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.

“The common denominator with us is our wheelchairs... but it's not about the wheelchair. It's about our spirit, and how we just live life to the fullest.” — Angela Rockwood

The show documents the everyday challenges each women face, both physically and mentally. According to Sundance press, relationships are not off-limits -- as details about the girls dating, able-bodied boyfriends and a failed marriage will also be shared with the world.

The Push Girls Cast

Auti Angel was in a severe auto accident in 1992 that resulted in a spinal cord injury. She was a dancer before being paralyzed and has since continued her passion for dancing. In 2003 she became one of the founding members of the Colours ‘n Motion Dance Crew (aka Team Colours*), known for their many appearances at Abilities Expos and other disability awareness event around the country.

Mia Schaikewitz is a former competitive swimmer who suffered a rare brain hemorrhage as a 15 year old teenager. She went on to graduate from the University of Florida before moving out to California. Mia joined Auti Angel as a Colours’ in Motion dancer in 2008. Mia is now 32 years old.

Angela Rockwood was an aspiring actress and engaged to actor Dustin Nguyen (21 Jump Street) when she was involved in a tragic car accident that left her a quadriplegic. She has continued her acting career and is now an ambassador for the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation. You may recognize Angela from her role in the 2001 hit movie The Fast and the Furious.

Tiphany Adams was a senior in high school when she and her friends were hit by a drunk driver. She was the lone survivor, but not until after the EMT’s had already declared her dead at the scene. Requiring a significant amount of work to stop internal bleeding and to rebuild her shattered bones, she is truly a miracle. She has been a voice against drunk driving, including an appearance on the Dr. Phil show. Tiphany was also featured on the cover of New Mobility Magazine in December 2010. Tiphany wrote on her web site the following: “I feel it is my God given purpose to become the story told that after tragedy lies hope and promise of brighter days.”

Whatever your feelings about the show and any unwarranted comparisons to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills (on Wheels), one thing is clear: these are confident, spirited women who overcame their physical challenges and live life to the fullest. Long before the show was conceived, they were role models to countless young women who also found themselves in a wheelchair wondering whether life can still be meaningful. The Push Girls answer is yes. MobilityWorks wishes them and the show the very best.

Before they were stars... 'Push Girls' Mia Schaikewitz (center) and Auti Angel (right) on the Conquest Motorcycle.

*sponsored by Colours Wheelchair. Photo courtesy of The Sundance Channel

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.

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.

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.

For smaller companies that didn’t have a million dollar budget to catch up to major corporations, the idea of being able to compete with the big boys seemed an almost impossible task, particularly for highly searched phrases such as mobile phones and car insurance. Over the past few years, however, Google has made many changes to its search algorithm, in addition to changing the practice of accepting link farming techniques.

The game changer, however, has been the advent of Google’s newer algorithms to improve “local search” results.  What this means is that the Google now shows different results for different keyword phrases based on where they think you are physically located (by IP address). An IP address helps determine the city of your internet service provider and assumes you are nearby. It’s not a perfect system (especially for those on a corporate network), but for most people surfing the net at home the location is relatively close.  This is why you will sometimes see a map accompanying your search results with companies listed A, B, C etc. It is estimated that 25% of all searches contain local results. Everything from pizza shops to auto mechanics to plumbers can generate local results. Google knows for keywords such as these, the user is probably not looking for a pizza shop 500 miles away. And while a search for Donatos Pizza, as an example, may get you to their corporate website in another state, chances are you will be shown listings and a map with its local restaurant locations first.

Local search results display a mobility dealer based on location and user IP address. This is usually determined by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).

Search Tip: To get more accurate local results, another alternative is to enter in your own city and state manually to let Google know exactly where you are located. On the left hand side of a typical Google search page is an option to change the location settings.

Fortunately for MobilityWorks, all 14 of our store locations have been verified with Google Places, a service they provide that helps to keep local search as accurate as possible. With Places, a postcard is sent to the address with a security code for verification. A local phone number must also be entered, which Google also uses to verify the true existence of a location. It is a time-consuming process, but worth the effort to make sure you are showing up for local search results. With this feature, it creates a better experience for the user by not having to weed through dozens of irrelevant website results. We want everyone searching for handicap vans or wheelchair lifts to find a local NMEDA QAP mobility dealer that can provide face-to-face consultation, certified technicians for mechanical service and rental vans.

Another addition to Google search is the ability to preview the web page before clicking on it. This is a time-saver for those who often find themselves clicking on a link only to find it’s not really what they were looking for. This is why it’s so important to have your homepage adequately display what it is you sell or what services you provide. Sites that only show a Flash movie on their home page may look cool, but it's terrible for search engines. With the use of more smart phones, it's also becoming more important to make sure your site is “mobile friendly” for those visitors trying to find you with an Android, iPhone, Blackberry and other commonly used devices. MobilityWorks is working with our technical service providers to create alternative “mobile websites” and a visitor detection system so that we can better serve those who are on-the-go, or simply use their mobile device more-so than a laptop computer.

While we’re certainly not going to paint life as a bowl of cherries for our many friends who find themselves in wheelchairs (or scooters) this Hanukah and Christmas, we can look back with gratitude and see how far the wheelchair community has come.

The passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; the greater visibility we see in all corners of society by handicapped men and women who are competing, working, playing, and traveling; the greater number of large companies that are investing in the skillsets that men and women bring to the table, regardless of their mobility challenges; even the reflections we see on TV from the small but growing group of actors with disabilities who perform regularly, such as Michael Patrick Thornton of Private Practice, RJ Mitte of Breaking Bad, and Daryl Mitchell of Brothers…… In many very big ways, the disabled community is making its presence felt and doing so proudly.

At MobilityWorks we feel blessed to be part of this upwards movement, literally. The wheelchair vans, mini vans, commercial vans, and accompanying wheelchair & scooter lifts, docking systems and ramp assistants available at our 14 locations all help to empower our customers to make their worlds more accessible and more easily traveled. Our clients are the real heroes, but we’re deeply honored to be part of the journey as well. We can tell by the growing collection of client testimonials we receive monthly that we’re doing things the right way, but if you ever feel there’s more we can do, or something we’re just not getting right, please don’t hesitate to contact us immediately to set us straight.

And in the meantime, on behalf of everyone here at MobilityWorks, we wish you the happiest of Holiday Seasons and peace and goodwill in the New Year!

Regional Service Manager Trevorr Jurgensen speaks to the Life Care drivers.

MobilityWorks was honored to participate this past weekend at an in-service training session with Life Care Ambulance Inc. in Elyria, Ohio.

Led by Regional Service Manager Trevorr Jurgensen, our Akron service staff spent this past Sunday at the Life Care training facility with their entire driver staff. This type of training event provides for driver education on wheelchair safety-related products and to make recommendations on correct usage of all their adaptive equipment. Also on the agenda was to discuss day-to-day checks and maintenance, strap operation and overall safety issues. It was received very well by the Life Care staff and the question and answer session was great dialog.

Akron service staff perform safety inspections on vehicle wheelchair lifts and tie-down straps.

During this time, the team also performed vehicle, strap and lift inspections on 23 of their ambulette units. They performed simple maintenance, adjustments and lubrications to some slightly heavier repairs and were able to identify additional service and repair needs.

Our hats are off to the Akron service team and the drivers at Life Care to take the time on a Sunday to attend this in-service session. It is through this type of work that we develop a stronger working relationship with our Commercial clients who serve the disabled community and their local hospitals.

Our thanks to MobilityWorks’ Trevorr Jurgensen, Todd Slates, Joe Postlehwait, Tim Neal, Phil Pitcock and Rommie Carpenter  – who gave up their Sunday to assist with this educational event. 

About Life Care Ambulance, Inc.

Vehicles in the Life Care fleet being lined up for inspection.

Life Care has trained paramedics on staff and many different types of vehicles needed to respond to emergency incidents, as well as provide for non-emergency transportation in the Cleveland/Lorain metro area. Their fleet includes 22 ambulances and 25 wheelchair vans (provided by MobilityWorks Commercial Division), in addition to other specialty vehicles. They are the primary 911 provider for an area that covers 100 sq. miles, including four cities and two townships. They also provide for paramedic services at high school sporting events and bike patrols for special events.

Getting around in the snow and ice can be a major pain for most wheelchair users up North.

As the days get shorter and the nights get longer all across America, weather changes start to become more pronounced. More rain, then sleet, then snow starts to fall from the skies, and temperatures drop nationally. If you’re the fortunate populace who reside on the West Coast or in the South, these seasonal changes are not as drastic and won’t make as much difference in your lifestyle. But for Midwesterners and those dwelling in the Northern East Coast states, dramatic seasonal changes in the weather make quite a bit of difference that affect everyone. And for those who are physically-challenged, dramatic weather changes usually means huge adaptions. 

Many of our clients who use wheelchairs enjoy getting out to local stores, cafes, restaurants and corner shops, as well as visiting with family and friends in their own neighborhood. In many cases, they can travel on sidewalks, made easier lately with curbs that have modified for wheelchair use. But when the elements turn cold and leaves turn to snowflakes, enjoying an outdoor stroll becomes much more burdensome. Muddy puddles, icy sidewalks and banks of snow deposited by well-meaning property owners are barriers for wheelchair users that can limit the ability for independent travel. 

While we encourage everyone in wheelchairs to get out and enjoy their communities as best they can, alternative modes of transportation can change lives – especially during the cold, dark months of winter and the inclement weather that can last until spring. Handicap vans as provided by MobilityWorks make for an excellent solution toward regaining independence. Whether you’re capable of operating an accessible van by yourself – or would be a passenger with a dependable driver in a wheel chair van, your ability to travel will not be limited no matter how wet or cold the outdoor world becomes! 

Indeed, thanks to helpful advances in technology such as electric scooter lifts and the Power Pull Ramp Assistant, getting in and out of an accessible van or minivan has never been easier for our customers. MobilityWorks is proud to offer mobility assistance to men & women who are looking for ways to maximize their independence in every season. We have many client testimonials to show that our efforts and products are working for our customers.

So what are you waiting for – spring? Check out our wheelchair accessible van rentals today as a great way to “test-drive” a new lifestyle option for yourself or a loved one. Once you’ve seen how convenient and easy our adaptive vehicles and lifts can be, we’re pretty sure you’ll want to become one of our loyal customers…and stay out of the cold this winter season.

