Skip to main content

Part 1: She Believed She Could but She Didn't Because it Wasn't Accessible






Today marks 4 years, to the date, that I signed the papers purchasing my modified van. It was it a joyous occasion for our entire household! This modified van was going to change all of our lives and make things a lot easier. While this was a proud day, the journey to get here was not easy. As I reflect on my journey, I can’t help but think about the others who may be experiencing the same difficultly and feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. Well, I am here to let you know there is.

I always knew I wanted the independence and freedom of driving, I just didn’t know how to go about it. I would practice driving in my parents’ car, using my legs to operate the gas and brakes. With Osteogenesis Imperfecta, a bone condition, I knew driving this way would be a short-term remedy, because my legs would eventually tire out.

When I was a junior in high school, like every teen in that stage of their life, I was excited about getting my driver’s permit. My parents and I had talked about me driving and that following weekend, they were taking me to get my permit. I was so excited about this FINALLY happening for me. My friends were too! 

The Saturday morning of the driving test came. My entire family was ready to get this show on the road. I studied for weeks on top of driving, I was very confident going into the test. We arrive at the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV), and I waited for them to call my number. As we get to the counter when my number was called, an employee at the window said I couldn’t take the test.

We initially thought it was a misunderstanding and clarified that I was there for a permit, not a driver’s license. The employee told us, in a very nasty way, that the answer was still no. My parents asked why I wasn’t allowed to take the test and the only explanation she gave, was because I was in a wheelchair. The employee stated I would need a special document showing I could take the test. We asked her if she knew what that documentation was, and she said no. She did not provide us with much direction.

When we left the DMV I bawled my eyes out. I cried the ENTIRE ride home. I cried from disappointment and embarrassment. I had bragged to my friends about getting my permit that weekend. The thought of going back to school that Monday without my permit, made me cry even more. I didn’t really know where to go from there or what was next in my driving journey. I felt so defeated.

    Part 2 of this blog series will be posted on Monday March 21st, 5:00pm. 

                                                   See you soon!  


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

My Wish Bone Story

      Today, May 6th, is recognized all around the world as Wish Bone Day. Wish Bone Day is a day where people come together to bring awareness to a bone condition, Osteogenesis Imperfect. As this day approached, I remembered the traumatic way my parents found out I was diagnosed with this bone condition.       Imagine being a 3-year-old child watching your parents in a panic and being taken away from them. Imagine not fully understanding what was happening around you. All you know is that strangers are taking you from the people you know to be kind, loving, and compassionate. That was me; I was this 3-year-old child. In February 1998, not shortly after my 3rd birthday, my parents were exhausted from being up all night due to my constant crying and nonstop coughing. They assumed it was just a cold and tried everything they knew, but nothing helped. After speaking with my pediatrician, they decided to take me to Scottish Rite emergency room.  Upon arrival, the hospital staff did their r

Finale: She Believed She Could but She Didn't Because It Wasn't Accessible

  Now, I am entering my senior year of college. After obtaining my driver’s license, it seemed like everything started falling into place! Once my family and I started reaching out to insurance companies inquiring about insurance policies, Voc Rehab told us that the required insurance was not the same as typical insurance. I couldn’t just be added onto my parents’ current policy. The policy had to be broken down and itemized to show that it would cover the $50,000 worth of modifications. Noone had ever explained this to us, this was another obstacle in my driving journey. I reached out a friend from high school, Aliyah, who worked at a local State Farm Insurance company. I explained to her what I needed and what Voc Rehab was asking for. It took a few weeks, but she was able to provide the coverage and itemized breakdown showing the policy covering the modifications. She was able to get me exactly what I needed to move forward with the process. Once I was approved for the loan and

Part 2: She Believed She Could but She Didn't Because It Wasn't Accessible

  Some time had passed we went to the DMV to obtain my license. Due to that disappointing experience, I hadn’t done anything else pertaining to getting my license. I was still unsure on where to go from there. I still had the desire and dream to drive and was thrilled with the independence that driving would create for me. While I was approaching my senior year of high school, there was a program at my school offering work-based learning. This program allowed students to attend school part of the day and work the other part. I knew I wanted to participate in the program, but I knew finding a job I could physically do would be sort of difficult. In my job search, I was introduced to an organization, Parents Educating Parents and Professionals, PEPP. PEPP, Inc. The organization is a nonprofit 501c3, that was founded to work on civil rights issues for disability legislation, inclusion in community, the right to work, and educational advocacy for 26 years. I knew that based on its miss