WTORS Articles & Guides
Are All Wheelchairs Safe to Use as Seats in Vehicles?
No. Not every wheelchair is designed or tested to be used as the occupant's seat in a motor vehicle. When a passenger remains seated in…
Can A Wheelchair Fit Through A 30-Inch Door?
A wheelchair makes it far easier for people with disabilities to move around, but it is frustrating when a chair will not fit through a…
Can You Get A DUI In A Wheelchair?
Most people enjoy a glass of wine or two, and some enjoy more than that. But once your blood alcohol level is above the legal…
Wheelchair Space and Clearance Requirements in Vehicles
There is no single universal wheelchair-space dimension that works for every vehicle, wheelchair and occupant. The required space depends on the wheelchair, the passenger, the…
Do Wheelchair Passengers Board First?
Over the last thirty years, US airlines and the government have implemented laws and regulations to open the skies for passengers who use wheelchairs. The…
Dating Someone In A Wheelchair
Dating a wheelchair user is precisely like dating another human being but with one big twist: you will be forced to comfort the ingrained discrimination…
When Should WTORS Restraint Belts and Components Be Replaced?
There is no single universal replacement interval for every WTORS belt or component. Equipment should be replaced when required by the manufacturer, when damage or…
Wheelchair Securement in Public Transit vs Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Wheelchair securement arrangements can differ between large public-transit vehicles and smaller wheelchair accessible vehicles because the vehicle environment, operating conditions and applicable standards are different.…
Australian & New Zealand Wheelchair Transportation Standards
Wheelchair transportation in Australia and New Zealand involves several standards and regulatory requirements rather than one single document. For WTORS, a key technical reference is…
European Wheelchair Transportation Standards: WTORS, Wheelchairs and Vehicle Access
European Wheelchair Transportation Standards There is no single European standard that covers every aspect of wheelchair transportation in a motor vehicle. Different standards address the…
North American Wheelchair Transportation Standards: US and Canada
There is no single North American wheelchair transportation standard. The United States and Canada use different standards frameworks, and international ISO standards can also be…
What Is WC19? Wheelchairs Used as Seats in Motor Vehicles
WC19 is the commonly used name for the RESNA wheelchair transportation standard section addressing wheelchairs intended for use as seats in motor vehicles. It concerns…
Do Wheelchair Passengers Board First?
Over the last thirty years, US airlines and the government have implemented laws and regulations to open the skies for passengers who use wheelchairs. The…
Does Costco Have Wheelchairs For Shoppers
Shopping for most people is relatively hassle-free, but for those using wheelchairs, it can be highly challenging, especially when retailers don't have wheelchairs in stores…
Do You Tip Airport Wheelchair Attendants?
One is generally advised to tip airport wheelchair attendants, although it is not something you have to do. Not all attendants will accept the tip…
How Do People In Wheelchairs Fly
Many people in wheelchairs are reluctant to travel and avoid using airplanes because of the significant limitations many airlines place on them. Airplane seats are…
Airport Wheelchair Assistance Is It Free?
Wheelchair assistance is free at airport in the USA; the ACAA states that airline passengers with disabilities may not be discriminated against. Therefore, passengers who…
What Does Wheelchair Accessible Mean?
Wheelchair accessible means creating an environment where wheelchair users are accommodated to the degree that they need no other help. It allows wheelchair users to…
Can A Wheelchair Fit Through A 30-Inch Door?
A wheelchair makes it far easier for people with disabilities to move around, but it is frustrating when a chair will not fit through a…
DIY Wheelchair Leg Rest
Although most wheelchairs come with a rudimentary leg rest, I find that these leg rests often aren't suitable for the needs of their users. As…
Do Electric Wheelchair Have Brakes?
Electric wheelchair is built with many safety features but do they have brakes? It is estimated that 1.85% of the population worldwide requires a wheelchair.…
Do Wheelchairs Have Gears
Wheelchairs are one of the most used devices for increased mobility. It is estimated that 131.8 million people worldwide require a wheelchair. The first design…
How To Push A Wheelchair Up A Ramp
Not every disabled person is able to control or even propel their wheelchair themselves. That doesn't mean that they are unable to get out and…
How Do Wheelchairs Work?
The first self-propelled wheelchair was created in 1655 with three wheels by a disabled watchmaker. The design has come a long way since then. Wheelchairs…
Can You Get A DUI In A Wheelchair?
Most people enjoy a glass of wine or two, and some enjoy more than that. But once your blood alcohol level is above the legal…
Dating Someone In A Wheelchair
Dating a wheelchair user is precisely like dating another human being but with one big twist: you will be forced to comfort the ingrained discrimination…
Do Wheelchair Users Wear Diaper?
People need to use wheelchairs for many different reasons. Sometimes their movement is compromised by disease or by paralysis. Still, not everyone in a wheelchair…
How Does Being In A Wheelchair Affect Your Life?
Wheelchairs symbolize both hardship and hope. People needing wheelchair support face innumerable challenges, yet the wheelchair is often their vehicle of independence, allowing them to…
How Do Wheelchair Users Go To The Toilet?
You know, when you've got to go, you've got to go. But what about wheelchair users who can't just walk into a narrow toilet cubicle…
How Do Wheelchair Users Shower
Wheelchairs are an excellent mobility aid, providing people with freedom of movement. But lack of accessibility does mean there are some distinct drawbacks. For example,…
- 1
- 2
Are All Wheelchairs Safe to Use as Seats in Vehicles?
No. Not every wheelchair is designed or tested to be used as the occupant's seat in a motor vehicle. When a passenger remains seated in…
Wheelchair Space and Clearance Requirements in Vehicles
There is no single universal wheelchair-space dimension that works for every vehicle, wheelchair and occupant. The required space depends on the wheelchair, the passenger, the…
Can a Wheelchair Passenger Travel Rear-Facing in a Vehicle?
Can a Wheelchair Passenger Travel Rear-Facing in a Vehicle? Rear-facing wheelchair travel can be appropriate in some purpose-designed public-transport environments, but it should not be…
Can Wheelchair Users Drive?
Wheelchair users can and do drive. Many do not require any modifications to their vehicle, provided it has enough space to store the chair. However,…
Transporting Powered Wheelchairs in Vehicles: Key WTORS Considerations
Powered wheelchairs can require additional planning in vehicle transport because of their mass, frame design, seating functions, batteries and accessories. The wheelchair manufacturer's transport information…
Wheelchair Docking vs Four-Point Tiedowns: How the Systems Differ
Wheelchair docking systems and four-point tiedowns are two different methods of securing a wheelchair to a motor vehicle. A four-point system uses four separate connections…
How to Secure a Wheelchair in a Vehicle: WTORS Fundamentals
To secure a wheelchair in a vehicle, use a suitable wheelchair tiedown or docking system to secure the wheelchair, then apply the appropriate occupant restraint…
Wheelchair Transportation Risks: Why Correct Securement and Occupant Restraint Matter
Wheelchair Transportation Risks: Why Correct Securement and Occupant Restraint Matter Wheelchair transportation risk increases when the wheelchair is not secured as intended, the occupant restraint…
How to Transport a Wheelchair-Seated Passenger Safely: WTORS Principles
Safe wheelchair transportation requires the wheelchair and the occupant to be managed as separate parts of the vehicle safety system. The wheelchair must be appropriately…