Ben is supported by BraunAbility and his local dealer, Superior Van & Mobility in Evansville, IN. When you purchase a Mobility product from BraunAbility, you join a powerful community.
If you're driving down the road in Southern Indiana, chances are you might see Ben Trockman. A disability advocate, spokesperson, and city councilman, Trockman frequently travels for work, but he wasn't always driving a BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica. Injured at 17 in a motocross accident, Trockman became paralyzed from the neck down and has been a loyal BraunAbility customer for over a decade.
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The First Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle
Shortly after his injury, Trockman got his first accessible vehicle. Looking to get on the road quickly, he chose the first vehicle he could find—not a BraunAbility van, but a Ford 350 transit van.
He said, “The first vehicle we got was…big, huge. The van was a monstrosity. It was not a BraunAbility product.”
He described the vehicle, saying, “[It] barely fit in the parking garage, or anywhere, and we did not keep it for long because it scared all of us. We quickly found BraunAbility after that and made the leap.”
The BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica
Today, Trockman drives a BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica. In fact, he’s had three, staying true to the model that provides space, accessibility features, and the sleek look he desires.
He said, “Going from my first vehicle to a sleek, cool, normal size vehicle... it made me feel confident. It made me feel empowered to go and be where I needed to be. It was smoother and faster,”—a stark contrast, he says, to his first accessible vehicle.
He continued, “The neat thing about these vans is you wouldn't know they were wheelchair accessible unless you have one. They don't look any different than any other vehicle, so you're sleek and undercover.”
Since he sits tall in his wheelchair, Trockman is particularly fond of the Chrysler Pacifica’s extended doorway height, which allows him to get in and out of the vehicle without crouching. He also enjoys the vehicle's spacious interior and ease of use for those who help him get from point A to point B.
Trockman said, “What I like about [the van] is it is easy to use for anybody that does the driving for me, and I can get absolutely anywhere I need to go. It’s not hard to show somebody how to work it. It’s a winning combination of access and ease of use.”
Wheelchair Vans for Travel
Like many wheelchair users, Trockman avoids traveling by plane, as wheelchair damage is common, so, he relies on his Chrysler Pacifica for travel, both work and leisure.
One of the most significant trips Trockman took was when he traveled from Evansville, IN, to San Diego as a national representative for Easterseals, an organization providing resources to millions of people living with disabilities across the U.S.
He described the three-day trip, playfully saying, “I'll never do it again because it took so long.” He continued, “The point is, we were able to do it, and that was because of a BraunAbility product.”
Trockman has also been to Washington, D.C. multiple times for disability advocacy work, traveling thousands of miles in his accessible vehicle, which he can depend on to get him where he needs to be. When he’s not traveling for work, Trockman enjoys visiting Major League Baseball stadiums.
“My long-time goal has been to visit all 30 MLB stadiums, and I have been to about 11 of them,” he said, listing Cincinnati, Cleveland, Detroit, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia.
Finding Freedom with a BraunAbility Chrysler Pacifica
Before getting a wheelchair accessible van, Trockman limited his outings.
He said, “There was a time where I wasn't able to leave and do anything. The thought of not having the ability to get out and do something, that's a trapped kind of feeling.”
Luckily for Trockman, that feeling didn’t last long thanks to his BraunAbility vehicle. He emphasized the impact the Chrysler Pacifica has had on his life, saying,
“Without it, I don't know what I would do. Public transportation is really not an option in the area where I live. So having the van is very empowering.”
Beyond traveling between work and home, Trockman says his van gives him an opportunity to be more social and spontaneous, or, as he said, “It allows me ease of travel and allows me to, as I always do, wait until the last minute to leave to go somewhere.”
While Trockman’s first wheelchair van was not a BraunAbility vehicle, he quickly learned of BraunAbility’s longstanding history, saying, “It’s a good company that has been doing this for quite a long time and it's a reliable vehicle that allows you to go where you need to go.”
His advice to those looking to purchase a BraunAbility vehicle is simple: “If you're able to get one for yourself, I encourage you to do so. They’re good people. It's a good product. And you're going to make a lot of memories wherever you go.”
Contact your local BraunAbility dealer today to learn more about BraunAbility mobility products including wheelchair-accessible vans, SUVs, swivel car seats, and wheelchair securement products.
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