Wheelchair
Securement
&
Lift Operation
Provided by RLS & Associates Inc.
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You will learn:
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Americans with Disabilities Act
Different types of disabilities
Lift operations
Proper securement techniques
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The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 is
to:
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(1) to provide a clear and comprehensive national mandate
for the elimination of discrimination against individuals
with disabilities;
(2) to provide clear, strong, consistent, enforceable
standards addressing discrimination against individuals
with disabilities;
(3) to ensure that the Federal Government plays a central
role in enforcing the standards established in this Act on
behalf of individuals with disabilities; and
(4) to invoke the sweep of congressional authority,
including the power to enforce the fourteenth amendment
and to regulate commerce, in order to address the major
areas of discrimination faced day-to-day by people with
disabilities.
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 Cite:
49CFR37 Transportation Services for
Individuals with Disabilities
 Cite: 49CFR38 Accessibility Specifications
for Transportation Vehicles
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Requirement to train personnel to proficiency
 Operate vehicles and equipment safely
 Provide level of service as required
 Treat individuals with disabilities in a
respectful, courteous way
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 All
“Common Wheelchairs” and their
users must be transported
 Common Wheelchair defined as:
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Not exceeding 30” wide
Not exceeding 48” long, when measured 2”
above ground
Does not weight more than 600 lbs. occupied
 Securement
system MUST be used to
secure wheelchair (paratransit)
 Cannot deny service on basis of
difficulty in securing wheelchair
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 Must
permit standees to use lift to enter
vehicle
 Each securement location must have a 3point passenger restraint system
 Can only require passenger restraint if ALL
passengers are required to use
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 Transfer
from wheelchair to vehicle seat
can be recommended, but not required
 Where necessary or requested, drivers
must assist with use of:
Securement System
 Ramp
 Lift
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 This
assistance is required even if the
driver must leave his/her seat to do so
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May a transit operator require common
wheelchairs be secured to the vehicle?
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What kinds of securement equipment must be
provided
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Two part securement system
May a transit operator deny boarding to a rider
whose common wheelchair is difficult to secure
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Yes
No
Does a wheelchair user have to use the seatbelt
and shoulder harness
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No - unless
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What if the accessibility equipment is missing or
not working
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Does a wheelchair need brakes in order to use
public transit
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Must maintain
No
Can a transit operator require a person to
transfer from a wheelchair to a vehicle seat
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No
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Regular and frequent lift maintenance
program must be developed and instituted
 Drivers must report non-operating lifts by the
most immediate means available
 Every effort must be made to repair lifts
before the next day of service
 If vehicle with inoperative lift is on route with
headways > 30 min., must provide alternate
transportation
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 Service
animals must be allowed to
accompany passengers
 Passengers must be permitted to travel
with life support, including:
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Respirators
Portable Oxygen
 Can
only deny if to transport would
violate rules concerning the
transportation of hazardous materials
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Take the time necessary to allow
passengers with disabilities to board
comfortably and safely:
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Be courteous
Patient
Accepting
The invisible barriers that continue to stand
in the way of persons with disabilities:
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Negative attitudes
Fear
Stereotyping
Lack of knowledge
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Language plays a powerful and important role in shaping ideas and
attitudes creating either a positive or insensitive view of people:
Use
Instead Of
Disabled
 Non disabled
 Congenital disability
 Does not speak
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
Handicapped
 Able-bodied
 Birth defect
 Mute or dumb
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Proper Usage
Avoid Using
Hearing impaired
 Partially sighted
 Speech impaired
 Blind
 People who are...
 Persons with…
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Victim
 Afflicted with
 Cripple
 Invalid
 Wheelchair bound
 Confined to a
wheelchair
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When we are very young, we depend on others
for basic levels of care. Often as we age, we
are again dependent on others. For this
reason, people in the disabled community
consider others as “temporarily abled.”
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People can be born blind or become blind
later through an accident or disease.
