My husband and I have custody of our three granddaughters, ages 10, 8, & 5.   I am now disabled due to osteoarthritis throughout my body.  Sara our 10 yr. old is also disabled due to arthrogryposis at birth.  We are in desperate need of a wheelchair accessible van, so that I can get Sara around to different places.  Sara is very intelligent, and is often selected for different school functions or events.  I have no way of getting her around in her wheelchair.  Our income has become very limited, due to my disibility.  Please help!

Gloria Farmer

Two years ago my husband and I received custody of three beautiful granddaughters, ages 10, 8, & 5.  Sara, the oldest is disabled due to arthrogryposis at birth. Shortly after receiving custody, I became disabled, I am  45 yrs. of age and I have osteoarthritis throughout my body, needless to say our finances have become very limited.  Sara is a very intelligent young lady.  I am unable to take her anyplace,  she has become too heavy to lift and it is impossible for anyone to load her wheelchair, therefore Sara is usually at home.  She misses alot of school functions, parties, etc.  We are in desperate need of a wheelchair accessible van.  Please Help!

Hello!

My name is Reynaldo and I live in Lugoff, South Carolina, where I've lived for almost two years.  Prior to this I lived in Florida all my life -- my childhood years in Riviera Beach, and my adulthood in Lake Worth, both in Palm Beach County.  I am 43, single, never married, and live alone with my small dog in my apartment.  I'm about 250 pounds, 5 foot 6 1/2 inches.

My interests include forensics, medicine, criminal justice, and legal issues; movies, television, music, and being on the computer.  I have a home theater system with 7.1 surroundsound speakers.  The apartment I live in is a basic, modest apartment in which I live under a federal program known as the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly known as Section 8.  I am on SSI and SSDI, Medicare and Medicaid, literally living from paycheck to paycheck.  I also am into photography, aviation, and cooking/eating.

Hello to all of you! 

I am brand new to AidPage, but I will try my best to express my needs: here we go!

My name is Reynaldo and I have Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism.  I created a nonprofit organization, www.aspergeradvocacy.org, to advocate for those with my disorder, especially adults for whom at the time they were children no help or information was available about this disorder.  In addition to having Asperger's syndrome I have spinal stenosis, thus, limited mobility, whereby I use a power chair.  I live alone with my dog Ginger.

Recently, after many years of fighting for my Social Security benefits, I have finally received them.  The first objective that I met was to get permanent housing.  Now I live in an apartment under a section 8 housing choice voucher.  After living in Florida for over 35 years, specifically Palm Beach County, I am now living in Kershaw County, South Carolina.  I moved here because this is where they issued a voucher for me much quicker than any other housing authority to which I applied for a voucher.  This was a move I do not regret!

Instead of going on a waiting list in Florida, which would have taken many years for my name to come up, I was issued a voucher instantly in South Carolina.  Of course I had to move over here in order to use that voucher, somethign I didn't mind.  My plans are to stay in South Carolina, or anywhere where it is not too warm and not too cold.

Because of my disorder, characterized by behaviors often misunderstood and the result of adverse stimuli, I had been the target of bullying by several of my neighbors here, who themselves have disabilities ranging from bipolar disorder to mental deterioration because of age. 

I did not know what to expect when I initially moved here to South Carolina.  While it is considered the sixth most dangerous states in the United States (FBI, 2006), most of the longtime residents here have raised families for many generations, and in essence are quite comfortable.  About 70% of the population here are chubby and very content with their Southern cooking and hospitality.  I have gotten to know many people here and am glad that I made the move as though I didn't really have any other choice.

The area in which I live is rural.  There's only one bus that comes through here, and it only comes twice a week, very early in the morning, and once in the evening during those days.  Because of my disability and situation, I have to depend upon a paratransit vehicle, which can be expensive as they charge more money based on the fact that I'm a wheelchair user.  I had been volunteering in a social service agency that provides energy and rental assistance to those in need.  But because of lack of transportation and more medical issues (now I'm diabetic as of December, 2007), I had to quit my volunteer position.

I believe that by having a decent vehicle I can be able to reach out to people farther to be able to assist them in their special-needs.  I therefore am wishing for a vehicle: either a minivan or a large vehicle with a power chair/scooter ramp to accomplish this.

My name is Alexis Horne and I am on the waiting list for a service dog from WAGS (Wisconsin Academy of Graduate Service Dogs).  I will be getting my dog next year. This dog will help me do things like open doors, pick up things I drop and turn lights off and on. It will make me a more independent person so I don’t always have to ask someone else for help.  I have cerebral palsy and I use a wheelchair to get around.  When I get my dog, I can take it for walks and with me when I go to the store and other places.  Service dogs cost about $12,000 to train from a puppy to placement with a special needs individual.   I have had rummage sales, saved aluminum cans and some other fundraisers as well.  I have made about $2000 so far. I would like to ask for help in coming up with ideas for fundraisers so I could manage to raise the other $2000 I still need to be able to get my service dog.  Thank you for any help you can give me.

I am currently trying to get help with buying a wheel chair accessible van. The prices are outrageous, and with out it I can not go out with  out the assitance from others. Any help or resources any one know I would appreciate it. .. These vans cost in the range of 45 to 50 thousand dollars. I have some money put away but not that much. I have a terminal illness and can not expect everyone else to stop there lives for every appointment,  just to take me out .

Please help with anything.

