Mobility for Mom & Me: Help Our Family Get a Wheelchair Van

Update (May 15): As we feared, the van that we had hoped for was sold before we were able to make the purchase, and in just the span of this week we have seen that the price for vans is starting to creep up and is about $2,500 more than when we launched this appeal. We even saw a 2023 van listed this week at $92,000. It's unbelievable.

We were also told that our credit union is not inclined to offer financing for a used, 7-12 year old wheelchair van that is more budget appropriate, they'll only write a loan for something newer and much more expensive, which would mean payments well beyond what's comfortable as the price of everything else goes up. This whole process is a little bit demoralizing, but we remain incredibly appreciative of everyone who has helped. Thank you all so much.

Update (May 12): We have located a van that is within our expected budget and has all the features we'd hoped for. Now all we need is to get the finances in place before someone else buys it! And that's the trick, as well priced wheelchair vans go quick, especially now that people are trying to get ahead of potential financial instability. We are so grateful for everyone who has helped so far, and really hope that we can make this happen.

I'm asking for assistance so that my family can purchase a wheelchair van. We are looking at a used van and have cash on hand for the purchase but not quite enough to avoid taking on debt that isn't really affordable with our current finances and isn't wise given current events. Wheelchair vans are incredibly expensive, brand new they can be as much as $80,000. We are looking for something with a much more modest price tag.

My mom is now a full-time wheelchair user, which means that she is not really able to leave our home except by paratransit or ambulance. Not only would she like to be able to occasionally get out and enjoy the world and get fresh air and sunshine, it has been an increasing concern that if we needed to evacuate our home for any reason, it would be very difficult to get her to safety in a timely way.

Additionally, I need to become a wheelchair user in order to move around the world again. My decreasing mobility has sidelined me, but the reality of dynamic disability like I experience is that paratransit is, ironically, inaccessible to me, because of the 24+ hour notice needed for scheduling. Not knowing how functional or energetic I will be on any given day means that planning ahead that way isn't really possible. Having my own wheelchair transportation would allow me to come and go when I'm able rather than being at the mercy of a system that, reasonably, frowns on trip cancellations and can't be as flexible as I would need.

Last, but not at all least, I am a part of a mutual aid group for disabled people in the Pittsburgh area. Having a van would allow me to offer rides to members who use wheelchairs or other mobility devices, and to help people who are moving or need to transport large items. Being able to offer help to this community is very important to me, and a way of paying generosity, theirs and yours, forward.

Thank you for your consideration!