During the day, a personal care worker assists Kathia with daily tasks around her house. In the evenings, Kathia works for ChildLine, a statewide toll-free hotline for reporting claims of child abuse or neglect. She works mostly from home but, in the past, commuting to the office was a challenge. Relying on public transportation was often unsafe and uncomfortable due to accessibility issues, making it difficult for her to board and exit buses or trains.
Toward the end of college, the Penn State graduate did an internship and had to depend on people’s good graces to take her to and from the office where she was doing the internship. “I had to be carried in and out of any vehicle – imagine doing that in the rain or snow,” she recalls.
Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy at an early age, Kathia has learned to navigate daily life in non-conventional ways.“It’s a lot of work at times but things are doable, you just have to find the right resources,” she says. While searching online for funding for an adapted van, she found PATF. Through PATF’s Low-Interest Loan program, she was able to purchase the vehicle chassis (or body), while the PA’s Office of Vocational Rehabiliation (OVR) provided funding for the necessary vehicle modifications.
This collaboration between PATF and OVR made the adapted van significantly more affordable – an excellent example of how combining funding sources can help make assistive technology more affordable. Before getting an adapted van, Kathia couldn’t go to some doctors’ appointments or pick up grocery orders on her own, among other activities. Now, those everyday tasks – and commuting to work – are much easier. “The difference was like day and night. I’m able to drive safely,” Kathia shared. “There was a time when I had to go to the office for training for two weeks, from York to Harrisburg and back. I was able to drive myself, get there on time, and didn’t have to stress about public transportation. The van is a lifesaver; it really came in handy during my training.”