BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica Turns a Dream Into Reality

CUSTOMER STORY

BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica Turns a Dream Into Reality

“Don't settle. Go for top-tier companies like BraunAbility.”

Lawson Sizemore was attending the Abilities Expo in Chicago when he first saw his dream vehicle in person: a limited-edition 50th-anniversary BraunAbility Entervan®. According to Sizemore, he knew immediately that he had to drive the van.

"When I found it online, that was the one I wanted from the get-go. When I saw it in person, we had to buy it," he said.

The wheelchair accessible vehicle, a BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica, was fitted with unique badging and gold accents that caught his eye.

A college student, Sizemore recently packed his van to the brim with essentials and moved to the University of Illinois, where he studies journalism.

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Lawson Sizemore, from Illinois

If I have somewhere to be, I can go whenever I want because I have my car.

Lawson Sizemore, from Illinois

It’s not like a soccer mom car; it’s more sleek and cool.

Lawson Sizemore, from Illinois

The Road to Purchasing an Accessible Vehicle

For Sizemore, the road to finding the perfect accessible vehicle was a long one. When he was in high school, the Sizemore family van became unfit for his wheelchair, and he needed accessible transportation before going to college. It was then that a neighbor surprised the Sizemores with a generous donation for a wheelchair accessible vehicle, and a family friend set up a GoFundMe.

During that time, Sizemore learned he could drive an adapted vehicle, and in just over a year, he got behind the wheel of his new van.

Whether he's running weekly errands, visiting home, or working with the University of Illinois men's basketball team, Sizemore loves taking trips in his accessible vehicle.

"I love driving anywhere, so every trip is fun. If I have somewhere to be, I can go whenever I want because I have my car," he said.

When you're able to drive to the store and get what you need and then drive back on your own...it's a whole new world of independence.

- Lawson Sizemore

Driving Modifications for People with Disabilities

Sizemore lives with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, or CMT, a condition that causes nerve damage in the arms and legs. As a result, he uses a power wheelchair for mobility.

Before getting his wheelchair accessible van, Sizemore relied on family members for transportation.

"Before I was driving, I was very dependent on my parents, and their schedule kind of revolved around my schedule. Being involved in school activities, they would always have to pick me up and drive me places. They would have to wait on me after school," he said.

For Sizemore, driving a wheelchair accessible vehicle allowed him to be more independent.

Getting behind the wheel required specialized training and equipment. Sizemore worked with a certified driver rehabilitation specialist, or CDRS, to determine what adaptive driving equipment he would need. He uses hand controls, which allow him to operate the gas and brake with one hand and a steering wheel spinner knob with the other.

The BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica

Before purchasing his limited-edition wheelchair accessible vehicle, Sizemore considered converting a vehicle to be wheelchair accessible, but he ultimately decided to purchase a new vehicle that matched both his mobility needs and personal style.

"I think the 50th edition, with the gold trim, the grille and the sleek black sports edition, is something a young guy like me looks for when trying to buy a van. It's not like a soccer mom car; it's more sleek and cool," he said.

First Trip in a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

You might imagine a new driver taking their first trip to the local mall or a favorite restaurant to celebrate getting a license. For Sizemore, however, his first trip was to a local grocery store with his brother and best friend, where he bought flowers for his mom.

For him, driving an accessible vehicle was not only about finding independence but also about celebrating the person who supported him along the way.

A World of Independence

Sizemore described the freedom a wheelchair accessible vehicle has provided him, saying, "When you're able to drive to the store and get what you need and then drive back on your own without anybody else going with you or without having to tell anybody that you're going, it's a whole new world of independence."

Sizemore's advice for anyone looking to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle is simple: "Don't settle. Go for top-tier companies like BraunAbility," he said.

Sizemore is supported by BraunAbility and his local mobility dealer, MobilityWorks in Plainfield, IL. When you purchase a mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.

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