National Family Caregivers Month "tools of the trade" - van Pt1

For National Family Caregivers Month I thought I would try a series of entries about ‘tools of the trade’. 

 

Why not start with the most expensive? … an accessible vehicle. Whether new or used these vehicles will cost you the same as luxury cars like BMW or Jaguar.

 

Though whenever I pull up next to a BMW at a light in my Dodge Grand Caravan with IMS RampVan conversion and rev my engine in vehicular greeting, the BMW owner never seems give me that haughty, fellow luxury car owner nod of recognition. <grin>  

         

While pricing seems profiteering to me, morality is not part of the equation in a free market. If you need something then you pay the piper.

 

I absolutely endorse the IMS RampVan. They are dependable work horses. Yet, that’s like endorsing nostalgia. IMS was swallowed by the Braun Corporation. You should, however, be able to find IMS RampVans in the used vehicle market.          

         

Depending on your economic philosophy corporate acquisitions can be a plus or can be a minus for consumers.

 

Braun’s swallowing of IMS has not made my life easier. Repair and maintenance of my IMS RampVan conversion is more challenging with the extinction of IMS RampVan dealers and/or service facilities.

 

Yet I must acknowledge that when push came to shove and over $3,000 in out of pocket costs for conversion related repairs were at risk because the warranty was tied up in the ‘acquisition’ of IMS, Braun did do the ‘right thing’ and honored the IMS warranty.

 

Ralph Braun grew up disabled with spinal muscular atrophy. "I realized there had to be a better way for me to get around." With creativity born of necessity began the Braun Corporation.

 

Caregiver extraordinaire, Sue of AOL Journal “A day in my life ...” has owned two Braun Entervans over the years and swears by them.

 

If shopping is in your future just Google wheelchair accessible van narrowing search by your location. Enough pages of links will open to probably keep you busy shopping as long as you want.

 

Caregivingly Yours, Patrick Leer

http://www.youtube.com/daddyleer

http://www.myspace.com/patrickleer

Tags: caregiving, Multiple Sclerosis, wheelchair accessible van, IMS RampVan, Braun Entervan, Braun Corporation, National Family Caregivers Month, assistive technology