Published Friday October 2nd, 2009
BY ALAN COCHRANE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF
Candace Nicholson was beaming with happiness yesterday as she drove her wheelchair into a new Chevy van tricked out with a $30,000 mobility conversion kit paid for by donations from local businesses, schools, service clubs and the provincial government.
Followed closely by her sidekick service dog Sam, the 19-year-old university student seemed right at home as she rolled up the ramp and made a sharp right turn to position her wheelchair into the spot where the passenger seat would normally be.
The new van was converted into a wheelchair-accessible vehicle at Malley Enterprises in Dieppe and presented to Candace and her mom yesterday during a ceremony at the Hildegarde Fire Station. Representatives of the donor organizations were there to cheer for Candace as she inspected her new ride.
“Happiness is what I am being given today by everyone that has contributed to this van conversion and there is not enough ways or words to say how much that will ever mean to me and my family,” Candace said in a written statement that was read by her mother, Loreli. “This van is more than an accessible vehicle; it is the freedom that most people take for granted. It is the freedom to get up and go effortlessly. It is the freedom of going out without having to worry about my mother suffering an injury while lifting. For years I have wanted to become more involved in community events and activities, but with the limited accessible transportation but with limited accessible transportation it has been difficult, but with this glorious gift I will now be able to get out and involved in the community.”
Candace has limited use of her arms, legs and hands. She gets around by placing her right wrist on the control handle of her electric-powered wheelchair. She speaks slowly and barely above a whisper, but her bright eyes and smile show her enthusiasm and zest for life.
Her mother, Loreli, says Candace’s medical condition started to deteriorate around 10 years ago but has never been definitively diagnosed. But her lack of mobility hasn’t stopped Candace from moving on. She graduated from Harrison Trimble High School in 2008 with Sam at her side, and has worked with the Moncton Regional Learning Council as a researcher and newsletter editor. She is now a second-year student at Crandall (formerly Atlantic Baptist) University, majoring in psychology and sociology. Her goal is to become a neuropsychological researcher and become more involved in helping others with disabilities. She has concerned citizen position on the Moncton Accessibility Committee, which advocates improved access for people with disabilities.
Candace has already named her van “George Edward.” It is a Chevrolet Uplander modified with a lowered floor, remote-controlled sliding door on the right side and a folding ramp for a wheelchair. The seats can be removed so Candace can sit anywhere she likes, with special restraint clamps that will hold her wheelchair in place. It also has kneeling suspension, which brings the van closer to the ground while the ramp is down. It then rises up to regular height after the ramp is retracted and the door closed.
Loreli Nicholson said she got a new van last year, but could not afford the $30,000 cost of converting it to a wheelchair transporter.
The fund-raising effort was organized by local businessman Ken MacLeod, who heard about the family’s plight and decided to do something about it. He started making phone calls around town and within a matter of weeks had raised about $30,000 from local businesses, service clubs, student councils at Harrison Trimble and Crandall University. The provincial government kicked in $8,000.
Source: http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/811312
Tagged as: disability · handicap · handicap accessible · handicap accessible trans · Handicap Accessible Vans · wheelchair · wheelchair accessible van · wheelchair accessible vehicles
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