Meeting Customers Face-to-Face, There’s Much More to Providing Accessible Wheelchair Vans and Equipment

Tony Bandermann, one of the Certified Mobility Consultants in our San Jose store, discusses hand controls at a recent Abilities Expo.

Living in an internet world, many people don’t get to interact with others as much as they used to. Some people work from home offices or stay at home all day and never get to meet with anyone. E-mail and social networks have taken over the occasional phone call and face-to-face interaction that makes life more enjoyable. For many businesses, their workers never get a chance to meet or talk with their clients. We can’t imagine how some web-based companies can sell accessible vans strictly on the internet without doing an assessment of the client’s needs in person – or not provide local maintenance and repair services. But that's another story.

At MobilityWorks, we feel very fortunate in being able to serve our customers in a very personal manner, either at our stores, at a special event or with a visit to their home. Besides discussing our adaptive vehicle products and services (face-to-face) – and learning more about their wheelchair and physical abilities, we get to talk about their families, driving habits, travel issues and life in general. Whether it’s about their kids playing soccer or dad’s trips to the doctor, we really get to know our customers on a personal level. The more we know the better, because that helps us with determining the best solution for each individual need. Now and in the future.

Jeff Witt, our General Manager in Cincinnati explains some of the features of a Chrysler Town & Country wheelchair van.

We really like our job because we get to provide a product that helps people make the most out of life. Whether it’s a modified minivan, full-size conversion van, or scooter lift, we get to experience the joy they are feeling with that first sense of freedom and independence.  Unlike a lot of able-bodied people who seem to always be complaining about this or that in their lives, we’re struck time and time again by our customers and their “can do” attitude, sense of humor and determination. It’s really inspiring and humbling to see these men and women determined to not be held back by their physical challenges. I often ask myself if I am facing my day with that same resolve, gratitude and courage. 

Again, that’s why we really love our jobs here. Whether we’re selling a new conversion van with all the gadgets and equipment possible or making someone’s day with a used accessible wheelchair van – we know that we’re adding something valuable to a person’s life.

As 2012 begins, we want to thank our customers again for their patronage over the years. And for the example they set for us each and every day. We appreciate your business – and the examples you demonstrate that encourage others to keep moving forward. We’re glad we can be here for you. We hope that 2012 is a good year for everyone – especially our MobilityWorks clients across the United States! For our new website visitors here for the first time, if you’d like to learn more about our accessible wheelchair vans, please give us a call toll free at 1-877-275-4907 to schedule an appointment with one of our certified mobility consultants. We call them CMC’s for short. They’ll be glad to meet with you and your family – for many years to come.

Commercial Van Division Announces New Liberty Minivan for Taxi Market

Most people reading our blog or following us on Facebook know MobilityWorks for its consumer wheelchair van showrooms, service and rental centers. In the business world, however, we also lead the industry with commercial-use accessible vans used by our business clients throughout the country. Today, MobilityWorks announced the acquisition of Liberty USA of Michigan, a prominent reseller of rear-entry minivans to commercial fleet owners. We will also be selling a new minivan conversion under the Liberty brand name.

This opportunity to expand our offerings came about as demand for accessible vans in the taxi market has steadily increased over the last two years. New state and city government regulations have been pressing taxi fleet owners in certain areas to have a minimum percentage of their vehicles to be wheelchair accessible. This has been a long time coming for people who live in larger metro areas, such as New York City, and rely heavily on taxis for transportation. With the cost of fuel taking a larger bite out of their profits, these taxi companies are exploring van alternatives that can provide better gas mileage and lower maintenance costs. This announcement will also affect our consumer stores, as some of the Liberty minivans will also be made available for personal-use sales. 

This new Liberty rear-entry wheelchair accessible minivan is a 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan.

MobilityWorks isn’t new to converting minivans for rear-entry accessibility. In fact, MobilityWorks has been building Dodge, Chrysler and Toyota wheelchair minivans for three years, in addition to its well-known Ford Transit Connect conversion. The difference with Liberty is in the engineering details of the design and the experience they bring to our commercial division. 

“Liberty is a well-respected name in the commercial fleet business” said Taylor Clark, President of MobilityWorks Commercial.  “They give us the expertise we need to best serve and grow the minivan taxi market.” 

With a new focus on minivans, and new innovative products like the Flex-Flat Ramp for rear-entry vans, MobilityWorks Commercial will provide the Taxi, Senior Care and Hospitality industries with a lower cost, lower maintenance vehicle needed to efficiently transport people in wheelchairs.

For more information on MobilityWorks’ new Liberty minivans, visit our Commercial Vans website.

Balancing a Passion for Golf with Life’s Journey

My first experience with seeing a disabled golfer was memorable. I was around 16 years old when my father and uncle took me out to play at Shawnee Hills golf course in Bedford Ohio. While we were warming up at the tee, an elderly gentlemen approached with his pull-cart. “Mind if I play with you guys”, he said. As he got closer, I realized that he only had one arm. I remember thinking to myself, “how’s he going to do this”? My apprehension about his playing ability soon faded. His drives were down the middle, nearly 200 yards or more every time. I don’t remember the score, but let’s just say he beat all three of us.

