

The Pro’s of The Fold Out Ramp:

If you pull alongside a curb, it’s very easy to deploy a foldout ramp onto the sidewalk.
In the case of an emergency, a wheelchair user can always push a foldout ramp until it deploys.
Because the ramp is stored upright, less debris is able to get trapped and result in maintenance issues.
Compared to the in-floor option, the foldout conversions have a lower ramp angle

The Cons of The Fold Out Ramp:

Because the foldout ramp is housed in the doorway when stored, it takes up a small amount of interior space.
The ramp can limit the front passenger seat from fully extending in a reclined position.
In order to enter or exit on the ramp side of the vehicle, the ramp must be deployed.

You Have Other Choices, Too

Side Entry Ramp 
At the risk of stating the obvious, the side entry ramp deploys from the side of the van rather than the back. The side entry ramp is deployed after the power-operated door on the side of the van slides open. Ramps can be automatically activated or manually opened and closed. For maximum safety, a power ramp should have a manual override in case of a power failure. All AMS side entry ramps are automated, with a manual override, and operation by remote control or controls inside and outside the door.

A side ramp can present a problem if you park in a two-car garage or in a non-handicap-accessible parking space, because you won’t have enough room to deploy the ramp properly. That said, they work beautifully in handicap parking spaces and won’t require you to open the ramp into oncoming traffic.

Rear Entry Ramp
Usually less costly than a side ramp conversion, the rear entry ramp wheelchair van deploys from the back of the van and is typically better suited for the wheelchair user who prefers to sit in the middle or back of the vehicle. Manual operation is the standard for rear entry ramps, which accounts for the lower cost, but automated rear entry ramps are available. Long-channel rear entry ramps can accommodate two wheelchair users in a minivan. Rear entry ramps can be hazardous in some parking situations if you have to deploy the ramp into a lane of traffic.

Portable Ramp 
A lightweight, portable ramp offers flexibility in that you can use it for vehicle access as well as access to homes and buildings without handicap access. A portable ramp includes the same safety features (non-slip surface, side guards) as a permanently installed ramp, and these ramps typically fold up for easy portability.

Channel/Track Ramps
Instead of one wide ramp, economical channel or track ramps have two ramps with slip-proof channels, with each one wide enough to accommodate one wheel of a wheelchair. Also portable, track ramps can be adjusted to accommodate wheelchairs of any width simply by spreading them further apart.

What to Look For in a Wheelchair Ramp
Wheelchair accessible ramp designs vary, but there are a few things to look for in a ramp that affect your safety and ease of use. As always, price is a factor. That said, some of these features are, or should be, non-negotiable.

Non-Slip Surface 
Also called an anti-slip surface or non-skid surface, a non-slip surface can be painted on or applied, like a rubberized coating. The need for a non-slip surface is indisputable, and most wheelchair van ramps are treated in some way to prevent slips and skids.

Sufficient Width
Wheelchairs come in different widths, and so do accessible van ramps. Make sure the ramp on your chosen van is more than wide enough to accommodate your wheelchair.

Side Guard/Lip Side guards (or lips) on either side of the ramp help prevent your wheelchair from falling over the edge of the ramp during entry or exit.

Maximum Weight 
Wheelchair ramps have weight limits, and they vary, though most ramps can handle several hundred pounds. Always ask. Take both your weight plus the weight of the wheelchair into consideration.

Degree of Incline 
A lower incline or slope means an easier climb up the ramp. The ADA recommends a 2:12 slope, which means every 2″ of vertical rise requires one foot of ramp (9.5 degrees of incline).

Manual/Motorized
An onboard ramp can be manually operated or automated to deploy and retract at the push of a button. An automated ramp adds to the price of the conversion; if you choose an automated ramp, make sure it has manual back-up. If, for some reason, the vehicle loses power, you’ll still be able to enter and exit.

Reduced and no effort Advanced Quadriplegic and Paraplegic Driving Controls

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We have installed Advanced Driving Controls, or “High-Tech Driving Systems”, creating options for wheelchair drivers with higher levels of disability for over 25 years. Our driving controls are truly a custom mobility solution for todays quadriplegic driver. As a result, the key components of these systems are combined, fitted and installed based on an extremely thorough process developed over decades of evaluation, prescriptions and fine-tuning experience.

