What to do when driving becomes a problem
For those who become disabled to the point where you need help in driving a vehicle. The worse thing when I was hit with my MS is that I really enjoy driving. I had for several years spent my work day driving at least 55 miles just to get to work. I did all that driving because I really enjoy what I was doing. I have always figured that I would rather drive a long distance to do work that I enjoy doing than to walk across the street and work at a job I hate doing. I also went to school to become an electronic tech and sometimes need to travel where the work is. When I was hit with my MS my legs had become so weak that it was difficult to even get into a vehicle to drive. My legs were too weak to go from gas to brake peddle. I did some research to find out how I could keep driving even being disabled. I found the info I needed over the net.. Auto's can me modified to drive with the hands. I had hand controls put on my truck. I found out that Ford has a mobility program that if you purchase a new vehicle you can have up to $1000 modifications done on the vehicle for disability items. I had purchased a new Ford Ranger with extended cab in the spring of 1999. At that time I was very healthy and new nothing of what was going to hit me in July which was my MS. I was able to get hand controls put on my truck for free. I also had a few other items added as well. I figured side rails would help me get into the truck. I was hoping to get back to work shortly after my MS hit and thought as cold as our winter gets here in Indiana it would be nice to have a remote starter put on as well. The remote starter is really nice I can start my vehicle from inside my home and have it heated up by the time I get going. I did find out that the hand control Ford does with out any questions. When items are added that are not considered to be disability items I had to have a prescription from the doctor explaining the purpose for the extra items. Ford came through great my truck was still consider a brand new truck and I had all the mods I wanted done on it for free. The new Ranger's with the extended cab are really handy because it has doors getting into the extra cab and that has allowed me to store my wheelchair back there when I need it to enter stores and other places. I use my walker mostly to get around. I was surprised at what all you can get modified on a vehicle. If you are a person completely confined to a wheelchair you can purchase a van that has a ramp that drops down to allow you to wheel into the vehicle.
With this article I am including the Ford web site and also the Ford dealer I had my vehicle modified at. There are many mobility companies listed in the yellow pages.