It wasn’t until I was in my late 40’s that I would play another round of golf with someone who was physically challenged. I was working at MobilityWorks for only a few months when I was asked if I wanted to participate in a fund-raising golf event for Hattie Larlham, a local non-profit organization that provides care to children and adults with severe developmental disabilities. My playing partner was to be Don Johnston, a mobility consultant working for MobilityWorks at the time, who is in a wheelchair. I thought to myself, “how is this going to work”? Don was truly inspiring as he would hit the ball from his chair while using a self-modified driver. While not extremely long off the tee, he could hit a ball more than 150 yards on a consistent basis and almost always straight. After each hit, I would drive the golf cart up next to Don and he would transfer over into the seat. He would then pick up his wheelchair and hold it up on the side of the cart until we reached our balls down the fairway. He would roll up onto the green and make his putt, getting in and out of the cart several times for each hole (for all 18 holes). Cleveland Indians legend Lenny Barker was on the tee at the par 3, 10th hole when Don made it on the green with his drive. It was an experience I’ll never forget. Not because he was able to play the game pretty well, but because of his attitude and determination. And to challenge his own abilities. We played again not long after at Edwin Shaw Rehabilitation Institute Challenge Golf course in Akron Ohio. This was his “home course” and he was determined to show me up. Needless to say, I lost the 9-hole round. The guy in the wheelchair beat the AB (able-bodied person). It was very humbling.   

I recalled these experiences with playing golf because they were so inspirational. I don’t remember the name of the elderly man with one arm, but I wish I did. Don eventually followed his passion and finished his teaching degree (another inspiring story for another day). He recently taught as a substitute teacher at my daughter’s high school and is hoping for a full-time position.

What brought about these fond memories, however, was a recent You Tube video sent to me by MobilityWorks President/CEO Bill Koeblitz. Bill wrote in his e-mail “this is really amazing”. And it is. The video is about a one-legged golfer named Manuel De los Santos. At the age of 18, Manuel was on top of the world. He was a talented young baseball player from the Dominican Republic and close to signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. Becoming a professional baseball player was all he could think about. It was every Dominican teenager’s dream. That was before a motorcycle accident that took most of his left leg. In an instant, his life changed.

What makes his story different isn’t that he continued to play sports with a prosthetic, as many of our amputee customers do. What makes De los Santos so unusual is his ability to swing a golf club without any prosthetic – balancing on one leg – and playing almost as good as a professional. After years of determined practice and thousands of swings, he now shoots in the 70s on some of the most challenging golf courses in the world. For those who follow professional golf, playing to a 3 handicap means that you are very, very good (with or without two legs).

Manuel De Los Santos recently shot a 76 at Royal St. Andrews

According to Manuel, he decided to take up golf after watching the The Legend of Bagger Vance, a Robert Redford directed film starring Will Smith, Matt Damon and Charlize Theron. The movie was more about the philosophical journey between two men (the pro golfer and his caddy) than the actual game of golf. When Manuel realized that he could balance and swing on one leg in his first attempt at a driving range, golf soon became his passion. Why he doesn’t play with the use of a prosthetic isn’t clear. Everyone deals with their own physical disability in his or her own way. Much like Bagger Vance, Manuel uses golf as a spiritual journey.

This You Tube video of him playing is amazing. His determination to get better is relentless. Now 26 years old, don’t be surprised if you see Manuel De Los Santos on television someday, playing alongside his golf idol Tiger Woods. This New Year’s Day, I’m going to make a resolution to challenge myself, like these three men have done. To do something special that I didn’t think I could do. I just don’t know what that is, just yet.

MobilityWorks Announces New Bruno Chariot™ Lift on Wheels to Haul Electric Scooters with Smaller Vehicles

Finally! A solution from the mobility equipment industry for people who own smaller and mid-size cars that need to haul an electric scooter or power wheelchair.

Most scooter and power chair lifts (for external vehicle transport) require a minivan, SUV, or larger sedan capable of carrying a heavier load. That’s all changed with the introduction of the Bruno Chariot, being marketed as a 'lift on wheels', now available at MobilityWorks locations throughout the country.

“This new product fills a niche in this industry that’s been a long time coming” said Doug Curtis, National Sales Representative for MobilityWorks.

“Some folks really need the gas mileage a smaller vehicle provides. Until now, they had to sell their car and get something bigger.”

Now you can haul a scooter with a smaller size car such as this one shown above.

The patent pending Chariot has a swivel-wheel design that allows for a smaller compact or mid-size auto to pull it with a simple Class I or Class II hitch. What this means is that you don’t have to have one of those bulky, protruding ball-mount hitches seen on pickup trucks. It also has an independent suspension and can fold up when not in use. When folded, a smaller car and hitch combined will fit inside many standard home garages.

Scooters and power chairs can be driven on and off the platform from both sides and comes with a retractable tie-down securement system. The 350 lb capacity lift is powered by the car battery and is easily operated with the push of a button. A manual backup system is also part of the design should the battery fail in an emergency. Brake lights and turn signals that connect to the vehicle wiring system are also included in the package.

If you’d like to learn more about the Bruno Chariot, send an e-mail to ask@mobilityworks.com. A new web page and flyer will be available on the MobilityWorks website soon.