Guidosimplex Driving Controls Offer Freedom and Independence

Wheelchair vans have changed dramatically over the years, becoming sleeker and more convenient. However, one of the most empowering changes to handicap vehicles in the modern world is the line of hand controls available that give individuals with disabilities the ability to get behind the wheel once more and enjoy the freedom of the open road on their own. One of the leaders in innovation here is Guidosimplex – their hand controls include some of the most advanced options on the market today.

For instance, they offer the 906 accelerator ring, which allows disabled drivers to control the vehicle’s speed by gently pushing the ring forward while ensuring a natural gripping position. The 906 accelerator plunger does the same thing, but allows acceleration control by depressing the plunger with your thumb.

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Injured Marine Receives the Truck of his Dreams

Ride-Away, The Semper Fi Fund, and the Help Our Military Heroes worked together to get CPL Charles Donnelley the truck of his dreams.

October 11, 2011 – Londonderry, NH:  A Ford F250 Super Duty truck and a check were presented to New Hampshire native and Marine Corporal (Cpl.) Charles Donnelly at Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp. at their Corporate Offices in Londonderry on Thursday, October 6th. Kirt Rebello, Director of Community Outreach – East for the Semper Fi Fund, Laurie Hollander from Help Our Military Heroes, and Mark Lore, President/CEO of Ride-Away, handed a check to CPL Donnelly for $10,000.00 towards the cost of the vehicle.

“We did what we could do to help,” said Ride-Away President Mark Lore. “Chuck has a very compelling story, and once we heard about it, so many people here wanted to step up and help. This is how we’re able to do what we do.”

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See the New England Fall Foliage in your Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

Fall is upon us and now is the perfect time to get into your wheelchair accessible vehicle to see the fall foliage throughout New England.  Sure you can go to other places throughout the world to see the leaves change, but there is no other place that creates that sense of fall than right here in New England.  The unique combination of the different types of trees with blazing red and orange leaves, mixed with the yellow and stunning brown leaves, make for a sight you have to see to believe.

Taking this voyage with family and friends makes the trip even that more enjoyable and memorable, and by traveling in your wheelchair accessible vehicle to check out all the sights, you’ll be sure to have plenty of room for everyone!  Some of the best places to watch the fall foliage in New England are at Camden Hills State Park in Maine, Killington Peak in Vermont, Mount Greylock in Massachusetts, West Rattlesnake in New Hampshire, and Haystack Mountain State Park in Connecticut, to name a few.

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Side-Entry and Rear-Entry Wheelchair Vans – Choosing the Best Option for You

Shopping for a wheelchair van is not something that you should rush through. Not researching your options fully can lead to you purchasing a van that simply doesn’t meet your mobility needs. One of the most important decisions you’ll make are between side-entry and rear-entry wheelchair vans.

The Primary Difference

The primary difference between side and rear-entry handicap vans is (you guessed it) where you enter the vehicle. Side-entry vans make use of the sliding side door and either a ramp or a lift (a ramp is more common). Rear-entry vans make use of the rear of the vehicle for wheelchair access (again, a ramp is most commonly used here).

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SBA Announces Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corp. is selected as one of the ‘SBA 100’

Ride-Away Handicap Equipment Corporation, with twelve locations including headquarters in Londonderry, NH is one of the SBA 100 companies. Ride-Away is in the business of modifying wheelchair accessible vehicles and adaptive equipment for people with disabilities.

From humble beginnings in 1986 owner, Mark Lore and an ever growing number of highly qualified staff have continued to build upon his vision through their commitment to product excellence and unsurpassed service. When they obtained their first SBA loan back in 1991 Ride-Away employed 14 and today with 165 they are the nation’s largest provider of wheelchair vans with twelve offices in nine states from Maine to Florida. Ride-Away is also in the business of investing back in the communities they serve by donating at least 10% of their earnings to more than twenty local, regional and national charitable organizations engaged in assisting individuals and families to flourish in the face of adversity.

