Minot, North Dakota – The arrival of a second handicapped-accessible van in our region will aid folks in our community and reduce waiting times for those with medical requirements.
The process of going to events has become simpler for people who are wheelchair-bound.
A second van that is handicap accessible has now been delivered to the North Dakota Association for the Disabled.
“Up until this point we have had one handicap-accessible van and people have been calling for the second one and we have had to turn them down. And it is difficult for an individual who is looking forward to going to a wedding or a funeral and they can’t get there because they don’t have a way to get there. So accessible van has the lift that they can push their wheelchair up into it and all they need is a driver to take them to that event,” said Marsha Dupre, the client services representative of NDAD.
With this vehicle, you can drive a maximum of 250 miles for private events. As long as you have a doctor’s note, you can go further if you need medical attention.
You are not need to pay anything to rent the van, so there are no problems. All you have to do is make a phone call to the office; first come, first served.
“A second van being available now is going to give us the opportunity to book without being six months in the future we can be more spur of the moment,” said Mark Haugen.
The client or those assisting the client with their medical needs find it convenient with each van.
“However, to transfer somebody from a wheelchair into a normal vehicle seat is not a simple task. So you have that to deal with and then to try and load up their motorized wheelchair into a normal vehicle is difficult as well,” said Haugen.
You can use their HELP (healthcare equipment loan program), which is available whether or not you are confined to a wheelchair.
There are wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, and crutches that can be borrowed.
Both adults and children can use the equipment, which is also available for free 90-day loans.
To ensure that each person receives the greatest care and equipment possible, the group cleans the tools and van before usage.