Tim Ilderton presents Ralph Braun and Carolyn Watts, Executive Director of the Foundation, with a check for $1,000.

Last week we had a very welcome visit from a long-time friend of The Braun Corporation. Tim Ilderton, President of Ilderton Conversion, came by to give a generous $1,000 donation to The Ralph Braun Foundation.

Ilderton Conversion has been in the mobility business since 1972 and has three locations across the Southeast. The dealership has earned Braun’s President’s Club Award for 23 consecutive years - proof of its outstanding performance and commitment in the disability community.

In case you haven’t heard already, The Ralph Braun Foundation is being created for a simple purpose: to provide accessible transportation to individuals and organizations that cannot afford them. A donation from such a dedicated dealer is especially meaningful. With the support and generosity of dealers like Ilderton Conversion, we’ll have a charitable means to provide independence and freedom to those who need it most.

As many of you already know, not everyone who needs mobility has the means to pay for it. Medicaid and Medicare sometimes offer funding for wheelchairs, but two wheels will only get you so far. Wheelchair accessible vans open the door (and lower the ramp) to the rest of the world.

No matter what the amount, every donation to the Ralph Braun Foundation will bring someone closer to life-changing mobility and freedom. If you’d like to make a contribution, you have several options. In the near future you’ll be able to make a secure online donation at www.ralphbraunfoundation.org or send a personal check to The Ralph Braun Foundation, 631 W. 11^th Street, Winamac, IN 46996. Of course, the more complicated donations (charitable gift annuities, life insurance policies charitable remainder trusts) are also accepted.

Another way to support the Foundation is to purchase a copy of Ralph Braun’s autobiography Rise Above. All proceeds from the sales of the book benefit The Ralph Braun Foundation. If you haven’t purchased your copy yet, do so at: http://www.braunability.com/rise-above.cfm.

The Foundation won’t be accepting grant applications any earlier than January, 2011. Applicants may be individuals or organizations unable to afford their own accessible transportation. Proof of both physical and financial need for the equipment will be required. All applicants will be asked to submit an on-line application along with a letter of recommendation from your local mobility dealer.

Our sincerest appreciation to Ilderton Conversion and for all the dealers and generous supporters who follow their lead! Visit www.ralphbraunfoundation.org for updates, and you’ll see more on AbilityVoice!

It’s a different animal than other sicknesses.  You’ve had colds, the flu, or maybe even bronchitis, but you’ve always recovered in a week or so.  But a chronic disease might never go away and it could disrupt your lifestyle.

Chronic illness can affect a person’s life in many ways.  Pain and fatigue might be daily visitors.  The illness may affect personal appearance or physical abilities and independence.  You might not be able to work, causing financial problems.  Big side affects of chronic disease can be stress, anxiety and anger.  Sometimes the anxiety about the uncertainty in your life can be more stressful than managing the symptoms of the disease.

First of all, as a friend of mine says about the future of a chronic disease: “What we think will happen usually never does.”

The first year of a diagnosis is usually the most challenging.  A myriad of feelings may overwhelm you - how will you manage the symptoms, medications, treatments, and will you be able to afford them?  The future can look bleak, as a person might paint a very frightening picture of how their disease might play out in the future.  Will I be able to work?  Can I still travel and do daily living activities like climbing stairs, reading and driving?

There are some practical ways to settle us all down in the first year of our diagnosis.

First of all, as a friend of mine says about the future of a chronic disease: “What we think will happen usually never does.”  Those words offer a lot of comfort.  We often get worked up thinking that we might not be able to do this or that, or that our illness will only take the worst possible course.  We do not know what will happen in the years ahead.  We just need to relax.

Sometimes talking to a person who has lived with our chronic disease can help.  We find out how they manage their disease, especially the anxiety.  When we see a person still employed and living with disease for many, many years, we calm down quite a bit and have hope for a future that is, by all accounts, normal.

Another way to deal with a new diagnosis is to learn as much as we can about our disease.  Information is power.  With the Internet, a person can find lots of information about their disease.  The only caveat is that some web pages might not have accurate or “correct information” about the disease.  Pages like the National Institute of Health (NIH), Mayo Clinic Page, Johns Hopkins page or pages sponsored by the chronic disease are usually reliable places to find out information about their specific disease.

Another valuable resource is support groups. If you are interested in talking with another person who has your disease, support groups are often listed in lobbies of hospitals, health clinics and in local newspapers.  Look online for forums or chat rooms that can become a virtual support group.

The first year of diagnosis is tough.  No matter how many friends, support groups or medical professionals reach out to help a newly diagnosed person, ultimately, that person needs to come to terms with the disease on his or her own.  As you find out more about the resources and products available to help you maintain your lifestyle (like my scooter and BraunAbility Entervan!), you realize that life goes on. By taking control of your disease through education, talking to others who live with it, and finding out what works for you in your daily life, your new diagnosis will be manageable.