The Colous~N~Motion dance team (shown here on the Conquest Motorcycle) is just one of the many scheduled attractions at the San Jose CA Abilities Expo.

The MobilityWorks store in Santa Clara will be displaying wheelchair van conversions, the Conquest Motorcycle and a GoShichi Accessible pickup truck at the Abilities Expo next Friday through Sunday, November 18th-20th.

It’s been a number of years since the Abilities Expo has been held in the San Francisco Bay Area, so we’re very happy to see its return up north. The Abilities Expo was held this past April in Los Angeles, in addition to other major cities throughout the year.

MobilityWorks will be exhibiting at the Expo along with BraunAbility, VMI and other leading equipment providers to demonstrate the latest and greatest in accessible vehicles and other great products.

The Abilities Expo has been providing this informative forum for companies with disability products and services for over 30 years. Workshops, activities and displays are designed to enhance attendee knowledge of mobility equipment options... and it’s always a fun event. Join us to socialize with old and new friends – it’s FREE! Check out the special events page for attractions… www.abilitiesexpo.com/sanjose/specialevents.html

Where:

San Jose Convention Center

150 West San Carlos Street, San Jose, CA 95113

When:

Friday, November 18th: 11am-5pm

Saturday, November 19th: 10am-5pm

Sunday, November 20th: 11am-4pm

For more information, go to: www.abilitiesexpo.com/sanjose/index.html

MobilityWorks now has the largest online inventory of any single wheelchair accessible van dealer in the United States. With an inventory of more than 400 consumer vans, shoppers have more options to purchase a vehicle of their choosing, including make, model, color and type of conversion. Over 340 vans are currently searchable on the company website, with those in the lower price range getting a lot of the attention. That’s why the company encourages anyone looking at a specific van not to wait too long to make contact with a MobilityWorks certified mobility consultant. If a small deposit is made, it can be held for a period of time until financing can be arranged.  Low interest loans are also available through MobilityWorks’ own finance department.

“Each night, our online inventory for all 14 showroom locations get updated, so new listings come up every day” said Guy Hanford, the Director of Marketing for the company. Inventory is shared across the store locations, so a vehicle that is located at one store is often available for sale at another. Nominal shipping costs may be added to the sale for some vans depending on the vehicle's location.  

In addition to reduced pricing by store managers to feed the under $30K offerings, trade-ins that were out for repair or having minor bodywork done can go up online at any time. The company will also buy pre-owned vans that someone is looking to sell, so long as they are in good working condition and meet certain quality standards.

Each MobilityWorks location has ASE and NMEDA QAP certified technicians and the right parts  available to them that a general auto mechanic or consumer wouldn’t easily recognize or find. The company can also provide a CARFAX report for any pre-owned purchase in case there are questions about a vehicle’s history. Extended warranty agreements can also be purchased or added to the cost of a used vehicle, providing extra protection and security that many people desire.

With new vans coming in and trade-ins being added daily, that means more choices for the consumer. The company is working hard to make sure there are plenty of vans available in the 30 Under $30K campaign’s price range. For customers wanting something a little newer with lower miles, they have another 50+ vans on sale now between $30,000 and $40,000. Call or write today to schedule an appointment at a MobilityWorks showroom location near you.

An accessible van is shown in this cable TV ad, as the man and woman are about to enjoy a day of kayaking.

A new cable TV ad, co-sponsored by MobilityWorks, features a BraunAbility Chrysler Town & Country Entervan. The commercials have been airing all across Northern Ohio in an effort to bring more awareness to general audience viewers on the availability of accessible vans.  The ads are primarily being shown on Time Warner Cable channels in subscriber areas that stretch from the western suburbs of Cleveland to communities south of Akron/Canton.

Produced by BraunAbility, the commercial is part of a co-marketing campaign that MobilityWorks and Braun launched at the beginning of October. Similar ads are also showing in other parts of the country.

The ad features a handsome looking middle-aged man in a wheelchair driving down the road in a minivan. He is then shown at a restaurant having coffee with friends. The next scene shows him at a candy store buying a gift box of chocolates. He then drives up to the home of a smiling and waving woman who comes out to greet him when he arrives.

As the two are shown on the road, it’s apparent they are on their way to go kayaking together. And as expected she gets the chocolates. Love is in the air! At the end of the commercial, they are shown in their two kayaks paddling down a beautiful scenic river together.  The 30-second message is simple. Having a personal use accessible van allows this man to be more independent and experience more in life. Here is the voice-over in the commercial:

“What if there was a vehicle that let you do anything… be yourself, to go anywhere. A vehicle that allowed you to enjoy life... and life’s best moments.

“For almost 50 years, BraunAbility and our local dealers have been helping people regain their driving freedom.”   

Cable TV is an avenue we haven’t tried in a long time. Let us know what you like or don’t like about it or offer some suggestions. We welcome your comments! Send your email to marketing@mobilityworks.com.

