![]() If it’s a non-mobility concern, there should be no problem in getting their issue repaired at an OEM dealership.” When a client goes to a dealer outside of our network on their own, service managers are reluctant to work on their vehicle because of the modifications. “We’ve had to build relationships with local dealers from each of the car manufacturers like Toyota, Honda, and Chrysler in order to have the support we need to service the vehicles. "It's a common issue that we face with most car manufacturers,” Bryson says. Some Toyota dealers will service parts of our van and others aren’t comfortable touching it at all because of the modifications. For example, several parts of the exhaust have been replaced, and the sensors in the rear of the van have failed because the wiring has been relocated. (And I can’t drop off my young son and then park the car.)Īs a result, we’ve had some additional maintenance needs that we wouldn’t have encountered if our van didn’t have to be modified after assembly. ![]() If those spots are taken, I have to circle around until one opens up. Most parking lots have only a few designated side-entry spots (the ones with the blue lines that leave enough room for the ramp). I also wanted my son close to the driver or front-row passenger in case he needs assistance when we are on the road.Īdditionally, a side-entry van can be challenging to park. My three children are close in age, and it was the only way that they would be able to sit next to each other–something I preferred for my middle son’s social and emotional development. I knew I wanted a rear-entry long-cut ramp. A long-cut ramp allows the wheelchair to be pushed in between the two captain’s chairs in the second row, and a short cut keeps the wheelchair behind the chairs. Rear-entry vans can be modified with either a long-cut ramp or a short-cut ramp. Mobility shops modify minivans, and some SUVs, to allow a passenger to travel in their wheelchair by installing a ramp on the side of the van or in the rear. I met with Nicole Bryson, the owner of FTMobility, a vehicle customization shop in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, that specializes in modifying vans for disabled passengers and drivers. Instead, I had to go to a specialized mobility dealer. I couldn’t go to a mainstream car dealership: They don’t offer accessible van packages, and most aren’t, in any way, familiar with accessible options or features. That lasted about a week before my back started hurting, so I had to look into other options. Initially, I tried lifting his chair into the back of my SUV. He has cerebral palsy, and pediatric wheelchairs come with custom options to contour and align his body to grow well. ![]() But by the time he was 3 years old it was clear how important it was for us to order his first wheelchair. I obviously had many concerns at the time, but one of my biggest was how we would manage accessibility challenges as he grew up.įor the first few years, my son did well getting around in a car seat and a stroller. Almost a decade ago, my middle son was born with multiple disabilities. ![]()
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