Nationwide Wheelchair Van Assistance Program, providing donated used vans to underprivileged special needs children, adults and VETs. We are partnered with NMEDA (National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association) and MobilityWorks, the largest dealership with stores in 26 states. The "Magic" is that receiving adapted mobility, changes their lives! They are now able to get out of the house for family and social gatherings, therapy and medical appointments with ease and a new found freedom.
Disabilities that result in the family member being wheelchair-bound, bring hardship upon all involved. Those who are underprivileged and cannot afford such expensive vehicles are to a large extent homebound and in a certain sense "under house arrest". This impacts the individual as well as the parents and siblings, limiting what activities they can participate in, due to an inability to 'leave the disabled behind" or their feeling of empathy that would prevent them from doing so.
Our providing them with a used adapted van changes the whole equation. They now have the mobility to attend social events, therapy and medical appointments with ease.
We naturally have many more requests for vans, than actual donations of suitable vehicles. Funding will let us publicize the program to reach a broader audience of donors as well as purchase used vans when feasible.
This project has provided additional documentation in a DOCX file (projdoc.docx).
