5 Grants for Wheelchair Vans - Grants for Medical

Grants for Wheelchair Vans – Overview

Financial assistance is crucial for underprivileged ones. Thankfully, the federal government offers grants to the needy through various departments and government agencies. If you are searching for grants for wheelchair vans, this guide will give you in-depth information about the available resources and the grants offered by NGOs and Governments.

Wheelchair Vans are customized vehicles specially designed for the handicapped. A typical mini car gets converted into a wheelchair van, making it easier for a handicapped person to drive it. It requires special equipment and accessories, which require additional funds.

While there are challenges in finding resources specifically for wheelchair vans, numerous grants and programs are available to assist individuals with disabilities in acquiring such vehicles, offering a range of financial support options.

If we talk about federal programs, the government offers financial assistance or grants to military veterans through organizations that are actively working for the betterment of the veteran community.

Interestingly, some programs are available for handicapped to purchase and install assistive equipment. Some other programs allow them to buy wheelchair vans for hassle-free transportation.

We will go through all the available resources, grants, and programs open for handicapped people to provide funds for wheelchair vans. The resources might not be available in your state. You have to confirm with the respective agency before applying for it.

5 Types of Grants for Wheelchair Vans

Various resources are available for handicapped people to get financial assistance for their new customized vehicle, i.e., a wheelchair van. Each state runs various programs through NGOs, Government Agencies, and other private entities. Let’s discuss various categories from which a handicapped person can get financial help.

Types of Grants for Wheelchair Vans

1. Federal Funding Programs

Federal programs are available for all types of communities. A handicapped person should start with federal funding programs to get financial assistance for a wheelchair van. The best part about these types of grants and programs is they don’t require payback of the borrowed money. Once your application gets accepted, you will gain the money.

If the agency puts in a condition, you will have to return half the money, etc., per their terms and conditions. However, it is still better than private entities.

How do you get federal funding for a wheelchair van?

The U.S. government operates Grants.gov, a comprehensive website listing various grants and programs available to citizens, including those for individuals with disabilities. Registration on the website is a prerequisite to applying for grants.

Visit the website and click the register option to proceed further. You will be asked to fill in the registration form, which comprises five fields. One can easily fill out the form and register himself on the portal.

Once done, click the Search box to the upper right section. Enter the query, such as “wheelchair van,” “assistive equipment,” etc., in the search field.

You will be presented with a list of grants from the government available for your needs. Go through each listed government grant program and apply for the right one. You can apply to multiple grant programs if the criteria are matched!

2. State Funding Programs

State funding programs are financial assistance programs designed by the state governments for the disabled. The state governments run various programs that provide financial help to handicapped people. The state funding programs are different for each state. You must verify and confirm the program with the state government before applying.

Some programs provide total funding for mobility vehicles to transport between places easily. However, some other programs offer funding to buy the required equipment only.

You can get the list of resources by visiting the grants.gov website. The website will show you the list of grants you need to select the state where you live. You can even search for such programs on the web.

One website that might help you get grants for wheelchair vans is themobilityresource.com. One can select the state to get the available federal programs, NGOs offering financial help, and many other resources. Don’t forget to visit it.

3. Grants for Organizations

The U.S. Department of Transportation offers funding through programs like the Federal Transit Administration to support transportation services for elderly individuals and people with disabilities, which can include assistance in acquiring assistive equipment and wheelchair-accessible vehicles.

The program distributes funds to state governments. State governments distribute the allotted funds to nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

Those who match the criteria and receive grants can spend the allotted money to buy assistive equipment, a wheelchair van, or just for transportation purposes. The grants are distributed to those who do not have sufficient transportation services and other equipment.

4. Grants for Veterans

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs offers special financial assistance through grants to veterans who become disabled on service due to injuries or diseases.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides financial assistance through the Automobile Allowance and Adaptive Equipment program for veterans to purchase a vehicle or adaptive equipment, with the grant amount subject to change based on legislative updates. The Veterans Affairs Department offers funds to vehicle manufacturers once the grant of a disabled veteran gets approved.

