Learning to Drive as a Quadriplegic
In 1962, a quadriplegic — anyone with an injury to the cervical spine — was not considered a candidate for driving. At the rehab center, I watched paraplegic patients — many of whom had similar abilities to me — as they were trained to drive using special hand controls. My dexterity and strength were limited, but I had no doubt I could drive, too.
I was able to convince my mother that if she would get the family car equipped with hand controls, I could drive.
Of course, she knew allowing me behind the wheel was not exactly accepted protocol for a quadriplegic at the time, but she also knew the independence of driving could positively impact my attitude and self-esteem. She would not allow limitations to be put on me. Even though society said quads should not drive, we proved them wrong.
Vehicle Modifications for Drivers With Disabilities
My mother ordered the hand controls and had them installed by a local mechanic, who everyone knew as Hot Shot. The mechanic had never seen hand controls, let alone been trained in how to install them. On a Thursday evening in 1962, my mother pulled up to the rehab center with our 1961 four-door Rambler equipped with hand controls. I hit the road with my mother, driving the entire 2.5-hour trip back home. I spent most of that weekend behind the wheel, including the return trip to the rehab center on Easter Sunday. The entire rehab staff was unaware I was driving.
I continued to drive with my original Alabama license — which made no mention of my disability — until about six years later, when I was pulled over in Northwest Indiana for burning my tires at a stop sign. Of course, the officer realized the 15-year-old described on my license did not fit the description of the person he had observed operating the vehicle — albeit somewhat recklessly — with an out-of-state license plate over the past six months. I had been in Indiana for two years at that point.
In the eight years since my injury, attitudes had begun to change. A quadriplegic, provided they could demonstrate they could operate a motor vehicle safely, had generally the same driving privileges as others on the road. So, I applied for and received my first valid driver’s license as a quadriplegic.
Finding Independence in a BraunAbility Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle
This story has several morals, but I share it for two reasons. First, my road to driving independence was rough, to say the least, but the freedom and mobility my wheelchair van has given me have provided me many opportunities, including my 40 years with Ralph Braun and more than 50 years at BraunAbility.
Second, my mother taught me an important lesson: You do what needs to be done, no matter what limitations others put on you or what limitations you put on yourself. My desire for independence would not have been enough as a 16-year-old boy. I needed my mother to bring to life the dreams I thought had been destroyed by my injury.
As I have mentioned before, attitude and perception determine whether a life is just survived or whether it is truly lived. Thanks to my mother's influence, I fall into the latter.
Burnie’s Advice for Purchasing an Accessible Vehicle
Since he’s worked to help people with disabilities on their road to independence for over 50 years, Blackmon wants those looking for a wheelchair accessible vehicle to know where to start.
He said, “While I do most of my shopping on the internet, buying a vehicle on the internet is not the way to go. You need to feel and experience a vehicle. Before you make a decision, talk to a product specialist or, better yet, go to a local dealer. Touching, examining and experiencing vehicles is too important.”
To learn more about the Chrysler Pacifica or other BraunAbility mobility products, contact your local BraunAbility dealer.
