DME and a Grama that can't do the Steps??

[michellelovesthemous]

Mum has bad knees and legs and all but crawled up the steps to the DME bus last trip and this year it is worse due to a car accident. Is there a DME bus that has a lift? Or is a van? If so, how do I request this? Thank you for any assistance as she is considering not coming on our anual trip!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . Is there a DME bus that has a lift? Or is a van? If so, how do I request this? Thank you for any assistance as she is considering not coming on our anual trip!

1) Ask at the DME check-in counter.
2) This is not an uncommon request.
3) If all else fails,
. . . everyone line up behind Grama, and PUSH!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Some buses have lifts, some don't. Call the Magical Express number and let them know you need a bus with a lift for an ambulatory passenger - unless she's going to have mobility assistance equipment, in which case you can leave out the ambulatory part.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

do not know about DME buses but most park buses do not have lifts but ramps instead. might want to have a wheelchair along to wheel her in as walking up ramp would be as hard on knees as the steps

 

[mamabunny]

We just returned from a trip last month. I requested a DME bus with a lift in advance, because I can no longer make the steps. I also brought my personal scooter with me.

When we got down to the DME loading area, there is a special line for passengers that require assistance, marked with the universal handicapped symbol. So, we bypassed the line for our resort, and went straight to the HA line. We were happy to see they had a coach waiting for us with a lift.

The DME coaches actually use a *lift*, as opposed to the WDW park buses, which "kneel", and have ramps.

In my case, I had to back on to the lift at ground level, set my brakes, and then the driver places seatbelt like straps across the openings to help secure the platform. The controls are at ground level, and he uses the controls to lift the platform to the internal floor level of the DME coach. Once the platform is at the interior level of the coach, the driver goes inside and assists with backing into the coach itself, and then securing the scooter inside the coach and stowing the platform. When we reached our destination, the driver removed the straps from my scooter, I lined it up at the doorway, he extended the platform and I drove out on to it, then he went outside and brought the platform down to ground level.

I am not certain, but I imagine that the lift may require the use of a wheelchair - simply because that way there is no concern about someone losing their footing and falling off the platform while it is going up or down. I was able to self-transfer to a regular coach seat once I was inside the coach, and did not have to ride on my scooter.

Definitely contact DME as soon as you can - let them know your loved one needs assistance, and cannot climb the steps.

 

[mamabunny]

Forgot to add this: Phone number for DME is 866-599-0951 Call as soon as you have reservations (and a res #) and have a super trip!

 

[lanejudy]

I suggest you call DME. Some buses have a lift, but not all, so you'll want your reservation tagged as needing one. I agree with a PP that they may not allow her to simply stand on the lift and ride up; however, I believe they keep a manual wheelchair folded in the cargo hold under the bus. Possibly they would have her use that to ride up/down and transfer to a seat. They should be able to tell you how they will handle the situation when you call.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Betty Rohrer]

to OP I would be sure that DME understands that she will not have a wheelchair and be sure that they will allow her to use lift without chair

 

[GranJan]

I don't think they will allow anyone to stand on the lift. I have used the lift with my ECV & hate it. It's scary to me & I get nervous & can't even remember which lever to push to go forward or reverse. I use my ECV regularly with no problem but that experience makes my mind go blank. Backing on is part of it & when you get to the top you have to angle a little as you back onto the bus because the wall angles where the restroom is. Our last trip, I dreaded that lift so much I decided I could do the steps with my husband pushing. I pulled with the little strength I have in my arms but on the plane ride home I started having pain in my chest. I had pulled a muscle & it hurt to breathe for a week. I won't attempt the steps again. I'm dreading our trip in April because of the bus ordeal. We've paid for HA accessible transportation before & they sent a van I had to climb into that was worse than climbing on a bus. I almost want to just rent a car since my ECV can be put in the trunk, but hate to have that extra expense just because I'm too chicken to ride the lift. I have no problem with any of the park & resort transportation. Would it be possible for me to sit in a wheelchair to go up the lift & they could just store my ECV underneath? Do they always have wheelchairs available or do I need to ask for one? I think I could handle someone pushing me onto the lift in a wheelchair rather than backing my scooter & worrying I'm going to drive it over the edge.