Alternative driving solutions are featured on www.i-hate-minivans.com

We occasionally get e-mails from curious website visitors (and other van dealers) asking us about a site called I-HATE-MINIVANS.com. Once they realize who is behind the craziness, they can’t believe MobilityWorks would create a website detesting a product that we really do love, the minivan. Most people get the joke and appreciate the humor. Some think it’s “just awesome” — like John in Wisconsin because according to him, “I really do hate minivans.” Virginia in New York was searching on wheelchair trucks and came across the site. She said her daughter was injured in a skiing accident and really loved riding in her 4x4 pickup before her spinal cord injury. She had no idea that products like these even existed. 

It was originally conceived as a marketing campaign to grab the attention of motorcycle enthusiasts interested in our Mobility Conquest accessible trike just before the Chicago Abilities Expo earlier this year. It eventually became a website featuring other “alternative driving options” for wheelchair drivers that really don’t want to drive (or ride in) a minivan. Let’s face it, there’s just some guys and gals that love their trucks! Even though a wheelchair van would be much more convenient to roll in and out of, you can’t take that passion away, even after a spinal cord injury. We wanted to have a place for people to easily find some of the latest and greatest innovations in the industry, like the TMN Wheelchair Robot, if they really wanted something different.

Some of the featured products on the site are vehicles that you can actually drive, while others are adaptations that can be added to an existing vehicle to make cars, trucks and SUVs more accessible and drivable for paraplegics.

Highlighted, of course, is the Conquest wheelchair motorcycle, an 1170cc trike converted in Ohio that has a built-in ramp and hand controls for shifting. It’s ready to ride on delivery – with a few quick lessons and a motorcycle license where required. Next is the GoShichi 4x4 pickup truck. It too is ready to drive off the lot. Converted from Chevy Silverado’s and GMC Sierra trucks, the GoShichi is the only production made truck with built-in wheelchair lifts for either the driver’s side or passenger side. Next up is the TMN Robot, a robotic computerized mechanical arm that can retrieve and store a wheelchair inside the trunk of a car or SUV.

Shown above is the TMN Robot installed on a Ford Expedition, in addition to a Bruno Lift-Up seat.

Rounding out the unique solutions include a variety of truck-bed lifts such as Bruno’s Outrider, scooter lifts and several other custom seating products that help with getting in and out of just about any type of vehicle. Like Bruno's new Stow-Away transfer seat for a truck or SUV. If you’d like to learn more about these different solutions, call our toll-free Client Care Center number at 1-877-275-4907 or write to ask@mobilityworks.com.

The Veterans Administration will be increasing its one-time Automobile and Special Adaptive Equipment Grant Program for service connected veterans from $11,000 to $18,900 effective October 1, 2011. With this increase in financial aid to our wounded warriors, VA approved wheelchair van providers such as MobilityWorks will be able to help more of our heroes fill their personal transportation needs with a vehicle of their choice.

Disabled service vets who've received wheelchairs from the Veterans Administration that also need a converted vehicle for wheelchair or scooter accessibility can apply for a Disabled Veterans Benefits grant. Form 4502 titled “APPLICATION FOR AUTOMOBILE OR OTHER CONVEYANCE AND ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT” (link to PDF document) is one of the documents you will need to review. 

Veterans who think they may qualify are encouraged to contact the Prosthetic Department at their nearest VA Medical Center. To find a facility near you, go to the VA National Facilities Locator.

A Certified Mobility Consultant (CMC) can also assist veterans with any questions regarding the approval process and grant details. You can visit with a consultant in person at 14 local MobilityWorks locations in seven states. While visiting, you can also view a large selection of new and used accessible vans, scooter lifts and other adaptive equipment to help get you back you on the road. We can also assist with financing.

For disabled veterans that plan to drive, driver training with trained driver-evaluators are available for certification in learning how to use hand controls. Go to The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists for details.

With Google ruling the Internet search world, it’s no surprise the mega search engine is also MobilityWorks’ biggest single source of website visits, with Yahoo and Bing a distant second and third respectively. Over 72% of our Internet visitors find us with the help of a search engine. Nearly 16% of our visitors click through what Google calls a “referring site”, which is another website like yellowpages.com that has a referral link to another site.

We created this “Wordle” art piece that shows some of the more popular keywords for MobilityWorks.com

One of the Interesting pieces of information Google Analytics provides is a list of the keywords used in the search engines to find us. Among the leaders in keyword phrases are “wheelchair vans” and “handicap vans”. These two phrases are often accompanied by other qualifiers like “used handicap vans” and “for sale”.  Some people use other words like “disabled” and “accessible”.  The most often keywords used however are those we love to see: mobilityworks (one word) and mobility works (two words). This tells us that you already know who we are – and that you’re looking specifically for information about our company, products or services.

Another interesting factoid that Google tells us is how many people are new or returning visitors. 70% of our web traffic each month is from new visitors, with the remaining 30% coming from returning visitors.

Where our website visitors are coming from is also very important to us. Getting a lot of visits from China for example wouldn’t do us a lot of good. Fortunately that’s not the case! 90% of our visits come from the good ole USA, with Canada a distant second. The states of California, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania lead the way, with a high number of visitors also coming from Texas, Florida and Wisconsin. All together we get web traffic from 130 countries and territories!  

Given the competitive nature of search engine marketing and worldwide access to thousands of websites relating to competitive mobility products, we’re happy you found us – with whatever keywords you used.

