Hale is supported by BraunAbility and her local mobility dealer, United Access in Rowlett, Texas. When you purchase a mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.
Barbara Hale has navigated the challenges of stage 4 cancer through multiple rounds of treatment. After her first radiation and chemotherapy treatments, Hale's cancer returned the following year, bringing added complications, including neuropathy, lymphedema and muscle loss. As her condition progressed, she transitioned from using a cane to a walker and eventually to a power wheelchair.
On her road to recovery, Hale found driving independence thanks to a certified driver rehabilitation specialist and a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna hybrid van. Today, she drives her van to and from work, the local library and restaurants she enjoys visiting with her husband.
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Life Before a Wheelchair Van
Hale spent a year learning to drive and getting her Toyota Sienna hybrid modified to be wheelchair accessible. At the time, she lived 76 miles from Dallas, where she worked.
"I was commuting every day. When I lost the ability to drive completely, my husband would take me to Dallas and come home. It was a long commute," Hale said.
Soon, she was forced to live away from her husband and closer to work. Without an accessible vehicle, she lived with a friend and relied on rideshare services to get where she needed to go.
"I used Uber a lot while I lived with her because if I was at work and had an appointment, Uber is still semi-independent," Hale said. But that independence only lasted while she could walk.
"Once I got to the point where I couldn't walk at all, I couldn't use Uber because they couldn't take my wheelchair unless I took my manual wheelchair. They couldn't take my electric wheelchair, which is what I wanted," she said.
An independent person, Hale was grateful for her friend's hospitality but wanted more independence.
"I had to get an apartment across the street from work because I couldn't drive. I took my wheelchair and went from my apartment to the office in the wheelchair because, for a year, I was without a vehicle," Hale said.
Hale knew she not only wanted to drive her own vehicle but also to move back in with her husband. Eventually, she worked with her local BraunAbility dealer and a driver rehabilitation specialist to get behind the wheel.
Driving Independence for People With Disabilities
Hale's first BraunAbility vehicle was identical to the one she drives today: a blue Toyota Sienna hybrid with a powered ramp and hand controls to fit her needs.
"I wanted to be able to drive. My main concern was being able to drive again after losing my mobility," Hale said.
Hale found confidence in her driving abilities when a certified driver rehabilitation specialist helped her learn to drive using hand controls. She recalled the first time she drove her accessible van, saying she was initially nervous but gained confidence quickly.
"My driving teacher made me get on the freeway before she would allow me to pass driver's training and take the driver's test. I was so scared, and I probably drove slowly, but I made it home. After that, I got a lot more confidence. Now, I drive like I used to drive. It's normal for me to get in and drive with my hands. Driving an adapted vehicle is life-changing," Hale said.
The Second BraunAbility Toyota Sienna Hybrid
After being involved in an accident that totaled her first van, Hale called her local BraunAbility dealer.
"I called and I said, 'I haven't talked to my insurance company yet, but I'm gonna need a new vehicle, so start looking.' They found one. It was the exact same make, model and color, with the floor already lowered. It helped me get into the van a lot quicker because all we needed to do was add the hand controls," Hale said.
Hale's new vehicle was delivered directly to her less than a month after her accident.
"BraunAbility changed my life completely to get me back to normalcy. I can do what other people do," Hale said.
Hale encourages anyone looking to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle to consider a BraunAbility Toyota Sienna hybrid.
"It's an easy vehicle to drive, and it can be modified in different ways to accommodate most people. It runs just like a regular vehicle. It changed my life completely," she said.
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