Accessibility?

[Scoutsie]

I’d suggested this a while ago, but I don’t think this got much traction if any.

So, rides for disabled people, by which I mean people in wheelchairs/scooters or folks who use rollators are generally limited to vans, minivans, and some modded SUVs. It’s always a situation where it’s modded after the fact by a third party and maybe that’s just the reality because there isn’t enough demand to do this otherwise. Still, I’m going to throw this out there.

My suggestion is to make rear openings wide enough to accommodate ramps/lifts for wheelchairs. Doors could have assist straps or the ability to accommodate them. Chairs could be ready for adaptive seat mods. If seatbelt adjustments can be done at the factory level, great.

Stuff like pedal mods and hand control adaptors could be left as third-party solutions, but they could also be designed to be as stylish as the rest of the Scout livery rather than clinical.

Disabled folks still want to do cool things and live exciting lives and it would be cool if a manufacturer took notice. If I had the choice, I’d rather have these adjustments done in situ instead of taking my brand-new ride to someone unfamiliar with it to Dr. Frankenstein it up into something uggo.

 

[LastDayScout]

I’d suggested this a while ago, but I don’t think this got much traction if an.

So, rides for disabled people, by which I mean people in wheelchairs/scooters or folks who use rollators are generally limited to vans, minivans, and some modded SUVs. It’s always a situation where it’s modded after the fact by a third party and maybe that’s just the reality because there isn’t enough demand to do this otherwise. Still, I’m going to throw this out there.

My suggestion is to make rear openings wide enough to accommodate ramps/lifts for wheelchairs. Doors could have assist straps or the ability to accommodate them. Chairs could be ready for adaptive seat mods. If seatbelt adjustments can be done at the factory level, great.

Stuff like pedal mods and hand control adaptors could be left as third-party solutions, but they could also be designed to be as stylish as the rest of the Scout livery rather than clinical.

Disabled folks still want to do cool things and live exciting lives and it would be cool if a manufacturer took notice. If I had the choice, I’d rather have these adjustments done in situ instead of taking my brand-new ride to someone unfamiliar with it to Dr. Frankenstein it up into something uggo.

More people under the Scout tent! Love it!

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Many manufacturers have Upfitter Guides that almost never have enough detail to make these fixes in a cost-effective way. Often upfitters have to borrow a vehicle from someone who is 1) willing to be without their vehicle for a lot longer than is reasonable; 2) willing to pay to be a test subject; 3) willing to accept a sub-par product because they're one of a very few or very first.

A friend of mine has lost nearly half of their body control due to a motorcycle accident. They are still fully capable of safely driving an appropriately-equipped vehicle. They especially enjoy off-roading. They're also EV fans. The modifications required to make a vehicle work for them are expensive and not always guaranteed to work on newer vehicles...they can't afford to buy an EV with just a hope that it can be modified properly.

It would be great if Scout had an Upfitter loaner program, especially aimed at helping those Upfitters making modifications for disabled people. Or something similar so that access to the vehicle didn't have to come out of the pocket of someone who is already spending more just to be able to drive the vehicle.