 

[SueM in MN]

This is a copy from the post about DME in the disABILITIES FAQs thread

Here is a picture of the DME bus lift in its highest position:

DME Bus steps

Someone using a wheelchair can ride it up the lift and then the wheelchair will be fastened down to the floor of the bus.
A wheelchair or ECV can also be placed underneath the bus in the luggage storage compartment.
People have posted before that they were allowed to stand on the lift and ride it up for boarding because they were unable to climb the steps.
A DME bus driver posted in late 2008 that this was not allowed and only a person with a wheelchair or ECV is allowed on the lift. No one may stand on the lift.

If you feel you can't climb the steps, let the CM know when you are making your reservations for DME and again when you check in. They will need to come up with some alternative for you.
I have seen people using an airport wheelchair to ride up the lift, get out of the wheelchair to sit in a seat and then borrow a wheelchair at the resort to get out.
On our last trip, I noticed that there were 2 wheelchairs in the under bus storage area. Since we were the first on, the wheelchairs were on before the bus arrived at the stop.

 

[SueM in MN]

Adding to the other reply .....
Since the time I originally wrote that, we have used the DME bus multiple times. Each time I have looked in the baggage area of the lift buses, there has been at least one wheelchair stored there. My guess is that all the buses with lifts have a wheelchair stored there.

Putting the ECV under the bus should not be a problem as long as it is not too heavy (for example, some models do not come apart and weigh more then 100 pounds - too heavy to lift).
I have seen ECVs under there for passengers who walked up the steps, so it can be done.

There may be other options if the ECV can't go under the bus and the ECV user just can't stand the idea of riding in it to go up the lift. For example, riding a wheelchair up, sending the empty wheelchair back down, then sending the empt ECV up on the lift and moving it off the lift in 'push' mode.

 

[GranJan]

Adding to the other reply .....
Since the time I originally wrote that, we have used the DME bus multiple times. Each time I have looked in the baggage area of the lift buses, there has been at least one wheelchair stored there. My guess is that all the buses with lifts have a wheelchair stored there.

Putting the ECV under the bus should not be a problem as long as it is not too heavy (for example, some models do not come apart and weigh more then 100 pounds - too heavy to lift).
I have seen ECVs under there for passengers who walked up the steps, so it can be done.

There may be other options if the ECV can't go under the bus and the ECV user just can't stand the idea of riding in it to go up the lift. For example, riding a wheelchair up, sending the empty wheelchair back down, then sending the empt ECV up on the lift and moving it off the lift in 'push' mode.

Thanks Sue! My ECV fits under the bus & my husband always assists with that. When I first started using it, I could still manage the steps with help since there are good handrails. It's just been the last few years that the steps became too difficult. I think I'll call & ask about using the wheelchair. In the photos, the lift doesn't look that high but it feels 20 ft high when I'm on it. I didn't mean to take over this discussion, the title just caught my attention since I was dreading it. I hope the person who needed answers for their gramma sees the helpful information you've given.

 

[seashoreCM]

The lift does not rise exquisitely smoothly so someone standing on it may lose his balance. But, if there is no other alternative, someone should be able to kneel on the lift and then get off after the lift stops at the top.

 

[SueM in MN]

The lift does not rise exquisitely smoothly so someone standing on it may lose his balance. But, if there is no other alternative, someone should be able to kneel on the lift and then get off after the lift stops at the top.

No

First - that would not be safe. There are handhold railings, but they are sized/placed for someone who is sitting in a wheelchair or ECV.

Second - that would put the kneeling person too far forward and their feet in a position where they could get caught on the lift behind them.

Third - I don't know of anyone with bad enough issues that would prevent them from walking up the stairs that would be able to kneel on a flat, hard metal platform long enough for the lift to operate.

Fourth - getting up from kneeling would be hard enough at ground level and very dangerous to do suspended in the air.

If someone doesn't have a wheelchair and needs to use the lift, there are much safer options, including using one of the airport or DME wheelchairs to get onto the bus.

 

[aaarcher86]

If you're not allowed to stand on the lift you're not going to be allowed to kneel on it.

Liability and safety issue.