Posted: 9/30/2007 at 01:06 PM
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There comes a time in every disabled person's life where the issue of transportation comes to the forefront of our "plate," if you will; an issue to be tackled, confronted, solved, however you want to deal with it.
For eons it seems (ok, 14 years to be fair), I've had to deal with the constant issue of shoddy vehicles, vans to be exact, outfitted with either a lift or a ramp, conversion-style or mini-van, and always, ALWAYS...being old, unreliable, and pretty much a steady source of unneeded stress. As a C6 quad, I already have enough stress to deal with. Broken wheelchairs, PCA's not showing up, paying next month's bills, just to name a few.
But the Gods have finally blessed me this year, and oh boy am I squealing in delight! For starters, let me just say upfront that I'm DAMN lucky to live in a state that genuinely cares about it's disabled citizens. Along with the aid of mi familia (who bought me a silver '06 Dodge Grand Caravan; slightly used at 29,000 miles), combined with assistance from MN's Medicaid healthcare program, I got my barely-used mini-van outfitted with all the uber-expensive accouterments I need in order to drive independently: Lowered-floor, automatic ramp, pneumatic hand-controls, EZ-Lock lockdown system for my power wheelchair (I drive from my wheelchair), and a tri-pin steeling wheel attachment so I can "grip" the wheel. All of these accessible additions add-up to about $27,000. That's a big chunk of change.
Obviously, if the state hadn't helped me out my new silver hoopdee , which I have dubbed "Thy Silver F****ing Bullet," would have never existed in my world. Instead, I'd be stuck with my beat-up 1993 Plymouth Voyager (with wood-paneling no less) that had a broken ramp, which needed to be manually "deployed;" literally putting a stop to me driving independently anywhere ALL SUMMER. Oh, what a long summer that was. And let's not even begin to discuss how the hand-controls would freeze in the wretchedly cold Minnesota winters.
Having wheels is something not many disabled people can afford. This is the one bittersweet thing about getting my van. Sure, I got what I needed, but what about everyone else who's miserably stuck at home, not able to experience the adrenaline rush of cruising 80mph down the interstate?
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Woohoo! That's a great looking van!
I had no idea they were that expensive to rig out.
LOL at the "silver bullet"! I love it. :-)
Congrats Tiff,
On your "...Silver F****ing Bullet...", happy cruising. And yay to Minnesota Medicaid, here in New York they couldn't care less if you had to crawl along the curb, if you're a day late or a single form short; and to the best of my wife's knowledge (quite considerable) there's no way they'd pay for a vehicle conversion. They don't even cover all of her necessary medications.
Attila, oh yeah quite pricey $$$. Our Scion Xb new was 16,000, the conversion another 16,000.
Well, Tiff, enjoy the ch, ch, changes on your cd player as you roll.
Happy motoring,
Bruce
Attila,
Yeah, it's ridiculous how much van conversion outfits charge for everything. It's highway robbery, in my humble-pie opinion.
Tiff
Burn,
Those converted Scions rock hardcore. That's so cool you got one! If they allowed you to drive from your chair in one, I would've looked into a Scion instead.
That sucks about NY Medicaid. I thought they were pretty good? Maybe it was NJ I was thinking about...
And of course, I got the Bowie already rocking in my hoopdee. Gotta love burned CDs!
- Tiff
hi tiff, nice ride..also looks like room for friends to go partying with! looks like you'll have alot of fun with the sfb..
debbie,
yes indeedy! im very happy the passenger seat can be moved over too, to allow my AB friends to drive it when needed (like when im out partying! ha).
- tiff
looking good!
thx stac!
Hi Stacy,
A big congradulation on your van. Medicaide here NYC, are only interested in controlling me and try to cut my personal care aide hours. Its refreshing to hear medicaide for one supply more than an aide.
I smile with freedom in mind as I watch my ramp lower, and I am freed to lock myself down.
I never park my baby at the end rolw of a parking space. I had too many people run over my old eight foot ramp by cutting the end parking space to sharply. Now I only park between other cars. Its my beautiful freedom.It puts a smile on my face watching it open for me
The car washers go "WOW" when they see the ramp lower and my seat backs up and turns, its truly my gift!
I'm curious if anyone is familiar with goverment help in CA? I'm a C4-5 quad and have been driving for the past 15 or so years. Originally, my conversion was paid for by BVR in OH. However, I now live in CA and am looking at a $50,000 bill to replace PART of my EMC driving system..OUCH My steering went out on me while I was going 70 mph down the freeway. Luckily I was able to save it.
Does anyone have any suggestion?
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