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Veterans with Disabilities – What Ride-Away Can Do For You

There are currently more than 25 million veterans in the United States.  If you or a family member is a disabled veteran, there are some exciting new transportation options available to you. Ride-Away, a leader in the wheelchair accessible vehicle market, is proud to offer veterans accessible vehicles with eligible benefits.  Veterans or their family members may be eligible for some important Veteran’s Administration benefits regarding adaptive vehicles.

The VA offers veterans a one-time vehicle grant of $18,900 (as of October 1, 2011).  This is available for 100% service-connected veterans, and can be applied one time towards a modified wheelchair van.  In addition, 100% service-connected veterans are also eligible for one handicap vehicle conversion every two years or two conversions every four years. Ride-Away offers plenty of wheelchair accessible vehicles to choose from when using your VA benefits.

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Benefits of Renting a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle

If a family member or loved one is actively living with a disability, you know the difficulties that are encountered when trying to get around.  If you are considering taking a vacation or simply need to go to an appointment, you will most likely need the use of a wheelchair accessible vehicle.  A wheelchair accessible vehicle allows you to safely and easily transport an individual in a wheelchair or scooter.  These vehicles offer features and options that make your ride safe and comfortable.

If you are in need of a wheelchair accessible vehicle for a short time, consider renting it.  Renting a wheelchair accessible vehicle has many benefits.  The most important thing to consider is your budget.  While you may not be able to purchase a new or used wheelchair van, you may be able to rent one for a period of time.  If you’re going on vacation or to a family outing, consider renting a wheelchair accessible van.

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Take a Day on the Bay! A Free Boating Day for Kids with Disabilities

Spending a day on a boat out on the lake is not necessarily something that children with disabilities get to do very often. However, 40 children will get the chance to do just that this September. The CAST for Kids Foundation (Catch a Special Thrill) has partnered with the Anne Arundel Country Department of Recreation and Parks to give kids the opportunity to enjoy something rare indeed.

This fun and exciting program will allow children with disabilities from 6 to 18 to spend a half-day out on Chesapeake Bay, fishing and enjoying the fall weather. All the boats will be provided by volunteers, and there’s no cost for the children to participate in the program. One parent or guardian is allowed to accompany each child out onto the water as well, meaning that this can be a great chance for parents to spend some quality time with their children!

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Ride-Away Continues to Grow on the Business NH Magazine’s Top 100 Private Companies List

Ride-Away moves up two spots this year to #33 on the Business NH Magazine’s Top 100 New Hampshire Private Companies List.

Continued growth and success in today’s economy is not something that comes very easy to many companies throughout the United States. With new product innovations and continued support of local community initiatives, Ride-Away (America’s largest provider of wheelchair vans and mobility equipment) has shown that growth is attainable in this economy. Ride-Away has moved up two spots from last year’s rankings to number 33 on the Business NH Magazines Top 100 Private Companies list, making this the fourth consecutive year that they moved up on this list.

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Ride-Away to Support Local ALS Walks

The Walk to Defeat ALS Event is the ALS Association’s largest annual event that raises funds to sustain patient care and support cutting-edge research by the world’s best and

Walk to Defeat ALS

brightest scientists.  Thousands of participants walk to raise money for a cure, and Ride-

Away is proud to be able to support the ALS Association and their local chapters by being
one of the sponsors for this event.  This weekend, Ride-Away of Maine and Ride-Away of East Hartford will be supporting the walks in Portland, ME at Payson Park on September 10th, as well as the walk in New Haven, CT at Lighthouse Point Park on September 11th.  For more information on these walks, please visit the Walk to Defeat ALS website.

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The Vertical Pool – Ensuring Movement and Safety for All

With summer almost over, Ride-Away thought we’d give our customers another option to enjoy the last hot days of summer and the ability to get in the water at the same time.