Last year's Mobility Expo in Pittsburgh, PA.

The MobilityWorks team is busy with preparations for hosting two Mobility Expos and Vendor Fairs this coming October.

Our three Chicago IL area stores are teaming up with industry suppliers and local advocacy groups to host their 1st Annual Mobility Expo at the MobilityWorks Villa Park location on October 6^th from 11AM to 7PM.

The MobilityWorks of Pittsburgh team in Wall, PA (near Monroeville) is hosting their 5^th Annual Mobility Expo event on Thursday, October 13^th, also being held from 11-7PM.

The Pittsburgh location hosts the largest gathering of mobility vendors and disability-related organizations in Western Pennsylvania. This year’s expo will have a “Doo Wop of the 50s” theme, with invited guests encouraged to wear 50’s era costumes. Pittsburgh area musicians Chuck Blasko and The Vogues will play live doo wop music throughout the day. The event is well-known for its great food, fun, prizes, informative guests and the opportunity to socialize with old friends. Said Lance Alexander, General Manager at MobilityWorks, “The most fulfilling thing for me is hearing clients and friends talk about coming back again next year. They don’t want to miss it."

Guests can learn about any type of mobility product or discuss disability issues with knowledgeable consultants.

More than 350 people are expected to attend in Pittsburgh along with 24 vendors and groups. Representatives will be on hand to answer questions about handicap vans, mobility issues, adaptive equipment, handicap driver education programs and home modifications.

The Chicago Mobility Expo will feature a full day’s lineup of speakers covering many different topics of interest:

Spinal Cord Injury of Illinois - Mercedes Raven - Tips for making life easier for caregivers and persons with disabilities

Rehab institute of Chicago- Life Center - Kristine Cichowski - Expanding your social network: strategies for developing an active lifestyle

Life’s Plan Inc, Pooled Trust - Scott Nixon - Special Needs Financial Planning

Jewish Child and Family Services  - Brenda Nemeth - Planning for the future for a family member with a disability

Cure MS Foundation - Kim Albin - Providing direct assistance for those with MS 

Law Elder Law - Rick Niksic - The elder Journey: who pays for what as you grow older and need assistance?

Laurus Foundation - Jim Dolan - Living with Traumatic Brain Injury

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center: Driving Instruction - Anne Hegberg - Driving Evaluation

Barking Angels - Jack Giambrone - A look into service dogs

Paralyzed Veteran of America - Winston Woodard - VA Benefits, What you may be entitled to.

Both MobilityWorks’ Expos are FREE to invited guests and clients. If you’re interested in getting more information, send an e-mail to ask@mobilityworks.com. Details for the Villa Park event can also be found at www.mobilityworks.com/chicagomobilityexpo.php  — and for the Pittsburgh Expo at www.mobilityworks.com/mobilityexpo.php.

Pittsburgh Expo vendors/exhibitors include:

Aardvark Adaptive Modifications

Adaptive Driving Program/Center for Assistive Technology

B&D Independence

Blackburn's

Brant's Driving School

BraunAbility – co-sponsoring the appearance of The Vogues

Bruno independent Living Aid

Carnegie Library

Costa Law Offices

Freedom Mobility

Go Shichi

Home Evolutions

Keystone PVA

MobilityWorks - Host, organizer and co-sponsoring the appearance of The Vogues

Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, Dept. of Labor

PATF

Rezk Medical

Three Rivers Center for Independent Living (TRCIL)

UCP/CLASS

UCP/CLASS

Variety the Children's Charity

Viewpoint Vision

VMI Vantage Mobility International – once again sponsoring the catering for the event!

Westmoreland County Disabilities Task Force

Jack Pierce is congratulated by fellow marines in Sturgis SD.

Our recent ‘Nominate Your Hero’ essay contest was a huge success. The Conquest Motorcycle giveaway event at Sturgis SD drew a large crowd of men and women from the largest motorcycle gathering of the year, estimated at 600,000+ riders. Among the throngs of bikers were a significant number of veterans. Vets seem to have an affinity for motorcycles!  It was appropriate then, given the setting for our contest winner announcement, that a wounded marine that really wanted to ride again could now do so. That’s what it’s all about — giving people the opportunity to live and be independent. To drive, or ride, in a vehicle of their choice. Whether its wheelchair vans, scooter lifts or motorcycles, having the ability to go where you want to go, when you want to go, is what everyone wants and needs.

Among the ‘Hero’ nominations finalists we found Marine Staff Sergeant Jack Pierce of San Antonio Texas, injured by an IED while serving in Afghanistan. Jack was one of eight in a vehicle doing humanitarian work in the Helmand Province that had suffered two casualties. All of the others, including SSgt Pierce were severely injured in the explosion. His wife Karen was pregnant at the time, living in Okinawa Japan where Jack was stationed. In the blink of an eye, their world was turned upside-down. Medevaced initially to Camp Leatherneck, then later shipped to Germany, Jack eventually made his way to Bethesda, MD.  After several surgeries, Jack had to undergo many months of rehabilitation. He was eventually moved to Palo Alto VA Rehabilitation Center in California for special physical therapy sessions and then, finally, to San Antonio TX. It was at Palo Alto that Jack said “he had to learn how to live in a wheelchair”. Jack was interviewed by Fox Black Hills affiliate KEVN. Click here to here Jack's story.

