Need for a community wheelchair transportation solution

Charleen Bruder, Comment

My name is Charleen Bruder.  I am an employee of Good Samaritans and presently work at their facility Vista Village in Pincher Creek.

I have been an active volunteer with an MS patient and have become aware of the lack of wheelchair accessible vehicles for people who are wheelchair bound.


Tina Webber is an active member of the community and a resident of Vista Village.  We have been swimming once a week at the Pincher Creek pool for her rehab.  The cost out of her pocket is $16.00 per week for the handibus plus swimming fees.  She has also needed to go out of town for Doctors appointments, as well as in Pincher Creek, she has also needed transportation to attend a variety of events. Until now we have been able to use my van, but with difficulties.  To have a woman so young unable to have the independence most of us take for granted.  Simply going out to a fundraising dinner becomes difficult due to limited transportation available.

This is where this story begins; we spent a week calling any and every person who would have a wheel chair accessible vehicle.  To our dismay, none are available after 4:00 pm.  By the kindness of Earl Duffield Tina was given a ride to a local fund raiser.

Within the last month a van is available for sale by a women who sadly just lost her husband.  I gathered the information and approached Dick Wayward with the Legion.  He thinks it’s a great idea and has contacted his board.  They are hoping to get all service clubs meeting to see how to get a wheelchair accessible van for community use.  I have also spoken with Doris Rowledge with Care Bears and she does not think they would be able to take on the responsibility of a van.  Their drivers are few and are older in age, the added cost of up keep of the van would be too much as they are struggling with making ends meet now.  Gerry Barber with the Good Samaritans states that "They could have the van donated to Vista, but the community would not be able to use the van, due to insurance issues".

I’m hoping with the meeting of clubs and organizations we can find a solution for the members of our community in wheelchairs, to make a van like this available.  As for now family members struggle with getting wheel chairs in their vehicles while others get an ambulance ride to a doctors appointment.

Well with this said, I'm hoping our community can come up with a solution to this problem (at) the upcoming meeting.

- Charleen Bruder  

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