Van Modification for Nathan

Hello, my name is Nathan and I’m an 18 year old shaken baby survivor with a resulting diagnosis of cerebral palsy as well as other medical diagnoses.

I love being active in the community and I tell my mom “bye-bye” every morning when we go for our next adventure. My mom keeps me active and takes me everywhere she goes. Some of my favorite things include swimming, playing in the park, getting ice-cream, therapeutic horseback riding, Special Olympic bowling, adaptive softball and soccer. I use a wheelchair because I’m not able to walk independently or for long distances. While I do require many supports to live in the community, my mom and others know I’m worth it because of the joy and happiness I bring to their hearts.

We are in need of a new wheelchair accessible van because our current wheelchair accessible van is beyond repair (the wheelchair ramp doesn’t deploy, doors do not open correctly, air conditioner is broken, and an electric issue drains the battery). Without a van I am unable to leave my home to attend doctor appointments, socialize or participate in activities. The cost to repair this van is more than the 2010 Honda Odyssey is worth.

My mom recently purchased a 2018 Toyota Sienna with a very low mileage that met basic van modification guidelines. She was provided guidance that my Medicaid Waiver Funds was going to cover the full cost of the van modification and took this into account before she purchased the Sienna. After the van had been purchased my mom was informed that my Medicaid Waiver will only cover $7,500 to $10,000 toward van modifications, then today she was informed none of the modifications will be covered. Basic rear entry van modifications will cost $21,962.67. Locating other funding resources have not been successful because my mom’s income is over the maximum income limits, even though my mom is a single working parent and there are a lot of expenses related to my disabilities that are not covered by Medicaid. Any support would be appreciated.