His story was one of many that we received. Jack was one of 59 nominations during a month-long period that was an emotional roller-coaster for those of us having to select a winner. Every day we received a new nomination, and met a new hero. What we found in reviewing the entries was a group of people that were ALL deserving of being named the winner. Some were other military veterans that had also been injured in Iraq and Afghanistan. A few had served in Viet Nam. Others were people who had been in a wheelchair nearly their entire life, born with rare diseases that most people had never heard of. Then there were people like Dallas Dietrich of Keystone, South Dakota. An avid skier, he and his family were rear-ended in a tragic auto accident that killed two of his children and a son-in-law. Dallas endured 8 surgeries over the past 14 years. But that didn’t slow him down. Dallas and his wife Mary are currently involved in the creation of a retreat for people with disabilities. It’s a plot of land that was an old mining town appropriately called “Meeting the Need”.

Ironically, Dallas purchased the property a year prior to his accident. Their intent from day one was to create a relaxing, peaceful, healing atmosphere for people with disabilities.

Some of the stories would bring you to tears. All were inspiring. There were fathers, grandfathers and even a few women. Like Jacqueline Baskett, an Earth Science and Health Teacher at Valley View High School in Moreno Valley. Before her accident in 1988, the former Navy technician ran marathons, swam regularly, and cruised on her Suzuki Intruder 700. She loved to ride! Jacqueline is now a strong advocate for youth in choosing to live a drug free lifestyle. In addition to the essays, most of the nominations included photos of the nominee, family members, friends and pets. Supporters of Johnny Gray in New Orleans even put together a music video — with an original song about him performed by a local band! Johnny has been instrumental in organizing Poker Runs and charitable events to benefit Firefighter’s families that were killed in the 9/11 attacks, despite being in a wheelchair since 2005.

They are all heroes, all doing exceptional things to make other people’s lives better.

Jacqueline was an avid rider before her accident. Now a school teacher, Jacqueline leads her kids by example to live a full life -- no matter what the obstacles.

Johnny Gray of New Orleans is shown helping a youth at a therapeutic horse riding facility.

Jerry "Bull" Baylor competing in a race at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburgh

Jerry Baylor of Leechburg Pennsylvania admits that his grizzled looks and competitive attitude can scare some people. He has tattoos on both arms from his wrists to his shoulders, a long thick beard, and the tenacity of a WWF wrestler. According to friends, he is a maniac athlete – but don’t let his looks or tenacity fool you. He’s all heart.   

MobilityWorks client Jerry Baylor, known more reverently as “Bull”, was named the Spirit of the Games Award winner at this year’s National Veterans Wheelchair Games held this past week in Pittsburgh. Jerry was recognized “for his personal determination, work ethic, and encouragement of other wheelchair-using veterans to get active”. In addition to competing in the track & field games this year, he also played a key role in organizing the event as Sports Director for the Keystone Chapter of the Paralyzed Veterans of America (KPVA).

Jerry earned his nickname Bull while in junior high school playing football. He would tear up the grass on the field with his hands while playing on the defensive line. Despite being 64 years old, the nickname still fits him well. Jerry has participated in nearly 20 wheelchair games dating back to 1981, less than a year from when he was paralyzed. Since then, his words of encouragement have personally helped to bring scores of other veteran athletes to the games.

A marine veteran, Jerry served in the military from 1966 to 1970.  In 1980 a car with faulty brakes hit Jerry while he was out riding on his motorcycle. Despite the life-changing spinal cord injury and being a quadriplegic, his athletic spirit kept him going. Jerry gives a lot of credit to the Pittsburgh Steelwheelers, a local wheelchair basketball and rugby sports team with encouraging him to keep fighting after the accident. He also pays tribute to his days as a marine with providing him the right attitude. “I tell people it’s just a learning experience. You can keep going”.

Jerry estimates that he has logged over 250 miles of training in his racing chair for distance track events since April, in addition to participating in competitions. He took home gold medals at the Veterans Games in the javelin, discus and 100-meter manual wheelchair race, in addition to silver medals in the shotput and weightlifting events. Next year’s National Veterans Wheelchair Games will be held in Richmond Virginia June 25-30, where Jerry first started to compete in wheelchair sports.

Congratulations Bull, you are a shining example to us all.

Note: MobilityWorks was an official Silver Sponsor of the 31^st Annual National Veterans Wheelchair Games.

 Janet Spencer Barnes is the mother of 6 children who became a caregiver for her oldest daughter Juliana following a car accident that left her with a traumatic brain injury.  Bill Koeblitz, President of MobilityWorks, met up with Chris Medina, Juliana Ramos and Barnes, at the Chicago Abilities Expo. They were being interviewed for a news special to appear on Family Network TV, an internet-based video and radio channel geared toward uniting the special needs community.

Barnes expectation of the Abilities Expo was “that we would find equipment to make Juliana’s life easier. Beyond expectations I had hope…hope that Juliana would see that she is not alone and take some comfort in that.”

Barnes was also promoting a novel she has written entitled “For Juliana”. Barnes started the chronicle of Juliana’s first year of recovery as a way to keep her family members updated on Juliana’s recovery progress. “For Juliana” also tells about the love story between her daughter and Chris Medina of American Idol fame. You can follow Juliana’s journey at www.forjuliana.org.

