“Help! I Need a [Wheelchair Van, Wheelchair, Rollator, Shower Bench, etc.]: A Quick and Dirty Guide to Getting Used Equipment

In the parking lot of the home improvement store, a man pulled next to us and introduced himself, apologizing profusely. He saw us shopping for flowers in the store and didn't want to bother us, but he was desperate. His father had suffered a #stroke and they were learning how to take care of him but had no easy way to get him to and from his medical appointments. How could they find an affordable van with a lift, like ours?



Needs like this often come out of the blue. With your hands full trying to cope with a medical situation, you don't have time to fool around with financing and insurance. But here are some ideas for you based on years of dealing with #

MultipleSclerosis and some pretty tight situations along the way. It will still take some looking up numbers and maybe a lot of calling around on your part. Also realize that I haven't personally used most of the places listed below, so please be careful and do your homework about any buyers and sellers you deal with. But I and others have found what we needed — in the nick of time — at these places, so good luck and here goes:

— Before we start, check if your doctors and medical professionals offer transport services to your appointments, and look into Uber WAV accessible ride-shares. These are hit-or-miss but probably beats yelling out tons of money. Paratransit services can be good but they take a long time to qualify and use.

— Starting with big-ticket items first, you'll be surprised by how many used wheelchair-accessible vans you find on Facebook Marketplace. Also eBay, but with any vehicle you have to be careful about vehicle history: Some years ago, there were a lot of very good deals there, but it turned out that some were reconditioned after flood damage. Do your homework. Finally, here are tips for buying used wheelchair vans, with links: newmobility.com/tips-for-buying-a-used-wheelchair-van

— For other equipment, check out eBay, and tell all of your family and friends to scout for wheelchairs and scooters at local goodwill, resale shops and garage sales.

— Search websites like Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, Quipit (goquipit.com) and the private Facebook group Disability Related Gently Used Equipment for Sale (tinyurl.com/ypmc2bkc).

— Try contacting your local Center for Independent Living, which is a clearinghouse for #disability-related resources and can probably point you in the right direction.

— Look up your local chapter of United Spinal Association, which has a lot of online resources local branches supporting people with mostly mobility-#disabilities (legs, arms and such), and the local groups probably keep listings of used equipment available in your area.

— Find your local Easterseals, which often has contacts to find equipment, along with caring, knowledgeable people. Check out other nonprofits as well, like United #CerebralPalsy and Habitat for Humanity. As one of the Easterseals people told me, their funds are limited and often they're winging it, but they'll work on situations until they can help someone in need.

— Look up your state's assistive-technology agency, which may keep listings for used adaptive equipment at a savings.

— Look up used equipment at New Mobility magazine, the member publication of United Spinal. These people have been at it a long time and I guarantee you'll find articles about this or any topic related to assistive equipment and anything else you may be struggling with. For example, check out newmobility.com/what-to-do-with-your-used-wheelchair for leads to donate or find equipment.

— If you have MS, contact the MS Navigators at 800-344-4867 or contactusnmss@nmss.org. Tell the Navigator your story and ask for ideas and resources. The Navigators are trained in research and all things MS.

— Off-topic but still important: Mobility problems often go hand-in-hand with social isolation. If you are feeling alone and looking for friends and support, look to online communities like MS Connections on The Mighty (themighty.com/groups/multiplesclerosisconnections), the MS Society community group on Facebook (facebook.com/groups/nationalmssocietycommunity), MS World (msworld.org/forum), or sign up to speak to others with MS at the MS Friends program (800-344-4867 or contactusnmss@nmss.org). Hang in there, because there's community out here waiting to hear from you.

— If you have #ALS, the ALS Foundation has a durable medical equipment loan program that offers assistive items like wheelchairs, shower chairs and cushions. “We have never had to turn away anyone with ALS for any requested DME. They can come down to our chapter, and we work with a nurse or ATP to [properly fit them],” Amy Sugimodo of the Sacramento Chapter ALS Association told New Mobility. See als.org.

— The Triumph Foundation is based in Southern California but assists people with spinal cord injuries across the nation. Affiliated with United Spinal, Move United, and the Los Angeles Paralympic Sport Club, the organization takes in, services and distributes donated equipment in California, but also matches equipment for people in other states — and even gives grants for fresh batteries for power chairs. More info at triumph-foundation.org.

If you know of any others, or have more info about what's listed here, please contact me to update when I repost this next. For questions and comments, message @themightyjohn or email wheelieoutthere@gmail.com.