It is not only the formula milk that is having supply-chain issue problems. Parents of children with disabilities report that they find it difficult to get a replacement or repair wheelchair-accessible vans as their spare parts are now having supply-issue problems.
The parents also say that the high cost of this van is making it difficult for families to purchase or repair their cars.
Parents of children with disabilities say they need a specific type of transportation to get around. Hence, the current challenges limit the mobility of children with disability.
Wheelchair-accessible vehicle
According to Cerebral Palsy Guidance, the wheelchair-accessible van is a modified vehicle with an expanded interior to allow children or disabled adults in a wheelchair for comfortability and easier access to a car. The flooring is lowered to make wheelchair entry more accessible, and seats are modified to accommodate wheelchairs. Side doors are sometimes configured to include a ramp for easier access of the wheelchair in the vehicle.
Difficulty in finding repair parts
Danielle Dapuzo, a single mother from New Jersey, uses a modified Honda Odyssey. However, since the driver's sliding door is not functional, she is forced to use the passenger-side sliding door to climb over her daughter in her wheelchair to get to her gastronomy tube and colostomy. She said she had to use the van every day because she drives her daughter to and from school.
She said that the replacement of their Toyota Sienna arrived in May, almost five months after it was parked for repair. The family said they are grateful to get their van back, but they will most likely need a new van soon.
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Expensive and hard-to-find wheelchair-accessible vans
Parents also report that finding a vehicle at a reasonable cost is challenging. Although there are programs that pay for the modification, vans are still expensive. Hence, families are finding it difficult to get a van.
Joey Enos and his wife, Anna MacNeil, do not have transportation for his son, who is getting older. His son needs a van that can comfortably accommodate his wheelchair, especially since Enos has herniated disk due to lifting his son. They wanted a converted Ford Transit XL, but it is unavailable anywhere.
Enos also tried finding other vehicles. Despite that, he is still unable to get transportation that works for his family.
Nicole Bryson, the owner of FTMobility, said that the semiconductor shortage makes it difficult for them to locate vehicles to convert. Hence, they place orders for the inbound units, but it has no firm estimated arrival dates. Aside from the shortage of these vehicles, he admits that it comes with sky-high prices.
This year, WIFR reported that the pandemic supply shortage problem has also impacted the production and delivery of wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters for children with disabilities.
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