Anatomy of an Instrumented Generic Quadriplegic Evaluation Van

Vehicles have been modified for physically challenged individuals to gain mobility for quite sometime. The evaluation process, prescription of equipment and training of prospective candidates is conducted at specific sites, typically hospitals, with rehabilitation facilities. The evaluation process may require on road time to help access the individuals needs. The vehicle used to evaluate clients may be as simple as a passenger car with hand controls. For the more severely limited individual an elaborate high technology van with special controls for steering, throttle and braking is required. Each individual evaluated requires their own unique need for equipment which often limits a facility in offering driving assistance or requires them to have access to several vehicles. Up to this point in time, most of the evaluation vehicles lacked any type of instrumentation to help assess a persons physical capability while driving. The dynamic effect on the body produced during driving can greatly affect the physically challenged individual. This paper looks at the modification of a quadriplegic evaluation van and the installation of instrumentation to help assist with the evaluation.