My name is Landry Stahl and I use a wheelchair due to an autoimmune condition called ankylosing spondylitis. This condition impairs how my body tolerates walking and standing, due to chronic pain and fatigue. My wheelchair has given me back so much, allowing me to go back to college to pursue my dream of becoming a high school teacher, and to work as a long term substitute at a local high school while I finish my degree. Vocational Rehabilitation has purchased a new custom wheelchair for me, but unfortunately my current vehicle cannot transport it without disassembly, and due to my physical limitations, I am not able to handle this on my own.
I am fundraising to help me purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle. I am looking at a either a Kia Soul or Sorento, or a minivan like a Toyota Sienna or similar, with an automatic rear entry wheelchair ramp so that I can load my wheelchair in without having parking issues that can come along with side entry ramps. I am working with Vocational Rehabilitation for funding the ramp conversion, but I am responsible for the vehicle cost. I am also working with Easter Seals Crossroads for a low interest vehicle loan that they offer to assist disabled people who need assistive technology like this, but this loan caps out at $35,000, which many of these types of vehicles can exceed. Additionally, I need to make sure that whatever I am financing will be something I can afford, which would be financing around $20,000 or less. What that means is that I am trying to fundraise to assist with the down payment for a vehicle that will meet my needs, so that I can finance the remainder affordably. I will be looking at certified preowned vehicles so that I can find something more affordable than a new vehicle, but also purchase something that has a warranty and should last me many years. At this time, I do not have exact figures, but I am working with Vocational Rehabilitation and Superior Mobility to identify my exact needs and what costs to expect with that. I will update this campaign accordingly as soon as I have more information, but for now I have set the goal at $60,000 as that is a general figure that is the ballpark of the full cost of a wheelchair accessible vehicle in the lower price range. Obviously, I do not expect to fully fund this, and will be covering the remainder of the cost after Vocational Rehabilitation’s part of the conversion via financing.
Being able to purchase a wheelchair accessible vehicle will help me to maintain my independence including my pursuit of a teaching career as long as possible as I live with a degenerative condition. Thank you for reading my story, and I greatly appreciate any contributions.
—— Landry has chosen to fundraise for Help Hope Live in part because Help Hope Live assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for contributors. Contributors can be sure donations will be used to pay or reimburse medical and related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign, click on the Give button.
For more information, please contact Help Hope Live at 800.642.8399.
Thank you for your support!
