My name is Landry Stahl, and I use a power wheelchair due to ankylosing spondylitis, an autoimmune condition that causes chronic pain, fatigue, and difficulty walking and standing for extended periods of time.
Over the past several years, I have relied on folding portable electric wheelchairs because they were the only type I could transport in my sedan. While those chairs helped me maintain my independence, they were never designed to meet my long-term mobility needs. I went through multiple portable chairs, and transporting them also required lifting a roughly 50-pound wheelchair into and out of my trunk, something that has become increasingly difficult and unrealistic for me to continue doing.
I now have a full-size power wheelchair that is much better suited to my daily mobility needs. It has made a huge difference for me at work, but there is one major problem: I cannot transport it.
Because my current sedan cannot accommodate the wheelchair, my power chair currently lives at the high school where I teach. I can use it during the school day, but I cannot take it home with me or use it for appointments, errands, community activities, or anywhere else I need to go. Having the right wheelchair has given me greater mobility at school, but without a way to transport it, I still do not have the independence that chair is meant to provide.
I had already been working toward replacing my sedan with either a van or SUV that could accommodate my wheelchair, ideally using an interior wheelchair lift. Recently, however, that timeline changed unexpectedly when I was involved in a car accident.
I am currently waiting for insurance to complete the claims process and determine what happens with my vehicle. At this point, it appears likely that my car will be considered a total loss. If that happens, I will need to replace my vehicle much sooner than I had originally planned, making it especially important that my next vehicle is one that can work with my wheelchair and an interior lift.
If insurance determines that my current car can be repaired instead, my goal will remain the same. I will continue working toward purchasing a compatible van or SUV as soon as I reasonably can. Either way, my current sedan is not a sustainable transportation solution for my mobility needs.
My fundraising goal is $5,000 to help with a down payment on a van or SUV that can accommodate an interior wheelchair lift. A larger down payment will help make financing more manageable and keep the monthly payment at a level I can reasonably sustain. I am also continuing to explore financing options and programs that may help with the cost of accessibility equipment.
Having a vehicle that can transport my wheelchair would change my day-to-day life in a very real way. I would finally be able to use the mobility equipment I already have beyond the walls of my school. I could bring my wheelchair home, use it for appointments and errands, participate more fully in my community, and have much greater independence.
I am a high school teacher, and maintaining my independence is incredibly important to me. My wheelchair helps me continue doing the work I love while managing a condition that has changed my mobility over time. Now I need a vehicle that allows that independence to extend beyond my classroom.
Every contribution toward the $5,000 goal helps bring me closer to a vehicle that can safely transport my wheelchair. If you are unable to donate, sharing this fundraiser is also incredibly helpful.
Thank you so much for taking the time to read my story, share it, or support me as I work toward a transportation setup that truly meets my mobility needs.