We have installed quadriplegic assistive driving controls and adaptive mobility devices for individuals with disabilities with more severe higher levels of injury that require more sophisticated types of assistive technology to enable them to drive safely in hundreds of vehicles.
The mobility driving controls and technologies we install have been accepted by the Federal Veterans Administration Agency for sale and distribution throughout the United States.

We are a leading installer of adaptive driving systems in the New England Area. Automotive Innovations offers an electro-mechanical driving system that gives people with disabilities an opportunity to drive. We believe independence is an important part of life, which is why we strive to build the best Adaptive Mobility vans on the market.

A quad servo driving systems can be installed into almost any vehicle. We can install systems into anything from a Lamborghini to a Ford. We always tailor our driving systems to meet the Independent needs of the individual. Each of our vans is designed for a specific individual and there adaptive mobility equipment needs.

Servo driving systems are designed with our customers in mind. All secondary controls (i.e.. heating, AC, windows) are on touch pads or toggle switch consoles that are within inches of your hands so they are easily accessible. The steering can be a zero effort, reduced-effort or servo steering system. This allows our customers the ability to make turns with very little effort. The Gas and Brake system is also a hand-controlled function, which is built custom for each customer’s unique needs.

Automotive Innovations has a long history of providing adaptive vehicle mobility solutions and modifications for quadriplegic drivers.

We install a variety of primary driving control options designed to operate the gas, brake and steering controls of a motor vehicle. In years past, we developed a number of independent driving systems such as the popular Electronic Gas Brake, Servo Steering, and Joystick steering.

Primary driving control system provides low-effort control and mobility solutions for your specific requirements to operate the factory gas, brake, and steering controls. A variety of unique interfaces to the control system are available and can be mounted nearly anywhere in the driver’s area of the vehicle. These “input devices,” as they are called, have the look and feel of factory driving controls, but are designed specifically for the purpose of maximizing your abilities.

Servo steering and servo gas brake utilizes a sophisticated design to convert your limited mechanical input into the ability to manipulate the factory gas and brake pedals and or the factory steering column. Whether you require just gas and brakes, or just steering, or gas, brakes, and steering, Automotive Innovations Bridgewater, MA has adaptive mobility equipment solutions for you!

Reduced Effort Modifications

Reduced effort steering systems. All the modifications that are done in Bridgewater, MA are used in conjunction with hand controls and other accessible adaptations to reduce the physical strength required to perform the operations of braking and steering. Reduced effort braking and reduced effort steering are modification packages that make the steering wheel or brake pedal easier to turn or push. The level of assistance or “reduced-effort” is adjusted to the level prescribed by the driver rehabilitation specialist, based on the strength of the driver.

Reduced Effort Steering

Reduced Effort Steering modification to steering boxes and steering racks are available for most all American vans and most cars with factory power steering. Standard factory power steering requires approximately 40 ounces of effort to operate. Steering modifications can reduce the required effort to 20-24 ounces (low effort) or 6-8 ounces (no effort). (These statistics will vary depending on model of car and tire size)

Reduced effort steering modification reduces the amount of effort it takes to move a steering wheel. There is low effort to no effort available depending on the model of car and tire size.

Low effort and no effort braking modifications significantly reduces the required pressure needed to press down on a pedal to brake.

Backup Steering Systems

Emergency power assisted steering if factory power steering system fails. Test circuits are provided which enable customers to check system prior to driving. Audio and visual alarms alert driver to factory power steering failure–backup system instantaneously activates. Does not require low or no effort steering modification.

Custom Steering Column Extensions

We install custom steering systems, columns, and extensions.

Foot Steering Systems
For those customers without arms or the use of them, the foot steering system is usually combined with sensitized steering and adaptations for other dash controls. Automotive Innovations understands that most items concerning foot controlled steering need to be customized and built to and individuals specific needs.
Automotive Innovations Bridgewater, MA can install your custom foot steering system. Call us today 508-697-6006 and speak with one of our mobility experts. We recommend mid- to full-sized American cars and some minivans for this modification.

