After taking an active part in serving their country, many Veterans want to stay active when they return to civilian life. For disabled Veterans, however, maintaining a sense of independence can be a challenge. That’s especially true if they have to change how they handle the routine tasks of daily life — such as driving a car. Fortunately, the auto industry is providing more help than ever for people who need assistance with their personal mobility — and it’s not only in the way of adaptive equipment.
In fact, while many of the major automakers have dedicated mobility programs that will add adaptive equipment — from hand controls to lifts and ramps — to certain models from their regular production lineup, many of the latest automotive technologies that are offered as standard features for typical drivers can make driving easier for disabled Veterans.
Heated seats
According to a story in the L.A. Times, back or neck strains are among the most common conditions for disabled Veterans of recent wars, and it’s well known that there’s nothing quite like soothing heat to reduce some of the accompanying discomfort. But you may not realize how affordable and readily available heated car seats have become. Originally launched on upscale luxury cars, heated front-row seats are now offered even on mass-market compacts. Quite a few setups have multi-stage settings, too, as well as heating elements in the seat bottoms and backs. This lets occupants fine-tune temperature levels to better meet their individual needs.
Adjustable
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