Hello, my name is Joshua James Smith. Many years ago I was in a tragic car accident leaving me with a spinal cord injury and paralyzed from the chest down. Initially, I spent over a year in the hospital and have undergone numerous surgeries over the years trying to recover as much function as possible. Every day still has its challenges. — but you can help.
I need adapted transportation in the form of a van that I can drive. I can put this van to immediate use. I have employment opportunities, both computer programming and/or research with the UGA Kinesiology department once I can drive again. My previous collaborations with this lab have resulted in two research publications and were funded by NIH grants. With your help, I can build on my connections with this laboratory to resume being a productive member of the community again.
Without transportation, I will be confined at home with no alternative methods of travel. My vehicle is my lifeline to the rest of the world as it gives me great independence, and allows me to live life as close to normal as possible.
To modify a van with specialized driving equipment that fills my needs is very expensive, and something that insurance does not cover. These modifications include driving controls such as an Electronic Gas and Brake (EGB) system that costs 30k. The EGB works by pushing forward for gas and pull back for the brake. I also need reduced effort, or even zero effort, steering. This lowers the effort to steer between 40 to 70 percent depending on my needs, much like superpower steering. An emergency backup steering will activate if the van loses power to safely steer the vehicle to a safe location. I also need a touch screen module and six-button headrest for Secondary controls (examples: Start, intermittent, low, high wipers, wiper wash, parking lights, headlights, cruise on, cruise set, parking brake, and window functions). This headrest will allow me to use the blinkers, wipers, high & low beam headlights while driving and without taking my hands off of the steering wheel, gas, and brake. The last piece of equipment needed is a Lockdown Mechanism to hold my wheelchair while driving (EZ-Lock), which costs 3.5k.
As you can imagine, the cost of this equipment and installation is very expensive. I am writing you to ask for your help with these expenses so that I can continue to live a productive and independent life. Please share this with family and friends. Ask them to share as well. All donations are tax-deductible and improve my quality of life. Thank you in advance for your generous donation. God Bless!
To ease the financial burden, a fundraising campaign in my honor has been established with Help Hope Live, a nonprofit organization that has been assisting the community on a national scale for nearly 40 years. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law and held by Help Hope Live in the Southeast Catastrophic Injury Fund. Funds are administered by Help Hope Live for injury-related expenses only. Your contribution would be greatly appreciated.
If you would like to contact me directly you can email me at [email protected] or call me at 706-424-4257. Please look at the photo gallery.
For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.
Thanks for your support!