Servo Hand Controls

Gas Brake Hand Controls in the advanced driving aid category are of course more advanced and are typically for individuals with very limited mobility and strength for operating a vehicle. A slight touch of various adaptive devices allow the car to accelerate and brake with ease.
Electric Gas and Brakes are operated from an electric servo in the form of a joystick, Tri-Pin or lever input device. Individuals can then use their hands to control their speed and to brake.

Servo Steering Controls

Servo steering allows the steering control to be located almost anywhere to assist the operator and can be fitted with a miniature or small steering wheel.

Horizontal Steering Systems

Horizontal Steering System accommodates a limited range of motion when the driver cannot use a conventional steering wheel.

The horizontal steering system is customized to meet the needs of those with high-level spinal cord injuries and all others who experience limited arm strength and range of motion. It is usually used in conjunction with our servo hand controls.

Wheelchair Van Secondary Driving Controls

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Secondary Driving Controls
Here are the options for Secondary Driving Controls that we offer:

Ignition Starting
Lights Turn Signals/Hazards
Horn/Dimmer
Wipers | Cruise On/Set
Windows Locks
Electric Park Brake
Electric Shift
Left and Right Power Mirror Control

Crescent Industries Voice Scan Controls
The operation is simple:

Step 1 – Activate the scan by pushing the switch.
Step 2 – When the desired function is heard, activate the switch again and the function begins!!

Activate the switch and a voice (yours if you like) announces the functions. When the desired function is heard, activate the switch again to select the function. VoiceScan can be programmed in either one or two channel mode. The one channel mode allows all functions to be operated from a single switch, while the two channel mode allows for two priority functions. In either mode, VoiceScan can control up to 16 functions. Voice Scan is field programmable-it can be customized at your shop! And, like our Touch Pads and Elbow Pads, VoiceScan can be used with any vehicle function.

16 button pad
The Command 16 system builds on proven technology in adaptive driving while providing high reliability. It’s progressive modular design provides ease of installation and customization. The Command 16 consists of three components: the console, the vehicle interface, and the relay packs. The Command 16 can be configures to control any device and will fit any vehicle.
Quick and Simple Installation Installation is simply a matter of installing the relay packs, mounting the console, and plugging the system together. Custom and Versatile The Command 16 can control any function in any vehicle and is back-lit for night time operation.

4 button pad
A four switch Elbow Console that contains four mechanical switches. The Command 4 can be any four functions of your choice. Common configurations are turn signals, horn and dimmer, or turn signals and wipers.

Remote Controls
We have remote controls for all lifts including:

Ricon
Crow River
Crow River Vangater II
Braun
I.M.S.

Remotes come standard with magnetic entry, but may be ordered with any combination of remote, magnetic entry, and front station. Stand alone magnetic entry systems are also available for all lifts.

Electronic Gear Selection
Electronic Gear Selection allows the operator to push a button for a gear selection.

Voice Scan installed using one to two targets or buttons to operate a multitude of functions within the vehicle while utilizing a verbal audible menu with advanced remote accessory controls including single touch and voice scan. The products are reliable and easily serviced, including a warranty that commits to customer satisfaction

Safe, Simple and Rugged. OEM Steering Wheel may remain in all vehicles, if placement of the servo steering wheel permits. Backup Power Steering System allows the user to steer if the engine shuts off, and is automatic. Customized orthotic adaptations and adjustable force and feedback are available to suit each application. Reduced-effort or Zero-effort force used to steer.

EGS Electric Gear Shifter Directly attaches to the OEM shifter hardware. Utilizes the OEM transmission control display on the vehicle’s dash. Activated through several switching options.

Electronic Park Brake
Electric parking brake system offers enough torque to stop your vehicle when parking in steep areas or in an emergency situation. Activated through several switching options and can be located in any area that is most accessible to the user’s range of motion.

We are committed to coming up with new and innovative mobility solutions to meet your adaptive mobility equipment needs in the New England Area!

Our electronic mobility controls have been enabling consumers in the New England Area with the ability to have a safe and independent driving system for more than 20 years

We build quality long lasting electric mobility driving controls, our servo steering, electronic gas and brake devices and other adaptive mobility equipment have been exceeding the expectations of consumers in the New England area for more than two decades.