Becoming a Paraplegic
Injured at age 19, Gorlitsky was involved in a car accident. He described the accident, saying, "I was driving back home from college, and I fell asleep at the wheel. I wasn't wearing my seat belt and was in a single person car accident. The doctor said I would never be able to walk again."
How Accessible Vehicles and Assistive Technology Help People with Disabilities
A T9 paraplegic, Gorlitsky is paralyzed from the belly button down. He described the mobility challenges he faces as being environmental—a lack of accessible doors, wheelchair ramps, and uneven surfaces that are difficult to navigate in his wheelchair.
Adam said, "I live in a place in South Carolina that has a lot of hills. So being in a wheelchair isn't exactly ideal," but having used a wheelchair for nearly a decade, Gorlitsky has realized relying on technology like his power-assisted wheelchair wheels and his BraunAbility van allow him to get anywhere "without any trouble."
"This vehicle and technology help take away the burden [of] having to plan around my injury. Also, it makes traveling with friends and family a lot easier," he said.
He continued, "We don't have to worry about if someone’s car is fully accessible or not. It makes planning [trips and traveling] a lot easier."
