Guest guest Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Hi - I had hand controls put on my car....per drs. orders! I missed the brake pedal one time and drove into my living room! Not enough leg strength either to stay on the brake pedal in traffic. Almost 2yrs now my neuro dr. insisted I get hand controls. Driving is a snap now. Great on improving confidence behind the wheel. Barb Fl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 1, 2004 Report Share Posted March 1, 2004 Thank you Barb, I'm going to check into it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 13, 2004 Report Share Posted September 13, 2004 , Don't forget you can always get hand controls. I had to put them in several years ago because I was moving my leg with my hand in order to move from the gas to the brake (not very safe!) Hand controls are great and they are transferrable to any other car, and others can still drive the car using the pedals. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 17, 2009 Report Share Posted February 17, 2009 Victor: Hand controls would be perfect for you. I use a ball spinner that is installed at 2 o'clock on the steering wheel and a pull/push bar on the left side that goes behind the steering wheel to control the bracks and acceleration. Speak with your state rehabiltation bureau to receive training, payment, and installation into your vehicle. Marin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I also have hand controls and learned fairly easily. I feel much safer and it is very natural to me now. Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Victor, I live in California and I found that the installers will not install until you take some lessons. Hopefully, the instructor will have several styles of hand controls to try out. I prefer the Menox (menox.org)style. The gas and brake control are located on the right side and you steer with a suicide ball and your left hand. I should have done this years ago. Hope this helps, Jim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 Jim, Suicide ball? Perhaps it's just me, but that sounds a tad ominous. What does it do? What are the approximate costs for modifying to hand controls? Lynna Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 I believe you can request whatever side you need Also you can get hand controls in rental vehicles And request which side you need at no add'l Cost from basic rental The ball helps you steer and used to be Used years ago before power steering Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 My husband's physician in Santa Barbara referred him to some rehab evaluation place. The guy recommended which kind of hand controls were best. He has a odd shaped doohickey on the steering wheel for making it go around, and a handle on the right attached to the brake and steering wheel [push for brake and pull for accelerate]. A place that installs hand controls can probably give you the name of an evaluator. Our physician didn't really know as I remember, but the handicapped installer gave me several names. Insurance doesn't pay for any of it, but Toyota pays up to $1,000 if your new Toyota is less than a year old. Elinor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 18, 2009 Report Share Posted February 18, 2009 The ball helps you steer Mine cost about $800.00 and you can transfer To another car if you buy a new car Jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Marin: Thanks for your reply. Who is the manufactuter and what is the product number? Also, did you have to get a drivers test from your Dept of Motor Vehicles? Thanks for your help Victor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hi Jackie: What kind, configuration and product name do you have? Did you have to take a drivers test? Thanks Victor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 i will have to look up the product name, but most i have seen are basically the same. I have it so the control for brake and gas are on left side and have the steering wheel know located at 2:00. I know someone else who instead of having the knob has something a little different because her hands are more affected. I am left handed, so I am not sure if that is why i have it that way. I do know when i get a rental they always ask me which way i want it. No, I did not take a drivers test, but i also never really brought it up to DMV either. I learn new things rather quickly and the place that installed it thought that i could learn quickly on my own, although i would not recommend it. There are driver rehab programs where a specialist drives with you and determines what would work best for you, kind of like a vocational rehab specialist. jackie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Everyone: If you are working, I know your state rehab bureau will pay for the installation. Call your bureau of info. Marin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Victor: Well, NY state paid for the original installation so I do not have the manufactuter info. I do know if you need to transfer the hand controls to another car it can cost up to $300. Just do a search online for hand controls. The state also paid for driving lessons to learn how to use the hand controls. No, you don't need a drivers test from Motor Vehicles. The license you received orginally when you first learned to drive is sufficient. You do though need to tell DMV you use hand controls. It will then be stated on your license. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 19, 2009 Report Share Posted February 19, 2009 Jackie: I'm not left handed but have the spinner knob at 2:00 too on my steering wheel. Marin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 My husband's ball is at 10:00 and the controls are on the right because he is right handed. We had to pay for the lessons. We asked the disability installer place for names of rehabilitation people. Our doctor then made a referral. The guy recommended which controls to buy, and once they were installed, we paid him to teach my husband. He kept teaching until Jim handled them to his satisfaction, long past when Jim felt competent btw. If you are in Southern California, I can give you his phone number and the number of the place in Van Nuys that installed them. Elinor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.