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I thought I had a solution but realized that the issue was the lack of space on the side of the road where the van broke down.

Do you have AAA or other emergency service? If so, you could request a flatbed truck which might be able to tow the van behind it to a safer place where you could get your father out of the car. I can see that the narrow strips on the sides of most roads or freeways would present a problem though.

I'm wondering about companies called ambulettes, and companies that provide wheelchair accommodation vehicles specifically. I do think though that the problem is they're probably not prepared for emergency service. It would hurt to do some research on "ambulettes" or "wheelchair accommodation vehicles" to see if any do provide roadside service.

I think this could be a problem that could happen to any one of us who transports someone who uses a walker or a wheelchair, but is more critical when a wheelchair is involved.

Wish I had some good suggestions; this might be an area that's been overlooked by many assistive device and wheelchair vehicle providers.



The woman had an SUV or mini van - I don't recall which. After opening the cargo door, she pulled out a collapsible ramp, unfolded it as easily as unfolding a collapsible clothes rack. I don't remember for sure how she brought the collapsible wheelchair down, but it was a simple movement. Then she wheeled it around for her daughter to get in.

If you have a ramp van already, I assume you could get the wheelchair out and around, but the problem apparently was that the area on which you were stopped didn't have adequate space to bring the wheelchair around.
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Homebound, that really must have been an unsettling if not frightening ordeal.

I am surprised, however, that EMS didn't help. At least in Michigan, they can distinguish between life threatening emergencies and less critical situations. But perhaps b/c there were no medical issues (thankfully), that might have prohibited their involvement.

A few months ago I witnessed a woman taking her physically disabled daughter from her vehicle.
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This problem arose Thursday, when my father's ramp van broke down, stranding them by the side of the road. Getting him out of the vehicle was a nightmare, as there was a down slope on the ramp side. Once he was out, we could not find anyone with a ramp van - we called all of the local cab companies, ambulances, car rental agencies, nursing homes, and even 911. His doctors are in a different parish (county), so none of the public transportation would help. We ended up accepting the gracious offer from a passer-by, who loaded my 250lb father (with 3 people liftng) into the back of his SUV and brought him home, and unloaded him. My husband says this was the most stressful thing he's ever done. I'm trying to get a backup plan in place, as the van has over 200,000 miles on it and is prone to breaking down.
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norta

If this link is truncated, google New Orleans public transit, go to the NO RTA site and click on "how to ride with a disability."

Also check out Paratransit: norta

"Costs

" one-way ride on the RTA Paratransit Service costs $2.00.
If you have an RTA Paratransit Card, you can ride standard RTA buses and streetcars for free."

"Reservations

"To make a reservation to ride the RTA Paratransit Service, call the reservation line. The reservation line number is (504) 827-7433."
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Your county office for the disabled can help you.
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There are cab companies that offer wheelchair accessible transportation. These cabs are special vans where one can sit in their wheelchair and it is rolled into the van. The costs are more expensive then a regular cab.

Contact your local Agency on Aging, maybe they have a list of such cab companies.
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