When transporting a visually impaired
person:
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Introduce yourself
Offer assistance
Use normal tone of voice
Clear concise instructions
Respect guide dog
Use care in giving directions
Notify the individual if you are leaving
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Persons with severe hearing impairment
rely upon their eyes for signals which
represent ideas. When you transport a
person with a hearing impairment:
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Introduce yourself
Speak clearly and distinctly
Provide a clear view of your mouth
Use normal tone
Speak directly to the person
Careful of facial expression
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The range of a persons disability may be
classified as mild, moderate, severe, or
profound. When you transport a person
with developmental disabilities:
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Introduce yourself
Do not talk down to the person
Offer assistance, but do not push it
Give directions one step at a time
Do not assume the person is sick
Be patient
Treat adults as adults
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There are several different types of seizures convulsive
seizures or grand mal seizures are the most recognized,
and the easiest to control with medication. They should be
allowed to run their course naturally. What should you do?
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Stop the vehicle
Leave the person in the seat belt if possible
Protect them
Don’t loosen any tight clothing
Roll them to one side
Stay with them
Help re-orientate the person
Notify dispatch
Do not put anything in their mouth
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Keep in mind there are several different types of
seizures. There are three types of minor
seizures:
 Absence seizure – staring into space, rapid eye
movements, eyes rolling back into the head.
 Simple partial seizure – tremors or trembling
along one side of the body, sensory distortions
and hallucinations.
 Complex partial seizure – inappropriate
behaviors such as aimless walking, pulling at
clothes and smacking lips.
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Cerebral Palsy is the result of damage to the
nerve tissues of the brain. Mobility problems are
caused by imperfect muscle control.
Decreased sense of balance
May have extensive spasticity
Experience problems in communicating
 May be fully capable intellectually and should be
treated as such
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Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic degenerative
disease of the central nervous system (brain and
spinal cord).
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Extremes of strength
Mobility
coordination
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Muscular Dystrophy is an inherited disease that
causes increasing weakness in the muscles.
Difficulty in walking
 Speech problems
 Poor vision
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Stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is
cut off. The person may:
 Have difficulty walking
 Paralysis to one side
 Difficulty speaking
 Difficulty understanding what you say
 Difficulty judging distances
 Visual impairment
Spinal Cord Injury or disease affecting the spinal cord. The
level of damage will determine what movement or feeling
remains:
 May have partial or complete paralysis of both legs
 May have partial or complete paralysis of both arms and
legs
 Paralysis on one side
 Loss of skin sensation
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Arthritis is a long-term condition causing pain and stiffness
of the joints. It can occur in young people as well as older
people.
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May have difficulty walking
Maybe unable to walk
May have difficulty with hand functions
Hidden disabilities can be one or a combination of
impairments, such as epilepsy, heart or lung problems,
diabetes, cancer or kidney failure.
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May appear non-disabled
May have difficulty climbing steps
May be unable to walk short distances
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Wheelchairs provide mobility for persons
with paralysis, muscle weakness, lack of
coordination, nerve damage, and/or
stiffness in joints. When you transport a
person who uses a wheelchair:
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Do not automatically hang on a persons
wheelchair
Offer assistance, but do not insist
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Talk directly to the person
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One arm assist and two arm assist are two very
simple, but incredibly helpful techniques for
assisting passengers to a standing position.
Make sure the person is steady before walking
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It is very embarrassing to arrive at your first stop
and find that you do not have the necessary tiedowns to secure a wheelchair or that the
equipment is inoperable.
 You must have four retractors w/proper floor
anchorage fittings
Pull out retractor and inspect webbing
 Ensure retractors are locking
 Ensure metal parts are not cracked or damaged
 Ensure all hardware (nuts/bolts) are secure
 Ensure floor anchorages are clean and clear of all dirt
and debris
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One lap belt assembly or lap shoulder belt combination
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Check shoulder belt anchorages for proper securement and
operation
Inspect lap/shoulder belt webbing for damage or contaminates
Check buckles for damage and proper operation
Check pin connector bushing to ensure it is not broken,
cracked or missing
Inspect any other parts of the securement system and
accessories that may not be specifically indicated, but are
pertinent to safe operation
Webbing Loops
Belt cutter
Any parts in question should be immediately reported and
replaced. Do not mix securement (manual/retractors)
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The lift must always be operated from the ground.
