Gabi's Wheelchair Van & Service Dogs

CUSTOMER STORY

How a Wheelchair User and Her Service Dogs Get Around in a Honda Odyssey Wheelchair Van

“I feel completely taken care of. I feel so spoiled to say that I have a BraunAbility adapted van.”

Ask Gabi Johnson what her dream vehicle is, and you might be greeted with a chuckle followed by a few childhood stories.

Growing up, Johnson's mom ran an in-home day care and had three kids of her own, so they were "always a minivan family," she said.

"I think since I was 5 years old, the Honda Odyssey has been my dream car. My best friend's mom had a Honda Odyssey, and I was always asking, 'Can we go for a ride in your mom's car, please? It's just so fun,'" Johnson said.

Little did she know, she'd be driving her own wheelchair accessible Honda Odyssey a few years later.

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Gabi Johnson, from Minnesota

I wish I knew how much my van was going to save me.

Gabi Johnson, from Minnesota

I think since I was 5 years old, the Honda Odyssey has been my dream car.

Gabi Johnson, from Minnesota

Finding the Perfect Wheelchair Van

Johnson began using a wheelchair a few years ago because of multiple medical conditions, including scoliosis, kyphosis and Bertolotti syndrome, which affect her spinal cord and mobility.

She casually explored wheelchair accessible vehicles and was looking forward to attending the Abilities Expo, which would give her a chance to see the vehicles up close and find the perfect match. However, her plans changed when she totaled an inaccessible vehicle.

"It would have cost insurance more money to pay for it than what the car was actually worth," she said, leading her to seriously consider a wheelchair accessible van.

Johnson's assistive technology professional, or ATP, connected her with Liz, a woman selling her late husband's BraunAbility Honda Odyssey. The timing and make of the vehicle felt like fate to Johnson.

"I waited until after Christmas. I called her, and I was like, 'I'm interested in this car that you have.' When she said it was a Honda Odyssey, it felt like the universe was setting this up for me," Johnson said.

Not only had Johnson found the vehicle she had dreamed of since childhood, but she also found freedom. After getting her wheelchair van, Johnson took it to her local BraunAbility dealer, Cummings Mobility.

"I had them go through everything on the car. It was in mint condition. Perfect," she said.

Despite her van being pre-owned, Johnson said she's had no issues since getting the vehicle, only needing to fill the gas tank and keep up with routine maintenance recommended by her dealer.

The BraunAbility Honda Odyssey Wheelchair Van

Johnson described her BraunAbility Honda Odyssey simply: "It's my favorite thing ever."

Laughing, she said, "I'm very protective of my car. No one else is allowed to drive it. Don't look at it too hard. Don't breathe next to it. That is my baby. That is my vehicle."

The Honda Odyssey is fitted with a powered wheelchair ramp. Johnson is particularly fond of the vehicle's hydraulic system. The vehicle lowers as the ramp deploys, making the ramp less steep so she can enter and exit with ease.

She also enjoys the seat warmers, sunroof and spacious interior.

The Spacious Interior of the BraunAbility Honda Odyssey

The BraunAbility Honda Odyssey offers a spacious interior that accommodates Johnson's lifestyle.

As a retail store manager, she embarks on a 45-minute commute every day and depends on her vehicle not only to transport herself but also her service dogs.

"I have two service dogs. They ride in impact-tested crates. Those take up quite a bit of space, so I'm not bouncing between cars," she said.

Johnson folds down the rear seats and secures the crates in the back. This setup leaves room for her manual wheelchair, essential medical supplies and shopping bags.

"My sister and I are Target and TJ Maxx people. So, we fill up the back of the car," she said.

I'm very protective of my car. No one else is allowed to drive it. Don't look at it too hard. Don't breathe next to it. That is my baby. That is my vehicle.

- Gabi Johnson

BraunAbility Wheelchair Vans Change Lives

Before getting her wheelchair accessible van, Johnson said her independence was limited.

"I have issues with bending down, turning side to side and lifting things, so I was putting myself in a really tricky position because I was having to disassemble and reassemble my wheelchair each time I got in and out of my van," she said.

This not only limited how often she left the house but also required her to arrive at destinations well in advance — 15 to 20 minutes earlier than usual — to assemble her wheelchair and conserve energy.

Johnson said the physical toll of lifting her wheelchair in and out of her vehicle, coupled with chronic pain and fatigue, made her feel "trapped."

That sense of confinement extended to her daily life.

"If I was at work, I couldn't go get lunch, or if I was at home, I didn't have the energy to go get groceries," she said.

She resorted to having essentials delivered to her home, especially during the winter months, to avoid the process of assembling and disassembling her wheelchair.

Finding Independence With the BraunAbility Honda Odyssey

Johnson's journey with her wheelchair van has been filled with countless memories.

Recalling her first trip in the vehicle, Johnson said, "I loaded up my dogs and my wheelchair, and I took them to a field, and we played. I didn't have to transfer out of my car, and the dogs fit. It was just the best."

Johnson encourages those who resonate with her story to explore BraunAbility vehicles.

"I wish I knew how much my van was going to save me. It's a relief knowing I don't have to worry about my health when getting from point A to point B. I feel completely taken care of. I feel so spoiled to say that I have a BraunAbility adapted van," she said.

Johnson is supported by BraunAbility and her local mobility dealer, Cummings Mobility in Albertville, MN. When you purchase a BraunAbility mobility product, you join a powerful community.

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