When it comes to low impact exercise, few options are quite as touted as swimming. Swimming offers immense benefits for the entire body, and plays a vital role in rehabilitation and exercise for individuals with physical disabilities as well as for those injured in serious accidents. However, swimming can also be problematic, particularly when a shared pool is involved. Public scrutiny, bacteria from shared water and difficulty even getting to a shared pool can keep many people away from swimming. The Vertical Pool changes all that. Continue reading

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Two Mobility Dealers Join Forces to Make One Couple’s Dream Come True

Mark and Elsie on their first (and only) vacation together at Lake Tahoe.

Source: AbilityVoice Blog – BraunAbility

It was a chance meeting in a Houston-area club (the Midnight Rodeo) that brought Mark and Elsie Houston together in the beginning. They didn’t dance together that night, but it was the start of something special, nevertheless. Elsie could not get Mark out of her mind and says from that point on he was her cowboy.

The couple enjoyed a very happy two years together, going places and doing things. They even took a vacation together to Lake Tahoe (the only vacation the two were ever to take, as it turns out). Not long afterward, Elsie noticed that Mark was having trouble holding items and frequently dropped things. After much cajoling, she finally convinced him to see a doctor about it, and the diagnosis came as an enormous shock to the couple. Mark, who was an active Air Force member and veteran of Operation Desert Storm as well as Operation Allied Force, was diagnosed with ALS at only 47 years old.

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Ride-Away Locations Recognized for Exceptional Customer Satisfaction from The Braun Corporation

The Braun Corporation recently listed the BraunAbility dealers that have maintained a high CSI score through the first half of 2011, and three Ride-Away locations have been recognized for having outstanding scores. The award recipients were selected based on customer survey results over the first two quarters of 2011 and recognize dealers who have a 95% CSI score or better.  Congratulations to the following Ride-Away locations for being recognized:

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Five Questions to Ask Your Mobility Consultant about Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

When beginning your search for a wheelchair van, it is important to know which questions to ask your Mobility Consultant.  This could be the first time that you are going through this process, and Ride-Away wants you to have a memorable experience.

We encourage your questions to help make purchasing your wheelchair accessible vehicle enjoyable and educational. Here are five of our most frequently asked questions proposed to our Mobility Consultants.

What kind of wheelchair vans do you have available?

Ride-Away has a large wheelchair van inventory of over 350 new and used handicap vans including minivans in Honda, Toyota, Dodge, & Chrysler models, full size conversion vans, and paratransit vehicles, from vendors such as BraunAbility and Viewpoint Mobility. With so many options, you will be sure to find what you are looking for at one of our 12 Ride-Away locations.

 Do you have a service department for wheelchair van repairs?

Ride-Away has 12 East Coast locations and each has their own repair facilities. Our technicians are highly trained and certified and are able to handle any problems you may have with your wheelchair accessible van.  By adhering to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), becoming a Quality Assurance Program (QAP) facility, Ride-Away has shown its dedication to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities every day.  All of Ride-Away’s locations are QAP certified through the National Mobility Equipment Dealers Association (NMEDA), resulting in Ride-Away being held to the highest standards in the industry.

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The Braun Corporation Honors Ride-Away with the President’s Club Award

Ride-Away receives the President’s Club Award from The Braun Corporation for outstanding sales of Braun mobility products.

The Braun Corporation (the world’s leading manufacturer of wheelchair accessible vans, ramps, and wheelchair lift systems) presents the President’s Club Award to mobility dealers that accomplish outstanding sales of Braun mobility products each year, and this year, Ride-Away is a recipient of that award. This year’s parameters for achieving this recognition were not only based on sales throughout the year, but it was also based on the mobility dealer’s customer service performance as well.

“Ride-Away has always believed in taking great care of our customers’ needs,” says Mark Lore, Ride-Away President/CEO. “This award is a reflection of the level of customer service that the employees at each of our 12 locations put forth each and every day they come to work. Braun’s line of wheelchair vans and mobility equipment represent the highest quality products in the industry, and Ride-Away is proud to offer their line of vehicles and equipment to our customers.”

