[feather]

I am in wisconsin and after 3 years my son is ready to start driving again. We have called a few places and really got no where. I know 3 years ago I was told my son would have to get certified to drive with hand controls before he would get his license back and that a certified auto repair place would have to install the hand controls, why I do not know.

Now we have called Social Security and Social Servies and they don't seem to know a thing about the program. My son says he will just start driving and if he gets pulled over then he will worry about it. It pisses him off that he has to do anything to get his license back as he says, I injured my spinal cord not my brain I am not retarded!!!!! And I have to agree with my son.

So does any one have any suggestions as to where to purchase hand controls or what a good brand is, or style?

Does anyone have any information for what Wisconsin requires or who to contact that will have real information and is a live person?

Now that my son is ready to make a move after 3 years and 8 months I want to get him where he wants to be so he does not give up because of all the road blocks put in his way.

Oh by the way, he was in the hospital 1 month that included his rehab, went to pool therapy for a month and that is all the medical care he has received since his motorcycle accident May 29 2006.

I think he is doing great for all that and I will do anything I can to assist him in any way he needs so we could really use some feed back here.

Thanks

[Tetracyclone]

Hi and welcome. i went through this recently in NY. 1. Did you talk to the humans at your local DMV? My local office was helpful. They did not know the rules but they called the state office.

I got many different answers from repair shops I called, each more convoluted. NY is insane- you have to get the permit before you shops are allowed to install the controls. So how do you earn to drive with them?!

I borrowed a vehicle from a friend with controls. While the rules were silly i met people who worked hard to get me what I needed. Support him to follow the rules. It is one of life's lessons and to do otherwise is to treat him like a crip. Aww, poor baby! He's all grown up, crip or not.

[Texaswheelz]

To get my license back all i did was show up at the DMV and take the test, just like every one else. We did of course have to use my car that i had already outfitted with hand controls for the driving portion of the test, but that's it. This was in Oklahoma though. The hand controls on that car were put in by GM as at the time they had program that the first time you purchased a car from them they would make it accessible by installing hand controls for you. Didn't pay for them or to have them installed. The next vehicle I pulled those hand controls out and contacted my local state vocation rehab program that pointed me to a mechanic that was certified to install them. After that I just bought a pair of these portable ones http://www.wheelability.com/ and have been using them for over 10 years now. There are also a few different types of portable ones found on the sportaid site http://www.sportaid.com/hand-controls/

If you can borrow a car that already had hand controls in it, then do so and let him practice with em, as it does take a bit of getting used to. Then just show up at the DMV with the car to take the test. If they say anything then they'll have to point you in the correct direction for what they would like you to do.

[allis53ca]

i did same as wheelz, borrowed friend's truck w/hc already in and just showed up at dmv and took test..did this in tx and co

[gordonr]

allis53ca, on Jan 11 2010, 11:16 PM, said:

i did same as wheelz, borrowed friend's truck w/hc already in and just showed up at dmv and took test..did this in tx and co

I took a few lessons from a driver school which had a hand controlled car. I borrowed (that is rented) the same car for my test.

Where I am you need a medical certificate stating that you are capable of driving. And on the license the conditions are stated (ie, hand controls).

The people who hand out the licenses are supposed to know all of this stuff. If they don't, you just move up to the supervisors until you find someone who can give you the right phone number.

Remember, there are thousands of us, and there are neat little legal categories into which we fit. All you have to do is find the person who knows what those pigeonholes are.

The last thing to do is to drive in an illegal state. If you think information is hard to find now, imagine if you are trying to reverse a suspension.

As for hand controls, any actual city has enough hand control business to support an actual specialist or two. Just stop moaning and find them. (hint: if you are dealing with the right people, they know right away what is going on without you explaining it)

Best,

-G

[KeepTheFaith]

There is a company in the midwest called "Adaptive Experts" that assist individuals with disabilities with adaptive driving skills and facilitate the process of obtaining your license again. Services are offered on-site at your residence or at your local rehabilitation facility.

