Tag Archives: Vermont

Vermont Assistive Technology, Financial Aid & Disability Programs

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Vermont is a state where Freedom and Unity flourish. Vermont programs aid people with disabilities to live a more independent life by offering resources, financial assistance and training initiatives.

Opportunities Independence Fund
The Independence Fund provides loans for purchase of assistive technology including adaptive vehicles and vehicle modifications. The loan can be combined with grants made possible by the Vermont Center for Independent Living.

Vermont Assistive Technology Program
This program increases access of assistive technology to people of all ages and abilities. They provide short term equipment loans, advocacy, funding resources and training.

Vermont Department of Disabilities, Aging and Independent Living
Offers programs and services to assist persons with disabilities live life as independently as possible.

New England ADA Center

The DBTAC-New England ADA Center provides information and services about the Americans with Disabilities Acts and accessible information technology living in the New England area.

Northern New England AgrAbility Project

Provides assistance to farmers and their families who are affected by a disability. They have three offices in the state of Vermont. There are no fees for their services.

Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports

A program that provides skiing and sports recreation for persons with disabilities. The Kelly Brush Foundation is an advocate for ski racing safety and helps make purchases of adaptive athletic equipment for those with financial imitations.

Prepare Your Mobility Equipment For the Colder Weather

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Cold temperatures not only slow wheelchair users down, but can also slow down their vans and accessible equipment. For example, if you use a hydraulic wheelchair lift, you may have noticed that the colder the weather, the slower the lift reacts. The cold thickens the fluid, making it move slower through hoses, valves and cylinders.

There’s not much you can do about that, but preparing other equipment for cold weather is important to help avoid accidents and breakdowns.

If you live in the New England area · call our Mobility Center today (508) 697-8324 · We’ll rust proof your wheelchair accessible vehicle, give you an oil change, tune-up, and/or semi-annual ramp/lift service and have any other accessible equipment checked before the temperature dips. If you ask we can also check your battery, antifreeze level, heater, brakes, defroster and thermostat.

Do It Yourself:

  • Purchase winter wiper blades that cut through snow and ice.
  • Keep the gas tank at least half full. It reduces condensation and makes your vehicle easier to start on cold mornings.
  • Buy tires that have MS, M+S, M/S or M&S on them, meaning they meet the Rubber Manufacturers Association guidelines and can bite through mud and snow.
  • For better traction and control, rotate tires so the best ones are in the front.
  • Get an electric engine block heater. It warms the engine so the motor can start. It connects to normal AC power overnight or before driving. In extremely cold climates, electrical outlets are sometimes found in public or private parking lots. 
  • Cold weather is tough on accessible van batteries. Buy one with greater starting power, higher cold cranking amps and reserve capacity for energy when the engine isn’t running.
  • Use synthetic oil to make starting a cold engine easier.

Before you drive:

  • Keep rock salt on hand to melt ice off walkways for a safer wheelchair ride.
  • Clean the snow off the roof and hood so it doesn’t “avalanche” onto the windshield and block your vision.
  • Clear the head and tail lights for best visibility.
  • Scrape the ice off mirrors and windows.

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Here at VMi New England Mobility Center and Automotive Innovations we’ll service and repair your wheelchair accessible vehicle and/or equipment even if you didn’t buy it from us! So bring us your mobility van no matter the year (old or new), chassis (Honda, Dodge, Toyota, Ford, Chrysler, excreta..), or conversion (Side Entry, Rear Entry, VMI, Braun, Ricon, Rampvan, Elorado, Amerivan, excreta..)!!

Rust Proof Your Wheelchair Van Before It’s Too Late

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Winter is Coming
De-Icing the roadsRust Proof Your Wheelchair Van Before the Road Salt Hits the Streets!

We can’t live without salt. It’s a necessary nutrient, it’s used to seed rain clouds, soften household tap water, make chemicals and is used to make ice cream!

In parts of the country with freezing winter temperatures, drivers know that warming the cars up in the morning isn’t the only inconvenience. Icy roads are, too. The same chemical reaction between ice and salt that creates creamy, delicious ice cream also keeps our roads and sidewalks free of dangerous ice during the cold winter months.

A salt and sand mixture is frequently spread over roads before or after a snow or ice storm. Salt lowers water’s freezing point, causing any ice already formed to melt even though the air temperature remains well below freezing. The sand helps keep the salt in place, plus it adds a bit of traction to wet and often slushy roads.

While road salting helps people travel safely, it has drawbacks. It can cause major body and undercarriage damage to your Wheelchair accessible vehicle unless you take extra care and precaution.

If you’re one of the many who must travel the saline streets in the land of the ice and snow, we have some great tips to help protect your mobility vehicle from the ravages of road salt.

Plan Ahead
The best time to prevent salt damage to your conversion van is in Autumn,before the first snowflake falls; a little car maintenance will help keep the rust away.

Prevent
Prevention is better than a cure. There are a number of products that can offer prevention against rust. Products are available either as oils, waxes, fluids and coatings.  The range is vast, but our rust prevention processes, product, plan and application has been found to be most effective. Our rust proofing is ever evolving and has been for over the past 25 years.

  • Our rust proofing formula does more than just cover the metal required, we apply it as a high-pressured spray, ensuring protection to your handicap accessible vehicle’s most critical areas by penetrating, displacing existing moisture and protecting the many vulnerable crevices of your automobile.

As seen in the picture below this van has heavy rust and metal fatigue due to a lack of maintenance.

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Once the rust is this bad there’s not much we can do other than replace the van.
So call us or come in today to rust proof your van before it’s too late.

 

 

For Affordable Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles in Massachusetts, Think Used

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For Affordable Accessible Vehicles in Massachusetts, Think Used

Used Wheelchair Vans Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine
Do not allow finances to keep you from purchasing the handicap car you need. Instead, for affordable accessible vehicles, think used at VMi New England in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. There are dozens of used mobility vehicles on the market that will fit any budget.Living with a physical disability does present challenges. Fortunately, society has come a long way in making handicap accessible accommodations . Whether you use a wheelchair or have other mobility challenges, you will find that most forms of public transportation are wheelchair accessible.However, when it comes to independence and freedom, you’ll need your own handicap accessible car or van. For some it makes good economic sense to invest in a used wheelchair van from a trusted mobility dealership. Not only are used accessible vehicles more affordable, but many offer the same features as new ones and some include warranty coverage.

Make a list of the handicap options most suited to your needs including the wheelchairs dimensions with you in it along with wants prior to viewing affordable accessible vehicles. If you have difficulty with fine motor skills, you would benefit from a handicap car with a key-less start-up system. Do you prefer to drive while seated in a wheelchair or would a transfer seat be better? Handicap accessible vans offer lots of space for passengers and cargo, but handicap accessible cars can be more affordable and fuel efficient.

Be prepared to choose among a variety of mobility vehicles within your price range at VMi New England. Feel free to contact us while conducting research in advance to find your best options for used accessible vehicles.. Used, affordable accessible vehicles can be purchased through many places, but be very cautious when shopping at companies, such as car dealerships, and on-line specialty websites. Most of them aren’t interested in your long term needs and only want to make a sale.

Your best value will always be with a knowledgeable mobility dealership who’s interested in building a long lasting relationship.