Cerebral palsy doesn’t stop Becky B. of Berwyn, PA, from being a very active and social member of her community. In order to get to the places she wants and needs to go, she needs reliable and accessible transportation that fits her specific needs.
Becky came to VCI Mobility in 2003 with a full-size van she had purchased from another mobility dealership. Becky was having problems with the lift in her vehicle and unfortunately wasn’t satisfied with the service department at her previous mobility dealer.
Becky’s full-size van was large and clunky, and it had a deteriorating lift. When she brought it to the experienced sales/service team at VCI Mobility, we not only fixed the problems, but also introduced her to the idea of a wheelchair accessible minivans.
“I had never seen wheelchair accessible minivans on display before, and seeing them planted the seed for me,” Becky said.
Becky had full-size vans since her first one at the age of 16. The full-size van she had at that time required her to sit sideways in the back of the vehicle. For Becky, the best part of having a minivan is that she can now ride in the passenger seat. By riding in the passenger seat, she can truly be a “part of the action” and enjoying the scenery, something she was unable to do before.
With the passenger seat removed from Becky’s VMI Honda, she can now open the side entry door, ride into the passenger side, secure her mobilized wheelchair using the EZ-lock system and a seatbelt, and close the door with little or no assistance.
Becky was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at 2 months of age after experiencing sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) and being revived after 4 minutes. Luckily, she suffers very little cognitive delay, but she does have physical disabilities. Muscle spasms affect her gross and fine motor skills including her speech, balance, and reaction time. These limitations keep Becky in a wheelchair and prevent her from driving herself.
Becky has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Cabrini College in Radnor, PA, and is a part of the Cabrini College Alumni Association. She is on the board of Thorncroft Therapeutic Horseback Riding in Malvern, PA, and is on the board of the Colonial Theatre in Phoenixville, PA. In addition, she is also on the board of the HMS School for children with cerebral palsy in Philadelphia.
With her new wheelchair accessible minivan, Becky can spend more time enjoying the things she loves most, such as going to the theatre, riding horses, and serving her community – and less time with transportation issues.
“When I arrived at VCI Mobility, I was very well received and respected,” Becky said. “I’ve been good to them, and they’ve been good to me.”