CUSTOMER STORY

How a BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica Honors a Lasting Legacy

“Because of BraunAbility, disabled people are able to get in our vehicles, get out there, and live the best life we possibly can.”

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José Flores' connection to BraunAbility goes beyond the practical benefits of his BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica. He shares a personal connection with BraunAbility's founder, Ralph Braun. Like Flores, Braun lived with a progressive neuromuscular condition that caused muscle weakness and affected his mobility. While Braun had muscular dystrophy, Flores lives with spinal muscular atrophy, or SMA.


Life Before a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Before getting his first wheelchair van, Flores faced transportation barriers. At the time, he had a non-accessible vehicle.

“I used to drive with my arms and legs when I was a teenager, but once I lost my ability to walk, I couldn't drive any longer,” he said.

Flores used a motorized scooter and relied on family members to get around.

“We would take the scooter apart and put it in the trunk. My family would have to lift me. That was our way of transferring in and out of the vehicle,” he said.

Eventually, the process became tiring for all involved. To make things easier, Flores' father built a wooden ramp so family members could drive the scooter into the vehicle instead of taking it apart. Even then, Flores still needed assistance transferring in and out of the vehicle.

When Flores began using a power wheelchair, he needed a more dependable transportation solution, leading him to consider a wheelchair van.


Now, I can just come and go whenever I want. I don't have to ask anybody to take me here or there. I can come and go as freely as anybody else would, so I’m grateful for the van.

- José Flores

A Loyal BraunAbility Customer

It was during a routine hospital visit that Flores discovered he could drive as a wheelchair user. He saw a young woman getting out of her vehicle in a wheelchair.

“I was fascinated by it. I was like, ‘Are you kidding me? You’re telling me people in wheelchairs can drive?’” he said.

The woman shared that vocational rehabilitation had helped her get an accessible vehicle, and soon, Flores began his own journey with vocational rehabilitation, receiving training to drive again. This led him to get his first wheelchair accessible vehicle, a Chevrolet Uplander.

This van was life-changing for him and his family, eliminating the physical strain of transferring for everyone.

“It took me for the ride of a lifetime,” he said of his first vehicle.

After more than 10 years with his first accessible vehicle, Flores was ready for an upgrade. 

Chrysler Pacifica handicap van review

The BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica

Flores chose the Pacifica for multiple reasons. “It has the panoramic sunroof. The color is pearl, so it has a shiny coating when you look closely. It looks really nice,” he said.

Most importantly, though, as a power wheelchair user, Flores appreciates the spaciousness of the vehicle. “When I was shopping around, I looked at some other brands, and when I got in them, in my opinion, the Pacifica was the one that had the most space to do a 360 spin without banging into the back seat or the side of one of the sliding doors,” he said.

Wheelchair Vans Change Lives

Flores often uses his vehicle for work as a professional speaker, frequently sharing his story with others. A New York native who now resides in South Florida, he enjoys taking cruises and spending time at the beach in the warm weather. When he's not traveling, Flores relies on his vehicle for everyday tasks, such as running errands.

“Now, I can just come and go whenever I want. I don't have to ask anybody to take me here or there. I can come and go as freely as anybody else would, so I’m grateful for the van,” he said.

Speaking about sharing a similar diagnosis with BraunAbility's founder, Flores said, "I am so grateful for BraunAbility and how far they've come with technology and advancements in innovation. I see not only the dramatic changes that have happened in my life in a positive way but in the lives of people in the disability community that they have the opportunity to get their own van. Even if they can't drive but get a van so they can get out of the house and have somebody else drive, it's game-changing.”

Reflecting on the impact a BraunAbility vehicle has had on his life, Flores said, “Because of BraunAbility, disabled people are able to get in our vehicles, get out there, and live the best life we possibly can. I know for sure I'm living my best life now because BraunAbility is a part of making that happen.”

When asked what he wants others who are considering purchasing a wheelchair van to know, Flores said, “The level of freedom that you will experience by making the decision to get a BraunAbility accessible vehicle is going to be not only mind-blowing but also life-changing. These vehicles open your mind and your eyes to so many other experiences, moments and memories that you get to build. It makes it all worth it. If you're thinking about purchasing a vehicle, don't think twice; just go for it. You won't be mad that you made that decision, and your life is going to change forever,” he said.


Flores is supported by BraunAbility and his dealer, In Motion Mobility in Sweetwater, FL. When you purchase a BraunAbility mobility product, you join a powerful community.


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