Brooke is trying to find a wheelchair van. She need it to carry her paraplegic daughter around. After visiting several van dealers around her neighborhood she ended up with a headache listening to all of those sales pitch filled with jargons she didn't understand. She barely understand half of what they said.

Well if you are like Brooke, you can discover the meaning of some of those jargons in this article along with a brief explanation. I hope this can assist you in making a better buying decision with less headache. These are not exactly "jargons" but some "expressions" that has a high likelihood getting said repeatedly by wheelchair van salesmen.

1. Van conversion

A wheelchair van is not initially a wheelchair van when it's out of the assembly line. They are planned and manufactured as common passenger vans for aimed at the mass market. A van conversion is a technique where a van is personalized with a wheelchair ramp or a wheel chair lift. The internal is also custom-made to provide easier access and more spacious room for disabled individual on a wheelchair.

2. ADA compliance

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) provides a design guide provides consisting key information about how to create accessible car and van spaces. When you purchase an ADA compliant van you can be sure it is of highest quality, contains the necessary accessories and follow the safety and accessibility standards.

3. Hand Controls

When a disabled individual would prefer to drive the van then it will require extra Hand Controls for smoother ride. Given that the feet is not capable to hit the brake and the accelerator then these two functions would be handled using hands thanks to the hand controls.

4. Kneeling system

By using this system the van can actually lower itself closer to the floor for easy loading and unloading. It does this using the added air suspension. And since air suspension is not a typical feature in nearly all vans the original suspension must be modified for this to work. With a kneeling system an individual using manual wheelchair will be able to thrust their wheelchair alot easier up the ramp. Unfortunately, this system is quite prone to trouble so you really should ask for it only if you absolutely need it.

5. Crash test

Converting a van is a big deal. When to make any kind of alteration made to the original vehicle it will certainly have a consequence to it's rigidity and safety. Even though the original van have passed a crash test the converted van may not have been tested before. Please, choose only from manufacturers / seller that has passed the crash test for their conversion units.

6. Post purchase resellers program

When you no longer need your accessible van you can take it back the seller and they will buy it back from you ( at a discounted price ). Sometimes they could even sell it for you for a small fee.

7. NMEDA

NMEDA stands for National Equipment Mobility Dealers Association. It's job is to ensure quality and professionalism in the manufacturing and installation of safe and reliable mobility equipment in vehicles for drivers and passengers with disabilities.

That's it. I wish that after reading this article you won't get a headache like Brooke when you stop over a wheelchair van dealer.