However a power wheelchair (electric wheelchair) is not a scooter. The main difference is that the operator of a scooter has to maneuver it with his upper body by using a handle bar while the electric wheelchair operates with a stick and doesnt require upper body movement.

For further questions email us or ask questions in our forum.

Mobility Converted Vehicle

Most mobility converted vehicles are vans. Mini or full size vans can support a wheelchair ramp or lift, have the interior capacity for you, your wheelchair and your friends, and are economical. Like regular vehicles they have a large number of options. These are not just color, leather seats and upgraded rims type options, but options that allow you as a wheelchair bound person to access and safely maneuver your vehicle. Getting a handle on what options you need and how to find the right converted mobility vehicle for you is the topic of the WheelchairForMe.com  article How to Select a Wheelchair Vehicle and it should help you through your buying process.

Once you have decided that you need a vehicle and have figured out the features you need you will need to pay for it. Buying a car in general is not cheap, but when you add in the cost of converting a vehicle to wheelchair use (sometimes up to $17,000!), it can be daunting – especially in these poor economic times. However, there are a lot of programs available to you that can help you out. Here are a few ideas:

• Work with the Car Manufacturers – Most major car manufacturers offer cash reimbursement programs for converting their vehicles to wheelchair use. WheelchairForMe.com has one article about how to save money that discusses the merits of the largest ones. Talk to your local dealer and explain your situation and they will point you to the right department.
• Local or State Governments – There are a number of programs sponsored by government entities to help wheelchair bound individuals with financing a wheelchair converted vehicle. Try doing a google search with “your state wheelchair vehicle financing” or other related queries.
• Local Service Organizations – Most communities have local organizations like the Rotary Club or Kiwanis that may help disabled individuals with their purchase.
• Veteran’s Benefits – If you are a veteran there are federal programs that help you with your purchase.
• Workers Compensation – If you were injured on the job then you may be eligible for financial assistance.
• Tax Credits – Many states offer tax credits on the purchase of mobility devices and wheelchair adapted vehicles.

After you have exhausted the above list of funding opportunities you should talk to local conversion shops. Find a nearby wheelchair vehicle conversion company and explain what type of vehicle you are looking for and as if they have any ideas or contacts that could help with financing. Often times conversion companies will partner with local or international groups that help with funding. They are also up to date on all government policies, programs and practices that could help you out.

Don’t give up! If there is a will, there is a way to finance your wheelchair conversion vehicle.

PeterG a satisfied Wheelchairforme customer wrote a short story in our forum which is a typical situation why it make sense to get a power wheelchair at an early stage. His dead felt badly and had to stay at the hospital for a few weeks. That could have been avoided by orderign a power chair at an earlier stage. It is a good question to ask how do you know when the right moment is to order a electric wheelchair for your loved one. We at WheelchairForMe suggested to listen to your instincts. If you spend time with your loved Dad or Mom or Grandparents just watch them and if you feel frightened that they might fall – you know you might want to take action before they actually fall.

At least start the process and get some info material as soon as you realize your loved one might be at risk to fall. We are power mobility device experts but it still will take two weeks to answer questions, work with your doctor and Medicare. Just start with ordering a free info kit by using our free power wheelchair matching engine and sit down with your loved ones and start the idea of getting a NO COST power wheelchair.

Do you think that the right way to go or do you think you rather wait until your loved one falls and the need is undeniable?

Website Tip:
Check out Social Topics which is a place to discuss your favorite topics and find out what others think about anything and everything. Read funny text from drunk people.

However, there are some people in our industry that are not helping people – who are in fact hurting people by making false promises and by taking money from the government. Now I won’t get into it here as it can get a little complicated, but we and our power wheelchair providers are able to try to get you a no cost wheelchair due to the government. It is no cost because either the government health plans are paying the cost or your insurance. You can read about it in our FAQ . Some people are taking advantage of the government’s generosity by making false claims to the government and saying that they delivered power wheelchairs to individuals when they did not or they delivered something that the individual didn’t want. Here are two cases over the past few months:

http://www.krdo.com/Global/story.asp?S=10986956

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/DUPEGAT23_20090223-183224/213698/

One company submitted $26 MILLION in fraudulent claims to the government. At a time like this with so many Americans out of work and in need of help, these people are taking money away from the government and leaving someone who thought they were getting a power wheelchair they desperately needed with nothing or a product they didn’t need.

That is why I am glad at WheelchairForMe.com we only work with trusted partners that we have worked with in the past. Our power wheelchair providers work with you to make sure you get the chair you need and deserve – and they deliver it! By working through WheelchairForMe.com you are not only going to get the help you need getting your power wheelchair, but you are also making sure you do not line the pockets of fraudulent wheelchair providers.

If you are coming to us from a bad experience elsewhere, please post about it in the comments section or forum so others can learn about it.

We are really excited about the new version of our site. I will admit, our last version of the site was very simple and did not have much information. However, our new version of WheelchairForMe.com is the exact opposite – packed with information! When we asked visitors to our site for feedback the overwhelming response was, “We loved the help your team gave and all the information they passed on to us, but why don’t you have it on your site?” We thought about it and realized that the easiest thing to do was to make a new site focused on providing information not only about our power wheelchair provider matching services, but also about the mobility industry and mobile lifestyle in general.

Besides a general graphics facelift, the area that has grown the most is our Resources section. This is where we store a large amount of the data the WheelchairForMe.com team has collected. Chief among them is an outline of the top power wheelchairs in the mobile industry which includes descriptions, statistics and reviews. This section allows visitors to do research on their own on what type of power wheelchair they like before and during their conversation with a WheelchairForMe.com Mobility Consultant, so that they are comfortable with and aware of their options. The Resources section also has a large FAQ area where we answer common questions. If you have questions about the site, our company, or power wheelchairs in general don’t hesitate to send them to us and your question might end up in our FAQ!

These changes are not the end of it though – our next step is launching a Forum. We plan to use the Forum as a venue for visitors of the site to interact with each other and with WheelchairForMe.com Mobility Consultants. We will have sections for power wheelchair related topics and give visitors an opportunity to help each other by sharing their experiences, questions, concerns and general goodwill.

As you know, WheelchairForMe.com is a site that helps visitors who need a mobility device by matching them with the best power wheelchair provider for their unique situation. We pride ourselves on our technology, industry knowledge and solid reputation.

Thanks for visiting our new site and we are looking forward to helping you achieve your new mobile lifestyle!