We think it would be hugely helpful to wheelchair users and their caregivers if an objective third-party, like Consumers Reports, could help them make informed decisions about their vehicle purchase.

That’s where you come in. Consumer Reports will only consider adding new product evaluations if there’s interest from you, the consumer.   If you’d like to see accessible wheelchair vehicles featured in a Consumer Reports review, please take the following steps:

1. Visit the “Contact Us” page at http://bit.ly/9Fa2cV
2. Enter the required contact information.
3. Under “Choose Product or Service”, choose “Consumer Reports Magazine”
4. Click on “Reports: Questions-Comments-Suggestions” and then on “Report Suggestion”
   
5. Type a short letter of support for an evaluation of wheelchair accessible vehicles.
6. Click “Continue”
7. You’re done!

Granted, it will take a minute or two to complete the above steps, but we truly believe the disability community deserves an accurate, third-party assessment of the safest, most reliable mobility vehicles on the market. After all, the company’s mission is to, “…work for a fair, just and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves.”

And, after you’ve expressed your opinions to Consumers Reports, don’t forget to spread the word! Let’s get our grassroots engines revved up!

These photos give an idea of the cramped interior space of the MV-1.

Braun continues to closely follow VPG’s introduction of the new MV-1 accessible vehicle. As promised, we will continue to share new information as it becomes available.

Just in case anyone is wondering, the Braun Corporation welcomes competition. It’s part of our fabric as an American company. We especially welcome competition that finds a better way to satisfy customer needs. It challenges us to raise the bar and find new ways to improve our products and satisfy the needs and preferences of our customers even more than  we do now.

We can be a little protective of people with disabilities because, more than anything else, we want them to find the mobility product that best fits their needs - even if it’s not a BraunAbility product. That’s why we can’t understand why the MV-1, a vehicle VPG markets as “purpose-built” for wheelchair accessibility, is designed without enough space to accommodate a wheelchair behind the driver’s seat.

Take a look at these images of the rear seating area of the MV-1. Notice how narrow this space is and how difficult it would be to navigate a wheelchair in such a tight area. It’s hard to comprehend - if I was designing an accessible vehicle from scratch with the specific “purpose” of accessibility, I’d start by giving my customers a little more breathing room.

So, if the MV-1 wasn’t purpose-built to be accommodating for wheelchair users, I have to ask: for what purpose was it built? For a closer look at other challenges the MV-1 brings with it, take a look at this recent blog. We look forward to any feedback you might offer!

24/7 emergency customer service is available from over 200 BraunAbility dealerships nationwide.

We know our customers rely on the BraunAbility dealer network for outstanding service of your Entervan or Rampvan, and we want to make sure you get it. With that in mind, BraunAbility has required each of our dealers to implement an emergency service phone number, staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

That’s a major commitment, from our dealers and BraunAbility, but it’s one that needed to be made. You know the Murphy’s Law of mobility (not named after me, by the way)? If you’re going to have issues with your wheelchair van or wheelchair lift, it’s going to happen on Christmas Eve or when you’re 500 miles away from home. Life is unexpected, but at least with a BraunAbility wheelchair vehicle, you can expect exceptional support and service.

So, before you hit the road on vacation or for a late night out, make sure you find out the after hours emergency contact number of your BraunAbility dealer, and keep it in your glovebox! We pride ourselves on service after the sale, and that means anytime after the sale, not just during office hours.

I recently had a chance to reflect on new beginnings as I attended the wedding of my oldest son. During the “big day” I thought about the mix of anticipation, excitement and anxiety that accompany these types of milestones.

Like a marriage, the purchase of a wheelchair van for an individual or family can be a life-changing event that requires work and dedication over the course of its life to ensure a rewarding relationship. The stages of buying a new accessible wheelchair van are really pretty similar to those of a marriage. If I had to break them down, they’d look like this:

The Dating Period: You’re probably “playing the field” at this stage of the game. Maybe you’ve had a crush on a specific brand or style of accessible vehicle for a while now, but you’re still considering other options. As you settle in on the best choice for you, several questions will come up: What qualities are most important to you? What options fit your lifestyle best? What considerations do you need to make for your family? A little research on our website and some test drives at your local BraunAbility dealership will help determine which vehicle fits your needs and personality best. While you’re at it, find out what the rest of town is saying about us by joining our AbilityCommunity on our Facebook page!