MobilityWorks announced today that we will be giving a Conquest Trike away at this year’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally! Nominations are opened as of today – closing on August 4^th 2011.

We would like clubs and organizations to nominate someone they feel is deserving of this special giveaway, and submit a 500 word essay with 3 – 5 pictures of the person in their wheelchair, or a 3 to 5 minute video that tells this person’s story.

The winner will be announced at One-Eyed Jack’s Saloon in Sturgis SD at midnight on August 13^th. (Winner doesn’t need to be present to win) This is the 71^st annual Sturgis Motorcycle rally and Bill Koeblitz, President and CEO of MobilityWork feels that “Sturgis provides a well-known platform for raising awareness in the motorcycle industry and this will let people know there are options available for people in wheelchairs to continue their passion”.  The Conquest is the only production motorcycle built specifically for paraplegic riders in the world.

“Our goal is to give this bike away to the most deserving person we can find that really wants to ride and be an ambassador for the Conquest” added Koeblitz.

Click here  for more details!

The Mobility Conquest team is planning a Conquest Demo Days this coming July 16^th and 17^th at the Odeum Expo Center in Villa Park, IL. The event was planned to allow individuals in wheelchairs to experience riding the only purpose built wheelchair motorcycle in the world. Designed from the ground up for wheelchair accessibility and manufactured by MobilityWorks, the largest wheelchair van dealer in the country, the Conquest Motorcycle has a built-in ramp, docking system and a push-button gear shifter. The ramp is automatically lowered with the push of a button inside the trike or with a remote control key fob.  “The Odeum provides us with a large open area and a controlled environment (for doing demo rides) that would be hard to do otherwise” said Brian Austin, National Sales Manager for Mobility Conquest. “Our goal is to have as many people as possible that want to ride be able to experience this truly unique bike.”

Conquest Demo Days follows the Abilities Expo happening this Friday through Sunday, also in Chicago, at the Schaumburg Expo Center. The Conquest will be on display at the Abilities Expo, in addition to several other ‘non-van’ solutions for wheelchair transportation, such as the GoShichi 4x4 Pickup Truck and the TMN Wheelchair Robot.

MobilityWorks is also exhibiting at several other events in the next few months. Join us at the National Veterans Wheelchair Games in Pittsburgh PA, the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis SD, the Mobility Expo and Conference in Villa Park IL and the Mobility Expo at our Pittsburgh PA location.

Forty years ago this coming August, The Who came out with their ‘Who’s Next’ album featuring one of their all-time greatest hits ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’. Also on the album was another chart-topping favorite ‘Going Mobile’ written by Pete Townshend. His lyrics were about the ability to keep moving and living free. To go where you want to go, when you want to go:

I can pull up by the curb, I can make it on the road… goin’ mobile.
I can stop in any street, invitin' people that we'd meet… goin’ mobile. Keep me moving!
Out in the woods or in the city, It's all the same to me
When I'm drivin' free the world's my home… going mobile.

Little did Townshend know back in 1971 the importance (and impact) the word ‘mobile’ would have on the world with the invention of the cellular phone and other ‘mobile devices’. A 70’s era Webster’s dictionary simply stated that mobile meant:  ‘capable of moving or being moved’. There was no mention of technology. The closest thing to a mobile device back then was a walkie-talkie two-way radio tranceiver, mostly used by the military.

It wasn’t until 1973 that the first prototype mobile phone was introduced (known as the Motorola Dyna-Tac). Today, pocket-size gadgets that can communicate across the globe have redefined its primary usage in the English language.

In the last two decades, the wireless technology industry has pretty much taken over the word mobile. By the time today’s child becomes an adult they will have heard the term ‘mobile’ thousands of times over – having little to do with one’s physical abilities. Its Latin origin ‘mobilis’ meant movable, but I doubt the early Greeks were thinking about smart phones and i-pads. Word meanings however can and do evolve. So they can use mobile, cell, cellular, apps, i-this, i-that and wireless infinitum. No problem. What is a little more troublesome is that they’ve also started to commandeer the word ‘mobility’.  Researching the etymology of mobility (vs. mobile), it is generally referred to as a condition of one’s movement and the ability to physically move.

Examples of this wordsmith takeover include Motorola changing its name to Motorola Mobility, Inc. (now trading on the NYSE as MMI).  Bell Cellular, a division of Bell Canada, changed its name to Bell Mobility. AT&T now offers ‘enterprise mobility services’ to help manage your business. That would be fine for a business with hundreds of wheelchairs and scooters.

The encroachment of ‘mobility’ by the wireless mega-corporations has providers of true mobility products and disability-related websites sharing space with them on the Internet. With billions of ad dollars spent each year by the ‘phone’ guys, Internet searches for ‘physical mobility’ issues and products can get a strange mix of irrelevant blurred results. And that’s not good for the disabled community. Mobility should be reserved for use in helping an individual to keep moving. A phone service provider shouldn’t be calling you to upgrade your mobility plan, as an example.

On the other hand, how long will it be before scooters have built-in Bluetooth devices?

