Meet Olivia, a lively five year-old girl with Spinal Muscular Atrophy.  Olivia “rules the roost” with her family according to her mother, Anna.  “We were told she wasn’t going to live past two and she’s five now!  We sure try to make her happy!”, Anna says.

Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a neuromuscular condition in which the cells of the spinal column and brain stem deteriorate over time, eventually causing complete paralysis.

“She’s in a wheelchair 24/7 now.  When she gets ill, she gets very ill.  She’s been in the hospital four times and a simple cold could be lethal for Olivia”, says her mother.

Olivia has had this disease since her birth, but was not diagnosed with the condition until she was one and a half years old.  Anna recently left her job of ten years as a bakery manager because she needed a less demanding job that would allow her to better care for her daughter.  Now Anna works as a baker’s assistant.

“I’ve never been happier. I didn’t want the responsibility of being manager because Olivia’s condition is getting worse.”

In order to meet their daughter’s dynamic and changing physical needs, Olivia’s family purchased one of Liberty Motor Company’s handicap conversion vans.  Before they purchased their white 2004 rear-entry Ford Freestar, with a power wheelchair lift, transporting Olivia had become very difficult.  With the help of the technicians and specialists at Liberty Motor Company, the family enjoys more travel because Olivia can enter and exit the van safely and in comfort.

Wheelchair Accessible Van Provides Easy Mobility

“Olivia was getting to the point we couldn’t put her into our vehicle anymore, so we had to get something that would allow us easier access.  With the new wheelchair accessible van, its much easier to transfer Olivia to and from the van.  My husband showed me how to do it in five minutes, and that was it”, noted Anna.

The technicians and Mobility Specialists at Liberty Motor Company are committed to providing individuals and families better access to safe and reliable transportation.  Of course, Olivia knows with certainty who owns the van, especially since the van carries a nameplate that Frank, Mobility Specialist with Liberty Motor Company, mounted to the dashboard just for her.  That special touch was just what Olivia needed to feel comfortable with the van.

“When Olivia saw the plaque Frank put in, that was it.   It reads ‘Olivia’s van’.  She says it’s her van. She just loves it”, Anna recalls.

Soon after they received the van, the family took Olivia for a ride to see how she would react to it.

“She got into the van without a problem that very first day.  I think the big thing was that plaque.”

Now when the family takes the van for a drive, Olivia often asks, “Are we taking my van or yours?”

Dependence Converted to Freedom by Liberty Motor Company

Olivia is quick witted and has been able to spell her name since she was two and a half.  When the family recently visited the Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation hospital in Toronto, Ontario, where Olivia has appointments every six months, she named all the towns the family travelled through in their wheelchair accessible van.

“She’s my little GPS!” Anna explains.

Another trip the family enjoys making is to the Elmvale Jungle Zoo where Olivia’s favourite animal can be found, the pink flamingo!

“Going into the zoo, you see the animals and when you leave, you pass through the gift shop. Of course, we had to buy her the pink flamingo from the pile of stuffed animals. Yes, Olivia rules the roost, but Oh my God, she’s a very happy kid!”

The van’s wheelchair access conversion by Liberty Motor Company changed life for Olivia and her family.  It converted Olivia’s dependence and limited mobility into freedom and independence for the whole family.

We have certainly come a long way when it comes to empowering mobility-challenged people, which includes the wheel-chair bound, paraplegics and the elderly. Indeed, modern technology has provided new ways in which the physically handicapped can lead lives less encumbered by their limitations. And in the case of handicap-accessible vehicles, there have been some significant improvements in the last decade.

Through the years, we have seen numerous types of handicap vans, which are also called wheelchair vans or wheelchair conversion vans. They usually come with all kinds of modifications, depending on the user’s specific needs.

Handicap vans can be generally classified into three types. The first type is what we call the Up Front type. This allows the disabled person to occupy the vehicle’s front seat, just beside the driver. The second is the Rear Access type. As its name implies, this kind of vehicle allows the disabled person to occupy the back or rear end of the vehicle. Cars of this type usually feature a bigger space in the rear area to allow easy entry and exit.

The third is the Independent or Drive From type, which is specially designed to allow the handicapped to drive the vehicle themselves. Naturally, since it is designed to give more freedom, this kind usually features more elaborate customizations. For instance, some models feature wheelchair lift capabilities. A few even have easy-to-use permanent (or portable) hand controls. Traditional foot controls may be replaced with specialized switch systems or joysticks. Popular auto manufacturers like Chrysler, Ford, Honda and Toyota have already introduced handicap-accessible vans in selected markets.

For those whose preferences are not limited to handicap vans, they can choose another car model and have it converted. There are plenty of vehicle-conversion shops that are widely available in the US and in the UK. These shops can convert pick-up trucks, SUVs and other multi-purpose vehicles. Depending on the extent of the conversion, it may take a month or a few weeks. It is always best to discuss the specific needs with the conversion shop in order to get maximum results.

Another option is to rent. One can find many organizations in the US and Europe that offer handicapped-friendly vehicles that can be leased for a specific duration of time. Some of these organizations even offer repair services, reconditioning and maintenance for these kinds of vehicles.

Of course, with all these diverse choices of vehicles for the mobility-challenged, the key is to choose which car works best for the handicapped person. Naturally, costs should be considered before buying one as well as the cost of maintenance for that vehicle. But the most important factors are the ones that directly involve the experience of the disabled. How easy is it to operate the car? Does it provide comfort? Is it safe? How user-friendly is the car? Ease of entry and exit should be considered. With wheelchair users, space is essential. And depending on the climate, ventilation systems must be properly in place, too. Chairs should be structurally secure while other fixtures and accessories mustn’t hinder the person’s movement.

And lastly, it’d be nice if the car looks good, too. Besides, what good is a ride if you can’t show it around town?