New SIU van opens avenues to drivers with disabilities

CARBONDALE, Ill. —Talk about a conversion van. You can steer it with a joy stick, open the cargo door with a magnetic card and set the cabin controls by leaning back on the headrest.

“For drivers with disabilities, this is the most primo van in the country,” says Jon M. Geiger, a driver education specialist with Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Geiger works at the SIUC Evaluation and Developmental Center.

The Center—a part of the University’s Rehabilitation Institute—took delivery of the 1997 Ford Econoline this spring. With all its improvements, the van cost $125,000—however, the University landed a grant from the Illinois Office of Rehabilitation Services to pay for the vehicle.

After-market add-ons make it a dream machine for people with disabilities.

Some drivers will take behind-the-wheel training in it. Others can take it for a spin to see what type of equipment they need in their own cars, trucks or vans.

The van will become the workhorse of the only downstate driver education and evaluation program for people with disabilities. SIUC operates the program in conjunction with the state Department of Human Services. Demand for the training runs high; it can take six months for prospective students to make it to the top of the waiting list. But most say it's worth the wait.

“You could say it was a driving force in helping me to get out and be independent,” says Herrin resident Debby Kiesling, who landed in a wheelchair after surgeons removed a

spinal cord tumor. Thanks to Geiger’s class, she hefts the chair into her specially equipped car and commutes to work in Carbondale.

Gary F. Austin, director of the College of Education’s Rehabilitation Institute, says: “The accessible van is a valuable tool for our faculty and staff to provide new knowledge for students, while serving the people of southern Illinois. We appreciate the support and confidence the state Department of Human Services has demonstrated by assisting us to purchase this vehicle.”

Most of the adaptive equipment can be mixed and matched to meet an individual’s needs. Here's a glimpse at some of the driver-friendly features:

• A moveable floor helps those in wheelchairs attain the most comfortable seating height.
• A $28,000 joystick lets drivers accelerate, steer and brake with a single device.
• Four different steering wheels—ranging from 6 to 12 inches around—can be fitted to the steering column. Ergonomic hand grips may be attached to each. If necessary, the steering wheel may also be mounted vertically and operated like a hand crank.
• Acceleration and braking can be accomplished with a variety of hand controls, able to be mounted to the left or right of the steering column.
• By leaning against the headrest, drivers can activate turn signals, high- and low-beam headlights, heating and air conditioning, wiper blades and more. On-off switches are also mounted in overhead and dashboard panels.
• Drivers who use wheelchairs can easily operate the cargo bay door and wheelchair lift by themselves—using a magnetic touch card.
• Variable-effort power steering cuts down on muscle fatigue. Drivers may choose three resistance levels, from conventional power steering to reduced effort and zero effort.

Ahnafield Corp. installed the equipment at its factory in Indianapolis, Ind.

The gear may accommodate drivers with varying degrees of paralysis, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, head or spinal cord injuries, or hearing and vision impairments.

Geiger has been teaching people with disabilities to drive for 14 years and belongs to the Association of Driver Educators for the Disabled.

Anywhere from 60 to 80 people receive driving assistance at the SIUC Center each year. More than half annually qualify for drivers licenses, says Geiger.

“I tend to work with people and not give up on them. When they finish here, they won’t wonder for the rest of their lives: ‘Gee, could I have been a licensed driver?’ They’ll know,” he says.

It’s very satisfying to see former clients navigating the highways, he adds.

“The Center helps people learn the skills they need to live on their own. And obviously driving is a big part of that.”

To see if you or someone you know qualifies for the program, call the nearest Department of Human Services, Office of Rehabilitation Services at 1-800-ASK-DORS (Voice, TTY and Spanish). To reach Geiger, call the SIUC Evaluation and Developmental Center between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays, 618-453-2331.

Email: University News Service