Vehicle Training

My name is April Otwell. I broke my neck in an ATV accident at the young age of fourteen becoming paralyzed from the neck down. I’m considered an incomplete quadriplegic. I’m trying to gain some independence by learning to drive. Independence is one of the most wanted things in a quadriplegics life. The spinal cord injury took the use of all four limbs so I need help doing just about everything. I’m a fighter though and strive for my independence. I’ve come a long way since my accident but now I’m looking for more independence. In order to drive with my disability I have to be seen by a modification specialist who can fit me with the right equipment to drive safely. It’s not covered under my insurance so I have to pay out of pocket for everything including the controls and vehicle the controls will be installed into. I have had my evaluation and passed the evaluation and gotten fitted for the equipment but now I have to be trained with my equipment. I need to be trained for 40 hours by a specialist to be able to drive, this does not count the cost of the equipment and vehicle that will have to be purchased and installed after training is ended. The rehabilitation specialist lives in Houston, Texas while I live in Louisiana. I’m raising money to cover the cost of my training and if I’m able to raise enough money it will go towards my equipment and the vehicle.