Scribner and Mandiola are supported by BraunAbility and their dealer, MobilityWorks in Ormond Beach, FL. When you purchase a BraunAbility mobility product, you join a powerful community.
Every road has its twists and turns, leading to places we don’t always expect. For Sam Scribner and Katarina Mandiola, that road led to each other.
They met in 2020 through a shared love of travel. Scribner said of meeting his now-fiancée, “We met because we were both building vehicles we could travel in. My sister and I were converting a school bus, and Katarina was working on a Ford Transit.”
Over the next few years, they finished converting their vehicles, traveled together and fell in love. Eventually, they decided to settle down, selling the vehicles they converted and purchasing a fixer-upper in Florida. As they renovate their home to ensure accessibility for Scribner, a new vehicle sits in the driveway — a wheelchair accessible BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica.
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Life Before a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle
Before 2016, Scribner and Mandiola lived active lives, but that same year, Mandiola was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition, and Scribner became a quadriplegic after an accident involving a hammock.
Initially, Scribner documented his journey of converting a school bus into a livable, accessible space on social media. After meeting Mandiola, they combined their passions — his love of filmmaking and her love of art and graphic design — into a joint platform, sharing their experiences as a couple navigating disability and caregiving.
Challenges With Their First Accessible Vehicle
Like any couple, the pair went on multiple dates early in their relationship. While they had an accessible vehicle — a rear-entry Dodge Grand Caravan with a manual ramp — the vehicle did not adequately meet their needs.
Scribner said, “First of all, the car doors would open, and it’d be like —” He imitated a loud, creaky squeak reminiscent of a shopping cart with a stuck wheel. “You’re dressed nicely or at a fancy restaurant, then she would have to bend down and do the straps for my wheelchair. We’re parked in a handicap spot, so we’re right up front, too.”
Mandiola said a rear-entry vehicle meant Scribner could not drive because the vehicle’s front seats were not removable, and the manual ramp and wheelchair securement process was cumbersome.
“I had to manually strap Sam and his wheelchair in. The ramp handle was broken. There wasn’t a button for the ramp to automatically come out. You had to lift this heavy metal, unfold it, lower it to the ground, push Sam in because he was in a manual wheelchair at the time. Plus, I had to drive. It took a lot of effort as the caregiver to do everything,” Mandiola said.
Choosing a BraunAbility Wheelchair Van
Once Scribner began learning to drive, he chose a BraunAbility vehicle.
“I was working with vocational rehab to get into a vehicle I could drive. I landed on BraunAbility adaptations because it gave me the most freedom. Having the BraunAbility van, especially after having something that wasn't quite so tailored to my situation, was the biggest breath of fresh air,” he said.
Mandiola said the vehicle has provided not only mobility but also peace of mind. With an automatic ramp and wheelchair securement system, Scribner can get in and out of the vehicle and drive independently.
His fiancée, who enjoys being able to trade off driving responsibilities from time to time, said, “When Sam first got his Pacifica, I was like a passenger princess. I'm so spoiled now. I don't need to do anything.”
She said, “The van has been a huge balancing element of our relationship because I'm his full-time caregiver and we're first-time homeowners. Now that Sam drives, he can go pick up groceries. It’s a huge help. It hugely increases Sam’s independence and gives us balance.”
Scribner said, “For caregivers, even if I wasn't driving, everything being push-button and very easy lightens the load on your caregiver. We all know caregivers work hard to make sure those of us with disabilities can do what we need to do.”
Meaningful Trips in a Wheelchair Van
Day to day, the couple enjoys spending time outdoors. Having the van, Scribner is not only able to drive from his power wheelchair but also fit his off-road wheelchair in the vehicle.
“For the first four years of our relationship, we weren't able to go outside together,” Mandiola said.
In a lighthearted manner, she referred to herself and her fiancé as explorers, wanting to “live outside like feral cats.”
With a more reflective tone, she said, “For Sam, when we first took the off-road wheelchair out, he was like, ‘I haven't been out in the trees and the grass and no pavement.’”
Living in Florida, the couple enjoys the beach and can drive their van on the fine sugar sand. Scribner said that even without his off-road wheelchair, he can deploy the van’s ramp and shoot from inside the vehicle. This has allowed him to explore new avenues in his craft, as he enjoys shooting surf films.
Mandiola described moments like these as “moving,” saying, “We couldn't have done it without Sam's van.”
BraunAbility Pride
Mandiola said, “Sam is very proud of his van. That's for sure. He keeps it spotless. Whenever his wheelchair tires track in sand, he's like, ‘I have to get it detailed.’”
Scribner has a car wash subscription and said, “I get the van washed almost every time I get on the beach.”
In both a joking and serious manner, he said, “The van has been life-changing for me, and I do not want to lose that, so anything I can do —maybe getting the car washed 12 times a week, I don't know. That might be a little excessive, but it's important to take care of it.”
The pride Scribner takes in his vehicle is the same kind of pride BraunAbility has taken in manufacturing wheelchair accessible vehicles for over 50 years, changing more than 1 million lives.
Having read about BraunAbility's founder Ralph Braun, who also had a disability, Scribner said he appreciated Braun’s dedication and legacy.
“The level of thought and care that goes into these vehicles speaks volumes. I would recommend anyone consider a BraunAbility vehicle,” he said.
He added, “The van has performed amazingly. Everything is built well, and I would suggest anyone take advantage of BraunAbility’s extensive research and history in making these vehicles.”
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