The Engagement: By now, you’re most likely head over heels. Even if you can’t possibly imagine a more perfect match, it’s a good idea to go through some “pre-marital counseling” to learn tips that will get you through the rough patches in your relationship. That’s where your BraunAbility dealer comes in - he or she can give you a heads up on how you can get the most satisfaction out of your relationship with your van - the best maintenance practices to commit to, for example, and advice to keep in mind in case of emergency situations.

The Wedding Day: No doubt it’s an emotional day filled with some jitters and a lot of excitement. When the keys finally exchange hands, you’ve officially committed to a long-term relationship! Is it worth the cost of the investment? The answer is “yes” of course…if you’re buying BraunAbility and have done your research during the first two stages.

Anniversaries: A major benefit to your marriage with your BraunAbility vehicle? No anniversary gifts required! However, it’s a good idea to schedule regular anniversary “dates” for maintenance checks and to keep in touch with your BraunAbility dealer. We all need a little time to ourselves to relax, recharge and recommit- that’s exactly what maintenance routines do for our vehicles. Just a little consideration and respect goes a long way…ask anyone who’s been married at least 25 years!

Taking the time to become an educated consumer and putting a little time and effort into your vehicle will ensure your satisfaction over its lifetime.

OK, so maybe the purchase of a mobility vehicle is a little less significant than marriage, but it’s still a life-changing event. Taking the time to become an educated consumer and putting a little time and effort into your vehicle will ensure your satisfaction over its lifetime. And if you ever need advice about your relationship, remember you’ve got a team of BraunAbility mobility experts to back you up. Feel free to contact your BraunAbility dealer or a member of my team in the Customer Experience Group when you need a little extra support.  We’re here for you!

Trisston raising support and awareness for the new Disability Rights Museum.

I’m a supporter of an organization - the Independent Living Resources of Greater Birmingham (ILRGB) - that is preparing for a “groundbreaking” event in the disability community and country-at-large. ILRGB is in the process of purchasing land and building the first-ever Disability Rights Museum, as well as a Memorial Garden honoring individuals on a local, state, and national level who have been leaders in the advancement of the rights of individuals with disabilities. Best of all, it’s located-most appropriately - in the Civil Rights District of downtown Birmingham, Alabama.

Greg Cook, Vice President of Sales and Marketing, spoke at an event hosted by Peak Community Services commemorating the ADA Anniversary last week.

BraunAbility was invited to attend a local recognition ceremony sponsored by Peak Community Services, a local nonprofit with a mission of helping adults with mental and developmental disabilities realize their goals of learning, living and working in the community. Four of the organization’s vans are equipped with Braun lifts for the residents with mobility challenges.

Peak is already looking ahead to accessibility in the next 20 years. The organization has started an initiative locally to step up efforts to make accessibility a larger priority in community planning and new building construction. They recently partnered with students from Ivy Tech Community College to survey local businesses (free of charge) to assess compliance with ADA standards.

“Accessibility not only enhances the quality of life for a community, but has the potential to increase the business community’s bottom line,” said Lita Rouser, Director of Development and Communication at Peak.

Attendees of the ADA observance were encouraged to sign a proclamation of recommitment to the ADA standards. We’re proud to be partners with proactive organizations like this who are committed to the standards of the ADA — and just as committed to making them better.

We’d love to hear about any proactive measures you’ve heard of as we look ahead to the next ADA milestone!

I have always been a little off center. Growing up, I never owned a Barbie doll, but made homemade doll dresses for the then-current Barbie rival, the “Tammy” doll. In the PC-dominated computer world, I used a Mac computer for years. My favorite spectator sport, hockey, gets little media attention (go Detroit Red Wings!) All of these not-so-popular aspects of my life prepared me for living on the fringe as a person with a disability.

When people with disabilities are excluded from the rest of the community, everyone misses out on the rich experience and perspective we have to offer.

Living with MS and using an electric scooter means I spend some of my time “living on the fringe” unfortunately. That’s never more obvious than when it comes to accessibility. Take restaurants, for example. I don’t necessarily like it when I have to use the back door ramp (the same one used for deliveries or to wheel out the garbage), but I can deal with it. And unlike an able-bodied person, I can’t “run to the grocery store” – I have to load and unload my scooter into my wheelchair van every time I get in and out of the vehicle.

But one of the hardest things to deal with is the misconception about what I can’t do. Friends sometimes don’t invite me to outings because they think I’ll be too tired. I’ve even been overlooked for volunteer positions on boards because of my disability (even health-related boards!). A popular mantra in the disability community is, “Nothing about us without us.” When people with disabilities are excluded from the rest of the community, everyone misses out on the rich experience and perspective we have to offer.

Twenty years ago the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed. The skeptics say this law is only on the books and isn’t fleshed out in daily life – at least not to the extent it should. Thanks to the advocates of the past and today - and, of course, products like my BraunAbility Entervan - I’m moving further from the fringe and closer to center.