Greet your passengers
Offer assistance
Communicate
Back onto lift
Set the wheel locks
Have the passenger place their hands in their lap
Hold onto the wheelchair while in operation
Raise the lift three inches off the ground and check the toe
plate
Raise to floor level
Push chair in as far as you can with control & set wheel
locks
Push into vehicle and set wheel locks
Never leave a wheelchair sitting on the platform unattended
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 Park
in a suitable
location
 Open doors and
secure
 Press unfold button
until lift reached
floor level
 Assist
passenger
onto lit & set wheel
locks
 Ask passenger to
turn off the power
on a power chair
 Make sure
wheelchair clears
the outer barrier
 Locate
passenger or
standee on the
center of the lift
 Make
sure the
passengers feet and
footrests are clear
of the folded outer
barrier
 Push
the UP button
on the lift control
 Make sure the outer
barrier folds and
locks
 Keep an eye on the
passenger while the
lift is rising
Raise the lift to floor level
 If possible assist the
passenger off lift and into
the vehicle, clear of
bridge plate
 Set wheel locks
 Partially fold the lift so
passenger cannot fall off
lift while driver goes
around to secure
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Remove cover from pump panel
 Remove pump arm from cover
 Insert pump arm into bleeder valve & turn
 Once lift is deployed place pump arm tighten
the valve.
 Insert the pump arm into the pump opening
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Manual operation in case of power or equipment
failure only
 Manual
operation of
the lift is only to be
used in case of
power failure
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There are many different brands, styles and
models of wheelchairs many of which are
challenging to secure.
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Inspect the chair for anchorage points during
the loading process.
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Handle Grips 
Axle Position
 Tilt Bar 
Cambered wheels
It may be necessary to use the webbing loop on
a solid frame member to create an
anchorage point.
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 Make
sure you have all of your
securements out and ready
 Position
the wheelchair in the securement
station facing forward
 Once
in place lock the wheel locks and turn-off
the power on a motorized wheelchair
 While you are handling the wheelchair begin
looking for anchorage points
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Locate mobility device in
center of the 4 floor
attachments. Set wheel
locks/turn off power.
Rear belts parallel with
rear wheels.
Front belts flair out
slightly for lateral
stability.
Belts should not bend
around any part of
wheelchair/scooter.
PennTRAIN
 Apply
to chair at a
solid junction of
frame, if possible
about 2” below seat
level.
 Straps should be
about 30-45 degrees.
 Tighten securely
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
 Attach
the lap/shoulder belt on the
occupant
 Securing
the passenger will always require
some minor physical contact
 Always place the female lap belt section with
the release button on the aisle side of the
passenger
 Ensure
a snug fit
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 Locate
lap belt low at
pelvic area not over
abdomen.
 45-75 degrees from
horizontal. Snug but
not tight.
Postural belts on wheelchair
frames are generally NOT
designed for safety during
transportation!!!
PennTRAIN
 Locate
over shoulder
as shown at right.
 Shoulder belt should
be attached to lap
belt.
 If not spring
tensioned leave some
slack--fist test.
PennTRAIN
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Four labeled securement loops attached to
wheelchair frame with hardened bolts
PennTRAIN
 Crash
tested
wheelchairs will have
4 attachment
locations with hook
logo and anchored
with hardened bolts.
 Use them if present
PennTRAIN
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PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
Lap Belt
5th Belt
Lap Belt
PennTRAIN
Lap belt under arm rest support
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
If at all possible…
not here!
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
Pronto M94 Bariatric Power
Wheelchair (Invacare)
From Pronto M94 Owners Manual
Revision 07/07 © Invacare Corp.
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
PennTRAIN
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