Brad Needs an Accessible Vehicle
Donation protected
UPDATE: We obviously have passed the goal, but if you have been sitting on the sidelines, there is still a chance to play. Donate on here or get directly with Brad! The goal was arbitrarily set and exceeded, but that target was just a portion of the purchase. Appreciate any further consideration!
The pic? That is an MV-1. An owner and advocate for the vehicle came over to Brad's on Monday 6/12 to show it off. Very cool and exciting. Can't wait to see Brad in one of his own!
Thanks again to everyone who donated and are making he possible!
Original post follows:
Many of us have known and loved Brad for a long time… We have played ball with him in high school, laughed in college, joked at work, gritted our teeth as he beat us in poker or euchre, enjoyed discussing/arguing pop culture or politics, and some of us might have even put him down for a nap in his crib (we don’t have to go back that far).
We have also been with him through his struggle and fight with chronic arthritis. He has continually surprised us -- in every way possible -- by not allowing this debilitating condition get the best of him. From his many-times-repaired lift-chairs at home, to his ability to take care of himself, and to his creative ways to drive and operate his SUV (to name a few things), Brad's determination and sheer will has been an inspiration to us all.
Brad now has gotten to a point where his mobility is being impacted and he really cannot do all the tricks and physical maneuvers to drive his conventional car. Getting a tricked up new wheelchair has helped him on a personal mobility basis, but that great wheelchair will no longer work with his vehicle.
So, here is where we are: Brad needs a new vehicle. There are many wheelchair accessible options that can be considered, but they are not always the most ideal. You can web-search the various conversion vans or talk with real people to find that they are not ideal transportation in many ways. We are looking at a different, purpose-built accessible vehicle that will allow Brad a different option,,,
The Mobility Ventures MV-1 is this option. It is also the reason for this crowdfunding. It costs a bit more than the conversion vans, but it offers a lot more as well. The MV-1 will offer Brad a chance to sit in the front seat area of the vehicle. We are also consulting owners who are able to get their wheelchair in the vehicle and still retain the ability to drive. Not sure what all the options may be, but once you see one of these vehicles, you will certainly be charmed by it and its prospects. Read more at the bottom…
Since the MV-1 does carry a higher price tag, this is where you can help. Please do not think of this as an obligation of any kind — or a flat out donation. Let’s look at it as a way we can make it easier for Brad to maintain mobility in his life and easier for us to spend time with him. Just think how this can be a ridesharing opportunity with Brad when we are with him, or much better way for him to get around when we are nowhere near.
We would love to get him in a vehicle no later than July, so in a fully patriotic but unnecessary move, we will target the fundraising period between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. The dollar goal was established because one was needed, but let’s do all we can to help pay as much of the cost as possible (Please note the intention of this crowdfunding is for an MV-1, but depending on how much is raised, an alternative vehicle may have to be pursued).
Thanks a lot!!
More info:
Take a look at the website www.mv-1.us for more info, but from this site, the highlights that stand out are: “The MV-1 represents a revolution in accessible vehicle design. And nowhere is that clearer than when you consider passenger safety. Typical rear-entry minivan conversions place passengers at risk, forcing them to ride in an undignified position in the rear luggage area. The floor is at an angle, and the position directly above the rear axle gives a jarring ride.By contrast, the MV-1 allows wheelchair users to ride safely in the front with dignity, and the ride is much more comfortable and stable between the vehicle's axles. Further, the MV-1's side-entry ramp allows boarding from the safety of the curb. Rear-entry minivan conversions require wheelchair users to enter traffic out in the street to access the ramp.”
About MV-1
MV-1 is the first and only purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Manufactured by Mobility Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of AM General, the MV-1 began with a simple idea: that wheelchair-accessible vehicles should be designed and built specifically for the people who need them.
The MV-1 goes beyond accommodating a wheelchair – it embraces it – which results in a street-ready, spacious vehicle that drives like a dream and looks even better. It’s easy to operate, easy to enter and exit, and meets or exceeds the relevant guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the moment it rolls off the assembly line. It’s the one vehicle on the road designed and built from the ground up for accessibility, based on feedback from people who use wheelchairs. Please see: http://www.mv-1.us for more information.
Passenger safety is a critical need that drives the design of the vehicle. It's all part of our commitment to build the safest accessible vehicle on the road today, based on federal NHTSA safety recall data. It is as durable as it is accessible, with a solid body-on-frame construction that provides frame stiffness and durability.
MV-1 prides itself on giving people with disabilities the freedom they deserve to transport themselves on their own, and we’ve collected stories from across the country that speak to how it’s changing lives. To learn more about our customers, please visit: http://www.mv-1.us/stories.
The MV-1 is built in the U.S. at AM General’s plant in Mishawaka, Ind., and meets Buy America provisions.
