Accessible cars are not born, they are made

Nearly ten years Before, my second son was born with multiple disabilities. I obviously had a lot of worries at the time, but one of my biggest worries was how we will deal with accessibility challenges as he grows.

In the first few years, my son walked very well in the car seat and stroller. But when he was 3 years old, it became clear how important it was for us to order his first wheelchair. He suffers from cerebral palsy, and the pediatric wheelchair is equipped with custom options that can contour and align his body to make it grow well.

Initially, I tried to lift his chair to the back of my SUV. It lasted for about a week before my back started to hurt, so I had to look for other options. I can’t go to mainstream car dealers: they don’t offer accessible van packages, and most people are not familiar with accessible options or features anyway. Instead, I had to find a dedicated mobile dealer.I met Nicole Bryson, her boss FTMobility, A custom car shop in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, specializes in modifying trucks for disabled passengers and drivers.

The mobile store modifies minivans and some SUVs, and allows passengers to travel in wheelchairs by installing ramps on the sides or back of the vans. Rear-entry trucks can be retrofitted with long ramps or short ramps. The long cut ramp allows the wheelchair to be pushed between the two captain’s chairs in the second row, while the short cut keeps the wheelchair behind the chair. I know I want a back-entry long cut ramp. My three children are about the same age, and this is the only way they can sit together-I prefer this way to promote the social and emotional development of my middle son. I also want my son to be close to the driver or front passenger in case he needs help on the road.

In addition, side-entry vans may be difficult to park. Most parking lots have only a few designated side entry points (the ones with blue lines leave enough space for the ramp). If these spots are photographed, I have to go around until one is open. (And I can’t put down my young son Then Park the car. )

After researching all our options, I purchased a modified Toyota Sienna minivan Braun ability With a rear entry ramp. I chose the automatic ramp, so when I press the luggage button on the remote control key, the lift door opens and the ramp automatically lowers-when I have to drive three children in a busy parking lot, I like it This feature.

For extra cost, I let FTMobility install one EZ lock system. This convenient add-on allows me to plug my son’s wheelchair directly into the truck instead of tethering it in four different positions every time he gets in and out.

I have been driving this modified truck for more than four years. I like the freedom it gives our family. In addition to getting three children in the car is easy, the space behind the wheelchair is also very convenient. When there are only five of us, I can use that space for storage. After traveling to the grocery store, I pushed a carriage directly into the van. (This is especially useful after Costco has finished running.) Or we load an ATV onto the truck and everything is ready, we don’t need to reassemble it when we arrive. We can also transport smaller furniture or two to three children’s bicycles. When we need to provide space for more passengers, we have a jumper seat in the back row that can be folded to accommodate two more people.

Funding and maintenance issues

Although the van makes our lives easier, it also has some disadvantages. The cost of modifying a van is between US$10,000 and US$30,000, which is above the original price of the vehicle. We are fortunate to find a state plan with funding sources to help us, but this is not an easy path, and these funding sources are not suitable for everyone.

Mobility companies, such as BraunAbility, transform trucks already made for retail. They move parts such as exhaust pipes, fuel tanks and air conditioners to install ramps. The second-row captain chairs that came with our original van were removed and replaced with smaller seats to make room for the wheelchair.