Hi,

My name is Nicole.  I am in a wheelchair with a spinal cord injury which causes me chronic pain and is wose under stress.  I also have two children and am in the process of seperating from my husband.  I am experiencing extreme financial crises.  I live in Monterey, Ca where the cost of living is very high.  My plan is to sell my home (it is my home that I bought with a settlement of money from the car accident that put me in a wheelchair at age 19) and move to Colorado with my two kids, where we can afford to live.  My problem is, my soon to be exhusband is not working and can't pay the bills.  I work as a biofeedback tech and Herbal Specilist but my business is not enough to pay the huge mortgage payment due August 15th, 2007.  I want to keep my house payment current and credit card dept under control so that when I go to Colorado I will have good credit.  Otherwise, if my credit is bad, I won't be able to rent or buy a home.  I'm truely very scared.  My wish is to have two months of mortgage covered and help with credit cards.  My mortgage is $2,400 a month and my credit card debt is about $25,000.  $10,000 would be an ideal amount to help me through these couple of months before I'm able to move.

Any amount of help is appreciated. 

Blessings,

Nicole

Hello,

I am caught in an interesting situation.  I do not qualify for SSI because I get SSDI.  I do not get medicaid because I don't qualify for SSI.  I will not get medicare for another year (2 year waiting period).  My disability was caused by domestic violence, and I can not work.   I was able to obtain a manual wheelchair from a local medical supply company that was going out of business and was giving away their used chairs.  My challenge is that I need a wheelchair ramp built at my home so that I don't have to crawl up the stairs any longer.  I also need a vehicle that can handle my wheelchair better than my VW.   Right now I have to ask people in the parking lot to get my chair out for me and to put it back.  Sometimes I have to wait a long time to get anyone to help.  I am unable to pay all of my bills, let alone the new added expenses that have arose.  I was able to get help with a divorce, so he is totally out of the picture.  If anyone out there can help, or know of someone that can or of a website or information that I can use, I really appreciate the help.   kathy   nothomebychoice@yahoo.com

i am 52 yrs. old,completly disabled,my home needs to becompleted on some remodeling that is in progress and have no finances to complete.also need some handicape access work done on house with access,doors,bath,heat and air,other projects.also have complete woodworking shop machinery and no building to put it in.

i am a single (divorced) mom of 6 their father lost parental rights. i have become disabled on SSI ) I make less than 900 a month, and am now confined to a wheelchair.and am on O2 24/7. i cant go anywhere because i dont have a van that is wheelchair friendly. the old 92 van i have has a lot of problems and my wheelchair wont fit in it. i would like a newer van to drive that i can use and take my wheelchair .i cant afford to break down and get left out in the heat or be gone longer than i have oxygen to get me through.

 i was told the gov helps diabled people buy a wheelchair equpt van. i have spent hours looking online, can anyone tell me where to go to get a grant for that purpose? 

My name is Dianne Williams. I am well traveled, studying with the Oshogbo artists in Nigeria, dialoging with the Africans in South America in the Rain Forest of Surinam, and in 1998, moving to a flower garden in Baja California, Mexico for four years to focus on writing. I usually stand alone, but this time I need help. I pinched together a few bucks and bought 89 Volvo wagon after my beloved Honda broke down. Thinking I would at least be able to get on the road and look for a job to save for a more current car. Well, to my dismay the handcontrals on my Volvo, needs a special part, which will cost nearly $1000. I follow the advice of my creative muse: “Don’t worry about growing old, worry about staying new.” However, it is hard to stay new when you’re a paraplegic without a car. I was pushed off the road six months ago. I feel like my wheelchair has flat tires. It is beginning to affect my mental state. Can you help me travel up the road? Anything will help, even a loan will do! Big Love, Dianne

Contact Information:
rara2u@yahoo.com

Anyone need a wheelchair in san diego county?

I'm sitting here at midnight wondering what in the world I can do to help myself and others. My husband and I are both physically disabled and are just barely able to pay our bills. I know everyone else in this country is having the same problem with a few exceptions. Problem is we don't fit into any "category" we make 5 dollars a month too much to receive any state or federalaid and,I don't know if anyone has tried, but charitable organizations just aren't set up for middle class disabled caucasian people. They have charities like meals on wheels for elderly dogs (seriously they do) but to try to find a wheelchair for my husband or some help getting our ramp repaired before someone falls throughit , forget it. I'm glad the doge are eating well. We ourselves have had to cutback on groceries so we only eat what's on sale or buy from the "rotten rack" or day old bread . Thanks for letting me rant

PS I love dogs but feel that there are more serious problems to be dealt with

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Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

Either way is good - the important thing is your participation. On Aidpage, people support each other by speaking out and by paying attention to each other - as simple as that.

Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

Either way is good - the important thing is your participation. On Aidpage, people support each other by speaking out and by paying attention to each other - as simple as that.

Feel free to participate in this public group space.

Two easy ways to do this:

1. Add a comment or a question here - on this page... or on any other page in this space.
   
2. Or, if you want to start a separate thread - make a new page.

Either way is good - the important thing is your participation. On Aidpage, people support each other by speaking out and by paying attention to each other - as simple as that.

I think I posted this as a reponse so sorry if you read this twice.  I'm a mother of 3 great kids, two of whom (twins) have disablities.  My twins both are in wheelchairs, althought one can walk for short distances with a walker.  I had to stop working full time as an RN due to all the surgeries (14 combined), and doctors appointment ect.  My husband is a fireman and works odd jobs on his days off to try and make ends meet.  We are in debt due to our situation, but I'm not asking for assitance for that.  The hardest thing for me is the inability to give my children a chance to do things that other kids do.  We need a wheelchair accessible van that will hold two wheelchairs (full size van with a lift), and they cost 50 -60 thousand dollars.  There is no way we can afford to buy that.  I just want to be able to take my kids th the zoo or shopping ect.  Right now they are stuck at home except for going to school or the doctor.  If anyone can help I would be eternally grateful.