People lifters
(view report contents)
WAVs
WAVS are Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. Specialist firms convert MPVs, vans and other vehicles so that you can get into them and travel as a passenger in your wheelchair.
You get into the vehicle using a specially fitted ramp or lift depending on the model and the conversion. Vans which have been converted are usually fitted with windows so that you can see out. Depending on vehicle, some have seats for passengers as well as a wheelchair in the rear. Some will carry more than one wheelchair. Some converters have vehicles which you can drive from your chair. A very wide range of car controls are available and can be installed as part of the conversion to make it possible for almost anyone to drive.
There aren’t any mandatory standards covering conversions unless you are a Motability customer (for details click here). Also five of the larger companies have formed the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Converters Association (WAVCA) which has a code of practice. Members of the WAVCA are Brotherwood, Constables, Gowrings, Lewis Reed and Widnes Car Centre.
Here is a list of specialist conversion companies, those marked with
a 
can convert vehicles for driving from a wheelchair, as well as for carrying
passengers in them:
Adaptacar (Devon)
01769 572785
www.adaptacar.com
Alfred Bekker (East Yorkshire)
01377 241700
www.alfredbekker.com
Allied Vehicles (Lanarkshire)
0141 336 3211
www.alliedvehicles.co.uk
Aspect Conversions (Mersyside)
01704 546600
www.aspectconversions.co.uk
Atlas Conversions (Hampshire)
0239 226 5600
www.atlasconversions.co.uk
Auto Mobility Concepts (Herts)
01442 260360
www.automobilityconcepts.com
Automotive Group, The (Tyne & Wear)
0191 226 0099
Brook Miller Mobility (West Yorkshire)
01484 721772
www.brookmiller.co.uk
Brotherwood Automobility (Dorset)
01935 872603
www.brotherwood.com
C J Conversions (Lincolnshire)
01522 576600
www.cjconversions.co.uk
Citexx Autotrim Services (West Yorkshire)
01484 666333
City Motor Services
(South Glamorgan)
02920 364800
www.citymotorservices.co.uk
Clark & Partners (South Yorkshire)
0114 275 5000
www.clarkandpartners.co.uk
Constables Mobility (East Sussex)
01323 767574
www.constablesmobility.com
CoTrim (Wiltshire)
01722 324524
Cowal Mobility Aids (Bucks)
01494 714400
www.cowalmobility.co.uk
DS&P Mobility Electronics (Bucks)
01296 488815
www.dsp-mobilityelectronics.com
Davis Accessible Transport (Kent)
0800 018 1929/01732 455174
www.accessible-transport.co.uk
Disability Resource Centre (Flintshire)
01745 534525
Eclipse Vehicle Adaptations (Glamorgan)
01443 813 933
G M Coachwork (Devon)
01626 853050
www.gmcoachwork.co.uk
Gleneagles Conversions (Fife)
01334 657722
www.gleneaglesconversions.co.uk
Gowrings Mobility (Berkshire)
0845 608 8020
www.gowringsmobility.co.uk
Hill Gruau (Cheshire)
01457 766777
Interbility (Hertfordshire)
01438 747448
Invatravel Conversions (Lancashire)
01704 506608
www.invatravel.com
Island Mobility (Isle of Wight)
01983 530000
www.island-mobility.co.uk
Jubilee Automotive Group (Staffordshire)
0121 502 2252
www.jubileeauto.co.uk
K C Mobility Services (Yorkshire)
01924 442386
www.kcmobility.co.uk
Lewis Reed (Wirral)
0151 343 5360
www.lewisreedgroup.co.uk
Martin Healey (Co Durham)
01325 389900
www.disabledvehicleadaption.co.uk
McElmeel Mobility Services (co Armagh)
02837 525333
www.mobility-services.com
Mobility Care (Denbighshire)
01745 571464
Mobility Care Centre (Suffolk)
01473 727799
www.waveurope.com
Mobility Solutions (Wiltshire)
01722 336048
O & H Mobility (West Yorkshire)
01484 400795
www.oandh.co.uk
P B Conversions (Bedfordshire)
01525 850588
www.pbconversions.co.uk
Personal Mobility (London)
020 8752 3180
www.personalmobilitysolutions.com
R & S Mobility (Humberside)
01482 320289
www.rsmobility.co.uk
Steering Developments (Herts)
01442 212918
www.steeringdevelopments.co.uk
Techmobility (Essex)
01376 564499
Vic Young (Co Durham)
0191 427 1566
www.vicyoung.com
Wheelchair Accessible
Vehicle Register
(Dorset)
01202 814112
Widnes Car Centre (Cheshire)
0151 420 2000
www.widnesnissan.com
Table of contents
Introduction
Hoists
How
they work
Fitting
Using
the hoists
Comfort
and dignity
Hoists
- summaries and verdicts
Lifting
seats
Wheelchair
Systems
Wheelchair
systems - summaries and verdicts
WAVs
Safety/reliability
Buying
guide
Finance
Helpful
organisations
Mobility
Centres
Suppliers
