Electric w/c: Quantum help and advice

[toyotaae86lg]

Hello Diser's, need some help and advice. I'm not new to the parks but am to disability info. We will be taking my wife's parents this September and my father in law uses a Quantum 614 chair. He's a past stroke victim and is physically disabled lacking lumbar and trunk strength and needs this chair. I looked at some of the specifications and i'm having a hard time whether this chair while be approved for the buses as it has quite a few different wheels and legrests. If anyone has any experience with this type of chair it would be great. http://www.monroewheelchair.com/Catalog/Product/2097/Quantum-614

Last resort they are driving from MS so we could always take their van to the parks but I figured we are staying at Pop so why not use the free transportation. I just wasn't sure how big of a hassle it would be to get him in and adjusted. He doesn't transfer from this chair, usually stays in it all day.

 

[tobikaye]

The only issue will be if the chair is outside the size requirements. As long as the chair fits the bus size requirements, he will be able to take the bus. I think the size requirement is about 36" wide.

 

[SueM in MN]

The wheels and leg rests don't make a difference.
The Quantum is a pretty standard, common power wheelchair and, unless it reclines and he uses it reclined, it should be well within the size limits.

Since you mention he has a van, I'm assuming you mean he has a wheelchair accessible van. The tiedown straps used to secure his wheelchair to his own van would be very similar to the ones used on the buses.
He may have securement points installed on his chair (most power wheelchairs do). They would look like metal loops; on my daughter's power wheelchair, they are black, but some chairs have them in a bright color so they are more easily seen. If his are dark, you can mark them with a strip of bright colored duct tape. That makes them much easier for the bus drivers.
If you don't know where they are, or he doesn't have any installed, you can contact the place he purchased it from to get more information.

If his chair is no more than 30 inches wide and 48-50 inches long, it should also fit on all the wheelchair accessible ride cars in the parks. You can get more information about that in posts 18-21 on page 2 of the disABILITIES FAQs (look near the top of this board or follow the link in my signature).

 

[SueM in MN]

added information - he would need to drive the wheelchair up the bus ramp,and park it where he is directed to on the bus. That would be similar to positioning it in his own van.
The bus drivers take car of attaching the tiedown straps and bus seatbelt. It's helpful to the drivers and helps speed the process if you have marked the safe points to attach the tiedown straps. They see many different devices during the day, which may all have different 'safe' points.