Join Nick's Quest for Reliable Transportation

My name is Nick Dobbs and on August 11, 2011, just a week before my 20th birthday, my life changed forever. I was on my way to work and I rode my motorcycle to work. At the bottom of my driveway, I collided with a tractor and hay wagon. My spine was severed at the C3, C4 vertebrae. This left me a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. I am not able to feel anything from the base of my skull on down, nor am I able to breathe on my own because of the level of injury. This is why I need a ventilator. I am completely dependent on someone for every aspect of my life and require someone to be with me 24 hours a day because of the ventilator. If something would happen to the vent or tubing came undone and no one was here, I would die. I always wore a helmet, and it saved me from a brain injury.

It was six months before I was able to come home. With that came challenges as well. This was a new life for me and a new life for my family, and we all had to learn how to be patient with one another besides learning how to take care of me. I have a wonderful team that takes care of me, and I couldn’t have gotten where I am without them.

Approximately a year and a half after my accident, I decided to go back to school and finish my degree. The fall of my accident, I planned on attending UWL and pursuing a teaching degree in math. I didn’t believe teaching was a good fit for me anymore and majored in accounting. I did attend UWL and received my bachelor’s degree in accounting. I then got my master’s degree in accounting through an online program through Auburn University in Alabama. I then studied for and took the test to become an enrolled agent. I passed this test and became an enrolled agent.

Since graduating, I have wanted to work in some capacity. I have had the opportunity to do just that. I decided to start my own tax business and it has grown a little each year. I have taught tax at UWL, and I am currently working 20-30 hours a week for Intuit. My own business and working for Intuit allows me to work from home. I also do accounting and taxes for a local non-profit, Clearwater Farm. I enjoyed teaching at UWL, but it was hard on my body and my vehicle was/is not in the best shape. My vehicle has served its purpose getting me to doctor appointments, family gatherings, and working at UWL. It took me to Madison twice so I could take the enrolled agent exam and it even got me to Alabama and back. As part of my master program, I was required to travel to Auburn University to meet in person for a week. That was quite an adventure, but it took its toll on my van. We have continued to use it up until this past May. We just don’t feel it is safe to use anymore. I am with the Inclusa program and they do pay for transportation to and from doctor appointments but anything else I am responsible for such as family gatherings or just being able to get out and about.

Inclusa will pay for the cost of conversion to a van for me. I could use help in purchasing a van that we could have modified. Inclusa has specific criteria for a van. It can’t be more than 2-3 years old and must have low mileage. They also have specific makes and models they will modify.

I understand I do work and do have some income. I do live with my mom and help her with expenses for living with her, so purchasing a newer van is a little beyond my reach. I would like to be able to go to family gatherings and attend other events I may be interested in.

I would appreciate anything you can give to help me get to my goal of reliable transportation for myself and making me more independent.

Thank you

Nick Dobbs