So Pete -- here’s to you and the anniversary of Going Mobile. If you were writing the song today, the lyrics may have been much different.

Note: Townshend recently provided the initial funding for a non-profit hearing advocacy group called H.E.A.R. He now suffers from severe hearing loss due to his extensive exposure to loud music over three decades of live concerts.

Arnneater Crawford, Mayor Mark Mallory, Monique McGivney (VMI), Jeff Witt (MobilityWorks), and Donté's younger brother

Not long ago, Cincinnati Mayor Mark Mallory called MobilityWorks General Manager Jeff Witt to see if there was something we could do to help with a certain need. He had recently appeared on the hit show Undercover Boss and became aware of a city worker who had a son with cerebral palsy. While taping the series, Mayor Mallory learned that city meter-maid Arnneater Crawford wasn’t able to transport her son with the family car and that she couldn’t afford to buy an accessible van. During the episode, he became so emotional that he had to tell her the truth about his being undercover. From that point on, the wheels were set in motion to make something happen for this deserving family.

The non-profit MobilityWorks Foundation, Vantage Mobility International (VMI) and the mayor combined forces to help with the donation of a wheelchair accessible minivan for Arnneater and her oldest son Donté. 

“The Mayor and his team visited our store to discuss the options available for Arnneater” said Jeff Witt, General Manager for the MobilityWorks of Cincinnati location. “He was concerned that the family be provided with the right vehicle – and that it would be a long-term solution.”

Donté Crawford in his new wheelchair accessible van.

After discussing their needs, it was determined that a 2010 Chrysler Town & Country minivan with a VMI Northstar conversion would be the best solution for the Crawford’s requirements. This included having three other sons that could also be in the van with Donté. On Tuesday, May 31^st, the van was presented to Arnneater, where family, friends and the media were on hand for the happy occasion.  The wheelchair van presented to her has an automatic ramp that slides out from under the floor. A remote control is used to deploy the ramp, along with a power kneeling system that lowers the passenger side and ramp angle. The van also has a modified lowered floor that allows for wheelchair passenger headroom and maneuverability. Once inside the minivan, the wheelchair is secured to the floor with retractable tie-downs.

According to Mayor Mallory, “Our great city is built on the principles of giving back by serving others and helping our neighbors when we see them in need...  This is going to impact their lives for years to come.”

We couldn’t have said it better.

MobilityWorks in Pittsburgh, PA was once again the host site for students from the Chatham University School of Occupational Therapy. On May 31^st, 38 young professionals were on hand for a day of field work and case studies while working toward their doctorates. During the event, MobilityWorks Regional Manager Lance Alexander proudly accepted the school’s Community Support Award from Chatam’s Assistive Technology Class instructor Kelly Gaguzis. In her presentation, Ms. Gaguzis acknowledged MobilityWorks for its support of the disabled community, the many events and training seminars that have been hosted over the years, and for our enthusiastic endorsement of occupational therapy as a profession.

During the training sessions, students learned about the many different types of adaptive driving equipment and wheelchair accessible vans available to physically challenged patients. Students were also provided an overview of the mobility industry, the role of the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), and the importance of its Quality Assurance Program (QAP). Alternative driving solutions such as the GoShichi Truck and Mobility Conquest trike were a big hit with the students.

Certified Driver Rehabilitation Specialist (CDRS) Amy Lane from the Center for Assistive Technology, and the current President of The Association for Driver Rehabilitation Specialists (ADED), went through specific patient case studies and quizzed the students as to what type of adaptive equipment might be indicated for each.

By providing an avenue for occupational therapy students to visit our stores and to see up-close the vehicles and equipment being offered, these students now have a better understanding of the numerous possibilities for handicap drivers to continue being active in their communities. With the use of hand controls and/or automated vehicle ramps, personal-use transportation helps to provide mobility independence for thousands of new clients each year.

To learn more about the role of ADED and driver training for persons with disabilities, go to www.driver-ed.org.

The MobilityWorks Albany NY service and showroom location (currently in Scotia NY) is ahead of schedule to move into its new location at 1615 Central Ave, Albany NY 12205. Originally scheduled for early June, it looks like they’ll be up and running as of this Monday, May 23^rd! The new location will allow for an expansion of our service bays and van showroom area, in addition to being closer to more of our customers in the Capital Region.

NY residents will be receiving a postcard with the announcement and a coupon for discounts on new wheelchair vans and preventative maintenance. Clients can call General Manager Dean Pells or Mobility Consultant Bill LaChapelle at 518-346-9059 for details. Congratulations to Dean and the entire MobilityWorks team on this exciting move and expansion. Visit our Albany store page

Pasadena Here We Come!

MobilityWorks has begun preparation for our expansion in the Southern California market with a new Pasadena location scheduled to open in June. The new location will allow for us to better serve those customers living in the greater Los Angeles northeast area, complementing our Van Nuys CA store to the west.

Leading the Pasadena expansion with be Bill Brixon, a long-time MobilityWorks Certified Mobility Consultant working out of Van Nuys. The new showroom will be right off of the I-210 Foothill Freeway at 325 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena CA 91107. The local MobilityWorks phone number will be 626-584-8181. Congratulations to Bill on his new expanded role as General Manager in Pasadena!