Fox Cities , WI • 608-322-0052
LaCrosse, WI • 608-791-9768 Ext 4214
Madison, WI • 608-698-1050
Milwaukee, WI • 414-570-0441
New Richmond, WI • 651-507-5680
Oshkosh, WI • 608-322-0052
Rhinelander, WI • 715-350-1390

http://www.adaptiveexperts.com/wi.html

[feather]

sounds like he really just needs to practice and then take the road test. He is going to go shopping for a car as that will take awhile to get set up and in the mean time we can go to our DMV and get all the information we need.

There is no way he is going to take a chance losing his car insurance due to not following the rules, it still makes him mad but what's to do.

All the places in Wisconsin are a fair ways to drive for us there must be a place here that is closer, we still have to check it out.

thanks for all the feed back!

[airart1]

never had to do anything, while i was still in vanderbuilt rehab they took you around the block let u drive and that was it never did a thing, when they came do, they did put a restriction of hand controls on my drivers licences when i renewed them, same thing with my harley showed up, she told me to go around the block and put a M on my license, but she asked me u ride it over here, i said sure, no other way to get here, she laughed, i was across town, so she just basically watched me go around the block and i was set for my hog licence.........

[feather]

That's the way it should be just a rode test but Iguess my son has to go through DVR, vocational rehab and then go to certifided test then go to get his driver licences back. His car also has to be approved.

My son is wanting to get a car like right now as once he makes up his mind to do something he does it now!

So another question, what about cars, is there a car that everyone leans towards or can any car do? My son is looking at Hyundi as it is a good price good mpg, and a good rating.

Oh my son is a T9 - T10 and is not real tall so a average size car is what he likes best. Sporty of course as he is just 24.

Any idea's or suggestions will be helpful.

[Texaswheelz]

What ever car he likes, don't get shoe horned into a van/mini van if he doesn't want one and can transfer into the drivers seat himself. I've had everything from a 2 door convertible to a 3 inch lifted 4x4 bronco. So what ever works for him is good. I'd suggest to be sure and get cruise, cause going on long drives and having to hold down the hand control for gas the whole time is a pain in the ass.

Voc Rehab should help with getting the car accessible if not out right pay for it all.

[airart1]

i've had a 4 wheel drive and a corvette, plus i built me a harley that i stay in my wheelchir and ride, but i do have a van now also, and i like the ease of not breaking down my chair and just going, bery convenient when u go several places, plus another wheelchair person can go without taking another vehicle...so he's young, there are several that both doors open to give him access to putting his chair in and he's young....so i'd say what ever he feels comfortable in...........

[feather]

Yeah, sorry about the young part, doesn't make a difference. Good to know that it really won't matter what he gets as long as he likes it.

How do you have a harley that you stay in your wheelchair?? Sounds interesting.

The cruise control will be a must but at this time he has constant nerve pain and going any where in a car is not something he enjoys much due to the vibrations.

I sure would like to see my son come here and chat but he has no interest at this time. I always tell him if I come here and get information and he is ok with that as long as I don't talk about him, we Mothers tend to that you know.


great feed back on cars, now how about hand controls? Any names brands we could look up on-line?

[feather]

I mean any name brands or web-sites besides the one mentioned by texaswheelz!

[airart1]

i forget my name brand, but they run about 600 put on at a handicapped equipment place, u'd probably be better off looking in your local yellow pages and have them professionally put on, they do a good job, i'd have to go look to see the brand, check out my posts and u'll see on here somewhere theres several picks of my hog, i built it myself, nothing like it i've seen in the world, been stuff made for wheelchairs but i'd like to think mine is different than anything i've ever seen....but youth does will have alot to do with it, i had my accident at 25 and even though i still jump around in my 4x4, it makes a difference 20 years later..........and it will him also, he needs to get his pain under control, i lived with mine for 15 yrs, but after finally going to the dr. specifically for nerve pain, its made a big difference in my life, but he needs to really watch the addiction thing, because dr.'s will over medicate for sure.......