Secure Transport for Ted's Independence

Dear Friends and Supporters,

My name is Anna Stechschulte, and my fiancé, Theodore Nelson, is a 30-year-old freelancer living with Stargardt’s disease, a rare condition causing progressive vision loss. As a legally blind individual, Ted has central vision blind spots but retains some peripheral vision, though low light is difficult. He has built a thriving career through determination and creativity. I see how hard he works, tackling garden care, general labor, heavy lifting, tedious tasks, wood processing, and power washing for elderly residents, disabled individuals, low-income families, and small businesses. His clients rely on his affordable services and bartering arrangements, and his commitment to our community inspires me daily. But I worry about him constantly. Ted depends on walking or unreliable help to transport his tools, limiting him to very local clients and forcing him to decline promising projects. Worse, his current methods—maneuvering heavy equipment on foot or with unsafe transport—put him at risk. It breaks my heart to see him face these dangers. So I am starting this fundraiser to help him travel to work much safer, more efficiently, and on his own schedule independently. His ideal choice would be a new Suzuki Carry Mini KEI truck, with accompanying accessibility tools, low vision driving lessons and boptic lense glasses, together we can make this happen!

Notes from Ted: 

Why now?

 "The past few years have been pretty enlightening for me. I've come a long way mentally and realized I have a lot to offer my community and those who need a good worker. Myself, living well under the poverty line on disability isn’t enough. Anna has been more than understanding and helpful but I need to do everything I can to provide more for our growing little family. She helps with rides when she can but she works over 50 hours a week with her 3 jobs."

A 2025 Suzuki Carry 4x4 mini truck, classified as an Off-Road Vehicle (ORV), with an enclosed cab, costing approximately $50,000 will allow Theodore to transport tools and materials safely to private job sites, supported by the Americans with Disabilities Act’s emphasis on accessibility devices. The ADA defines Other Power-Driven Mobility Devices (OPDMDs) as any device powered by batteries, fuel, or engines. This includes roughly $40,000 for the ORV mini truck with a scissor-lift dump bed, shipping, a lift kit, and a plow so he can work in the winter. $1,000 for accessibility features like voice-activated controls and auditory alerts, $500 for a camera system to alert him of obstacles, and $1,500 for utility attachments like a cargo rack, hazard lights, reflectors, or tool mounts to enhance his work efficiency. Additionally, $2,000 is allocated for bioptic lenses and a driving test to explore Ted’s potential to obtain a driver’s license, given his peripheral vision. 

What have I been using?

 "I've been using my bicycle and my mini bike. Between no cargo capabilities, and after a few close calls concerning safety, I don't think it's a wise decision to use them as transportation anymore." 

Why a mini Kei truck and not something else like a golf cart or side by side?

 "My main focus' are safety, reliability and utility. Although they can be very handy, cheaper, and more widely used, golf carts and side by sides are not crash tested nor do they have airbags or proper signals/lighting along with the cab over engine design which makes visibility much better for me. My area has a special ordinance that allows ORV and golf carts on public roads under certain rules. New mini kei trucks are sold as off road vehicles with ORV registrations. I have found other comparable options to the kei truck that offer less for the same price or cost even more." 

Why not go for used?

 "I've dabbled and tinkered with small engines the past few years. It can be very challenging for me to do the kind of work a used vehicle might need. Maintenance like fluid changes, take me a lot longer than most and the upkeep that would be required for the vehicles life would be too much for me. Work that requires a certain finesse and skillset, is definitely not my strong-suit. If I got a used one and it needs a lot of work, I wouldn't be able to pay for parts and labor. Additionally, used KEI trucks are sold as full licensed road vehicles, new ones are not.

Why not a regular truck?

"The mini truck would be a smaller size footprint and in turn give me more confidence, comfort, and responsibility with my surroundings." 

Do you feel comfortable to even drive? 

"Yes, I have good motor skills from when I was younger and had better vision. I grew up driving farm equipment, trucks, mini bikes, quads, go karts, etc. My plan is to keep my speed under 25 mph, stay away from high traffic areas, and avoid the highway entirely."

A bit about Ted's diagnosis:

"When I was in high school I began to really notice a difference in my vision. It happened so gradually that I didn't quite catch on to it at first and I wasn’t sure what to think of it. After my diagnosis, it started to set in that my daily life, hobbies, and opportunities are going to be much more difficult. At the time, me being a seventeen year old that can't drive, with limited independence really bummed me out for a while. I stayed strong, kept clear of any substance abuse and did my best to stay busy. I met Anna in late 2021 and she has been the biggest blessing in my life, to say the least. She pushes me to keep moving forward and not to be so hesitant on trying things that I find visually difficult. I've always loved helping and working with others on a personal basis and it has given me incredible satisfaction that I can still be capable, even with my vision. Discovering new resources, tools, and opportunities has really given me insight that I can achieve a higher level of independence and take my career further. Asking for help has been something I've always struggled with, but lately I have come to the conclusion that as I get older and my vision continues to slowly decay, that it's okay to ask for help and that I'm not a burden for needing an extra hand. With that said, I also refuse to become completely dependant on others and take my hurdles lying down but instead, face them head on, proving to myself that I have a happy, fulfilling life ahead of me and I'm making the best of it, regardless of my condition.

Your support can make this possible. We are trying to reach our goal by July of 2026 to keep Ted safe and grow his work. Every contribution, no matter how small, brings Theodore closer to this goal. All funds will go toward the mini truck, it's cab, accessibility features, camera system, utility attachments, bioptic lenses with a driving test, and any extra covering maintenance and accessories. Thank you for considering this campaign, your generosity will transform Ted’s work and support those who depend on his services. Together, we can help expand his independence and strengthen our community.

With heartfelt gratitude,

Anna Stechschulte