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Ride-Away to Sponsor the 2011 Falmouth Road Race to Benefit CCALS

The 13th Annual Falmouth Road Race to benefit Compassionate Care ALS, will take place on Sunday, August 14th at the Lawrence School at 10:00AM.  This has been one of the largest fundraising events for CCALS, and this year looks to be another record breaking year!  CCALS  is a nonprofit organization that models compassion to individuals with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), by providing support and guidance as well as subsidized living aids, durable goods and respite opportunities. Ride-Away is proud to support CCALS and the Falmouth Road Race in their efforts to find a cure for ALS.  For more information on this event, please visit the CCALS website.

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United Spinal Association’s 2011 Kids Sports Spectacular Event set for August 13th

Join Ride-Away of Norristown PA at the United Spinal Association’s 2011 Kids Sports Spectacular Event on Saturday, August 13th at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia. This annual event is free to all children and participating families, offers sports and recreation clinics to children with disabilities (ages 4-21), and features activities such as wheelchair tennis, wheelchair basketball, martial arts therapy, and much more!  Make sure to stop by the Ride-Away booth for some great giveaways and the latest information on our adaptive equipment options and how we have the highest quality wheelchair vans in the Philadelphia area.  For more information on this event, please visit the United Spinal Association website.

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Ride-Away to Exhibit at the PVA National Veterans Wheelchair Games

The Paralyzed Veterans of America’s 31st National Veterans Wheelchair Games is taking place on August 1st-6th in Pittsburgh, PA.  Each year, over 500 Veterans gather to compete in competitions such as archery, swimming, weightlifting, basketball, and quadrugby.  The games give these veterans a chance to realize their abilities, see what new heights they can reach, and enjoy the spirit of competition as well.  Ride-Away will be in attendance exhibiting the newest additions to the line of Guidosimplex driving control devices that they provide.  Ride-Away is proud to be able to support the PVA and all of the competitors that will be participating in the games this weekend.  For more information on the PVA National Veterans Wheelchair Games, visit the PVA website.

 

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Ride-Away to Exhibit at the PPMD’s Annual Connect Conference

Ride-Away of Maryland will be exhibiting at the Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy’s Annual Connect Conference from July 7th-10th at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront in Baltimore, MD.  This annual event attracts over 500 families from all over the world, that are looking to earn the latest progress in the fight to end Duchenne.

Families also gather for support, strength, and camaraderie.  The Annual Connect Conference provides an opportunity for families, physicians, researchers, and experts of all kinds to speak face-to-face about Duchenne, and to share their experiences as well.  Ride-Away is looking forward to exhibiting and meeting all of the families and friends of Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy.  We will have available all the latest and greatest information on all of the adaptive equipment and wheelchair accessible vehicles that we provide our customers.  For more information on the Annual Connect Conference, please visit the PPMD website.

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Ride-Away Receives the Platinum Award for Sales Achievement From Bruno Independent Living Aids

Bruno Curb-Sider®Ride-Away has been awarded the Platinum Award from Bruno Independent Living Aids for their outstanding sales achievement and commitment.

Bruno Independent Living Aids, a global manufacturer of accessibility products designed to enhance the lives of people with disabilities, awarded Ride-Away with the Platinum Award for sales achievement in 2010. This prestigious award is presented to the dealers in the top five percent of Bruno’s overall dealer base that consistently demonstrate superior performance in all areas of business measurement and achievement – Customer Satisfaction, Quality Installation and Maintenance and Community Standing.

“We believe in providing only the highest quality mobility products for our customers,” says Mark Lore, Ride-Away President/CEO. “Bruno’s product line of Turning Automotive Seating (TAS) as well as their wheelchair lifts and scooter lifts, has always met our standards and our customers’ standards as well. To have received this prominent award again is a true testament to the commitment and dedication our employees put forth each and every day.”

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