MRS helps customer secure accessible van

Benjamin is loved by his coworkers at Riverfront Eyecare and even more adored by the customers he serves. As a customer service representative, he is responsible for scheduling customer appointments and making sure they can get their glasses at the soonest possible date. Benjamin's employment was jeopardized when the van he drove with wheelchair accessible modifications and hand controls was no longer safe.

Because Benjamin had previously worked with Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) finding his current job, he was familiar with the type of support they could provide. So when he needed support securing a new van, he knew exactly who to reach out to.

MRS put Benjamin through an updated evaluation with an occupational therapist who identified the type of accommodations Benjamin would need for a new van that would make it safer for him to enter and transfer to a seat from his wheelchair. Unlike his previous van which required him to hop out of his wheelchair from the back and army crawl to the front, Benjamin identified a side entry van with an automatic door opener where a ramp would unfold, allowing him to enter the vehicle in his wheelchair then transfer to a swivel seat that would allow him to comfortably access his hand controls.

Thanks to financial support from MRS, Benjamin purchased that van and is now driving back and forth to work every day safely and independently. He is grateful for the assistance he received, calling the new van a “blessing” and “miraculous” because it is much easier to get in and out of than his previous van.