Becky received an Advance Payment and adaptations grant for her family’s Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV). Now she, and her twin sister Holly, can travel comfortably together.
Family affairs
17-year-old twins, Becky and Holly, are typical teenagers. They love watching YouTube on their phones, playing with their pets and going to their local cinema or disco.
The twins live in Surrey with their mum, dad, and two older sisters. Both were born with cerebral palsy, but Holly also has autism and Becky is a full-time wheelchair user.
“Having a house full of girls and pets can be lively,” says mum, Sarah. “It isn’t like Little House on the Prairie! Becky – or ‘Boo’, as we call her – is the calmer one though. She will happily sit with her headphones in all day.”
“Having a house full of girls can be lively!”Becky's mum, Sarah
“I knew a WAV would make the world of difference to us”
Becky and Holly go to a different school and college. They also have numerous medical appointments to attend, so it means coordinating lots of trips to different places.
“Going places has got harder for us all as the twins have grown up,” says Sarah. “Before we got the WAV, we used to drive in our old car or use assisted transport, but transferring Becky from wheelchair to vehicle was always tricky and painful for us both - oh, my back!”
When the strain of lifting became too much, Sarah looked for a solution and contacted the Motability Foundation.
“When I heard we qualified for a grant, me and the girls were so excited,” says Sarah.
The family were advised to see a passenger WAV demonstration model at a nearby dealership.
“There was a ramp at the back, blacked-out windows, and extra space for transporting the girls’ mobility aids,” says Sarah. “I knew a WAV would make the world of difference to us.”
“If we go to the park, there is space to bring all our equipment.”Becky's mum, Sarah
Out on the road
The grant, that covered the Advance Payment and vehicle adaptations, meant Sarah would no longer need to lift and transfer Becky. This was a relief as it was affecting her own health.
“Day-to-day trips are easier and more comfortable now,” says Sarah. “The ramp and winch guides Becky in in her wheelchair. And, if we go to the park, there is space to bring all our equipment without one of the girls getting a handlebar or a wheel in the back of the head! We look forward to all the places we can visit freely next summer.”
