Zoey is 11 years old, and when she was 21 months old, she was diagnosed with Rett Syndrome, losing speech, purposeful hand use, walking, and other motor control skills. Because she cannot speak or use her hands, Zoey uses an eye gaze computer with cameras that pick up which symbols she is looking at. Zoey regularly uses a wheelchair and requires quite a bit of assistance to take steps. She has lost the ability to chew and is now on a pureed diet, with a feeding tube used for medications and supplemental hydration.
When her family was searching for a modified vehicle, they used three different funding sources toward the conversion portion of the vehicle. Zoey qualified for base funding through Lancaster County. Her family was able to get a grant through the Achieva Charitable Residual Trust.
PATF also provided a Mini-Loan, which covered most of the remaining cost of the vehicle conversion. The family opted for an all-wheel drive conversion from AMS Vans, owned by Vantage Mobility International (VMI).
The new Toyota Sienna van is a side-entry conversion van with a power in-floor ramp, which allows Zoey’s mother, who had back surgeries, to roll Zoey into and out of the van easily in her chair without too much stress on her back. Being able to roll Zoey into and out of the van so easily in her chair will also allow her family to take her out on more errands and community activities.