Navigating Mobility: Choosing Accessible Vehicle Options for Spina Bifida

Choosing the right accessible vehicle makes a huge difference for individuals and families living with Spina
Bifida. As children grow, their equipment needs change, moving from adaptive strollers to heavy power
wheelchairs and supportive medical gear. Finding a vehicle that handles these changing needs keeps travel
safe, simple, and comfortable.

Standard Option: Minivans with Wheelchair Ramps

Converted minivans are a widely used entry point for accessible transportation. They lower the vehicle floor to
increase entryway height and deploy a fold-out or in-floor ramp for roll-in entry.

Benefits:

• Lower exterior height for easier parking in standard residential garages.
• Familiar passenger-car driving and fuel efficiency.

Considerations:

• Headroom & Posture: Lowered floors add vertical room, but growing individuals or those using
  high-backed power wheelchairs with specialized headrests can still experience cramped overhead
  space.
• Ground Clearance: Floor modifications reduce distance to the road, increasing the risk of scraping on
  steep driveways, high curbs, or speed bumps.
• Cargo vs. Seating Capacity: Accommodating large power chairs or adaptive equipment often requires
  folding or removing secondary seating, leaving limited space for larger families or additional caregivers.
• Structural Modifications: The lowered floor removes OEM materials, including insulation in the floor,
  which increases road noise and can weaken the OEM Warranty.

Full-Size Conversion Vans: Fenton Mobility Access MAX

For families requiring maximum vertical room, higher load capacities, and multi-passenger seating, full-size
conversion vans—such as the Fenton Mobility Access MAX built on the Ford Transit or Ram ProMaster
platform—provide significant long-term capabilities over standard minivans.

Benefits:

• Generous Interior Headroom: The high-roof chassis allows individuals in power wheelchairs to enter
  and remain seated completely upright without feeling restricted.
• 8-Passenger Capacity: Accommodates up to eight passengers alongside wheelchair space and
  medical gear, allowing whole families to travel together comfortably.
• Shift-N-Step Dual-Entry System: This patented system allows a single side door to serve both
  wheelchair users (via an ADA-compliant 800 lb or 1,000 lb lift) and ambulatory passengers (via an
  extended, low-profile bus step). Family members do not need to squeeze past or climb over lift
  platforms.
• Preserved Factory Integrity: The bolt-in installation requires no structural chassis cutting or fuel
  system modifications, keeping factory OEM warranties intact to reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• No Structural Modifications: No structural modifications are performed on the vehicle to keep your
  OE warranty intact, and with additional insulation, the cabin of the vehicle is quieter and remains at a
  comfortable temperature during your trips.

While ramp-equipped minivans serve lighter equipment needs, full-size solutions like the Access MAX provide
the vertical room, structural stability, and adaptable interior configuration needed to comfortably support
individuals with Spina Bifida at every stage of life.

To learn more about the Access MAX, visit FentonMobility.com