The pic? That is an MV-1. An owner and advocate for the vehicle came over to Brad's on Monday 6/12 to show it off. Very cool and exciting. Can't wait to see Brad in one of his own!
Thanks again to everyone who donated and are making he possible!
Original post follows:
Many of us have known and loved Brad for a long time… We have played ball with him in high school, laughed in college, joked at work, gritted our teeth as he beat us in poker or euchre, enjoyed discussing/arguing pop culture or politics, and some of us might have even put him down for a nap in his crib (we don’t have to go back that far).
We have also been with him through his struggle and fight with chronic arthritis. He has continually surprised us -- in every way possible -- by not allowing this debilitating condition get the best of him. From his many-times-repaired lift-chairs at home, to his ability to take care of himself, and to his creative ways to drive and operate his SUV (to name a few things), Brad's determination and sheer will has been an inspiration to us all.
Brad now has gotten to a point where his mobility is being impacted and he really cannot do all the tricks and physical maneuvers to drive his conventional car. Getting a tricked up new wheelchair has helped him on a personal mobility basis, but that great wheelchair will no longer work with his vehicle.
So, here is where we are: Brad needs a new vehicle. There are many wheelchair accessible options that can be considered, but they are not always the most ideal. You can web-search the various conversion vans or talk with real people to find that they are not ideal transportation in many ways. We are looking at a different, purpose-built accessible vehicle that will allow Brad a different option,,,
The Mobility Ventures MV-1 is this option. It is also the reason for this crowdfunding. It costs a bit more than the conversion vans, but it offers a lot more as well. The MV-1 will offer Brad a chance to sit in the front seat area of the vehicle. We are also consulting owners who are able to get their wheelchair in the vehicle and still retain the ability to drive. Not sure what all the options may be, but once you see one of these vehicles, you will certainly be charmed by it and its prospects. Read more at the bottom…
Since the MV-1 does carry a higher price tag, this is where you can help. Please do not think of this as an obligation of any kind — or a flat out donation. Let’s look at it as a way we can make it easier for Brad to maintain mobility in his life and easier for us to spend time with him. Just think how this can be a ridesharing opportunity with Brad when we are with him, or much better way for him to get around when we are nowhere near.
We would love to get him in a vehicle no later than July, so in a fully patriotic but unnecessary move, we will target the fundraising period between Memorial Day and the 4th of July. The dollar goal was established because one was needed, but let’s do all we can to help pay as much of the cost as possible (Please note the intention of this crowdfunding is for an MV-1, but depending on how much is raised, an alternative vehicle may have to be pursued).
Thanks a lot!!
More info:
Take a look at the website www.mv-1.us for more info, but from this site, the highlights that stand out are: “The MV-1 represents a revolution in accessible vehicle design. And nowhere is that clearer than when you consider passenger safety. Typical rear-entry minivan conversions place passengers at risk, forcing them to ride in an undignified position in the rear luggage area. The floor is at an angle, and the position directly above the rear axle gives a jarring ride.By contrast, the MV-1 allows wheelchair users to ride safely in the front with dignity, and the ride is much more comfortable and stable between the vehicle's axles. Further, the MV-1's side-entry ramp allows boarding from the safety of the curb. Rear-entry minivan conversions require wheelchair users to enter traffic out in the street to access the ramp.”
About MV-1
MV-1 is the first and only purpose-built, wheelchair-accessible vehicle. Manufactured by Mobility Ventures, a wholly owned subsidiary of AM General, the MV-1 began with a simple idea: that wheelchair-accessible vehicles should be designed and built specifically for the people who need them.
The MV-1 goes beyond accommodating a wheelchair – it embraces it – which results in a street-ready, spacious vehicle that drives like a dream and looks even better. It’s easy to operate, easy to enter and exit, and meets or exceeds the relevant guidelines of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) the moment it rolls off the assembly line. It’s the one vehicle on the road designed and built from the ground up for accessibility, based on feedback from people who use wheelchairs. Please see: http://www.mv-1.us for more information.
Passenger safety is a critical need that drives the design of the vehicle. It's all part of our commitment to build the safest accessible vehicle on the road today, based on federal NHTSA safety recall data. It is as durable as it is accessible, with a solid body-on-frame construction that provides frame stiffness and durability.
MV-1 prides itself on giving people with disabilities the freedom they deserve to transport themselves on their own, and we’ve collected stories from across the country that speak to how it’s changing lives. To learn more about our customers, please visit: http://www.mv-1.us/stories.
The MV-1 is built in the U.S. at AM General’s plant in Mishawaka, Ind., and meets Buy America provisions.
Organizer and beneficiary
Tom Namovich
Organizer
Novi, MI
Bradley Morgan
Beneficiary
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