A Factory Built Wheelchair Accessible Van

Anyone who has had to purchase a wheelchair accessible van, ramp van, or a lift van knows how expensive the customization can be. Taking a factory made van, lowering the floor, and installing a ramp is a labor intensive process. Nearly all of these vans are customized by relatively small specialty shops, and while these shops often do great work, factory support isn’t there if something goes wrong.

So we were excited to see that the first factory built wheelchair accessible van will be available soon. Dubbed the “MV-1″, and looking like a cross between a truck and a minivan, this new vehicle could prove to be very useful.

Wheelchair Pride has a nice story on this great new vehicle – you can see their article here for more information.

Obama Addresses ADA’s 20th Anniversary

President Obama addressed a ceremony honoring the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, calling it “one of the most comprehensive civil rights bills in the history of this country.”

The law requires buildings, transportation facilities, and commercial facilities to be accessible to the physically challenged and guarantees employee rights for people with disabilities.  President Obama said that the ADA has served to “tear down the physical and social barriers” and stressed “not dependence, but independence”. The President also signed an executive order designed to improve enforcement of the ADA. Read more

Crossing the Mile High “Swinging” Bridge at Grandfather Mountain in a Wheelchair – A Dream Come True

I remember going on a day trip to Grandfather Mountain near Linville, North Carolina a few years after my disabling accident when I was still living in Charlotte, NC. Grandfather Mountain is the highest peak on the eastern escarpment of the Blue Ridge Mountains and it’s best known for its mile high “swinging” bridge that links two of the mountain’s rocky peaks. The panoramic views from the bridge are supposedly spectacular, but I never got to see it because there was no wheelchair access to the bridge when I visited. Needless to say that I was very excited when I read an article about a new structure built at the top of Grandfather Mountain that provides wheelchair access to the bridge. Read more

Wheelchair Accessibility at Environmentally Sustainable Tara Firma Farms

Recently we had the chance to visit a local, organic, and sustainable farm and want to share the amazing experience we had there learning about farm practices and how easy it can be to eat local and healthy. Read more