The allotted funds can also be utilized for buying assistive equipment or special modifications of their existing vehicles to make them easily accessible.

Interestingly, veterans can receive more than one grant under this program for modifying their vehicles. Since vehicle modification is expensive, one can receive multiple grants from the Department of Veterans Affairs.

5. Other Options

Besides federal programs, many nonprofit organizations and private entities work together to provide financial assistance to the disabled. Automotive manufacturers also provide special discounts to people who cannot perform their basic tasks or need a vehicle.

Here, we have prepared a list of programs from which handicapped persons can get special assistance to buy a new wheelchair van.

4 Grants Provided for Wheelchair Vans

1. Help Hope Live

Help Hope Live is a trusted fundraising website that aims to generate funds for medical expenses and related costs. Thankfully, handicapped persons can register on the network to create fundraising proposals to purchase a new wheelchair van.

This platform is popular because of its easy access and intuitive user interface. The website lets you utilize its features to create a fundraising page quickly and launch it. The community-based fundraising website helps them achieve their financial goal faster than usual.

If you cannot get the federal or state grant, visit the Help Hope Live website for more information about how you can raise funds from the community to buy a new wheelchair van.

2. Special Kids Funds

Special Kids Funds has a unique approach to providing wheelchair vans to disabled kids. The website asks donors to donate wheelchair vans or old wheelchairs for disabled children. This way, people can give ultimate joyride to those who can’t afford an expensive wheelchair van.

Donors may be eligible for a tax deduction when donating a wheelchair van or other mobility equipment to charity, as these donations are not for personal use but for the benefit of individuals with disabilities. One must check their eligibility before registering or requesting a wheelchair van. The eligibility criteria are listed below:

One has to be an insured person
Verification of you or your loved one will not violate the traffic rules
Appropriate reason to get a wheelchair van

After you confirm your eligibility, you can apply for the wheelchair van through their official website. The website demonstrates how handicapped people receive help through the platform and other helpful information.

3. Lori’s Voice

Lori’s Voice is a non-profit organization that aims to provide wheelchair vans and other assistive equipment to the younger ones with disabilities. Lori Hastings established the organization to show her love towards the younger ones, especially the kids with disabilities.

Since wheelchair vans are quite expensive, not everyone can afford them. It’s hard for young people to deal with a busy life without a special vehicle. This non-profit organization works for the same purpose.

The organization calls for donors who can donate wheelchair cars for specially disabled young people. The existing medical health insurance does not cover some medical needs.

Being a disabled lady, Lori Hastings understood the need for such special equipment for people with disabilities. For the very same reason, she established and ran this organization successfully. For more information, visit the official website of Lori’s Voice.

4. Mobility Access Program by Volkswagen of America

Volkswagen of America offers the Mobility Access Program, providing financial assistance of up to $1,000 to purchase and install adaptive equipment in a new Volkswagen vehicle to accommodate drivers and passengers with disabilities. The company offers $1,000 for assistive equipment or a wheelchair van.

Suppose a disabled person owns a Volkswagen vehicle and wants to add assistive controls and accessories to overcome their disabilities. In that case, the company provides special financial assistance under the Mobility Access Program.

Besides this, numerous other non-profit organizations are actively working in each state. All you have to do is search the web and explore the details. You will get plenty of options to get financial help from such organizations and buy a new wheelchair van to live a life happily.

Conclusion:

These are the best and most available resources for people with disabilities to buy a new wheelchair van for transportation. The list includes sources from various categories, such as federal grants, non-profit organizations programs, programs offered by automotive companies, and more.

Go through the given details, learn more about the resources from their official websites, and apply for a suitable grant program to get quick funds for a new wheelchair van.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can we buy wheelchair vans through Medicare?

Unfortunately, no! Medicare and Medicaid don’t provide financial assistance or any discounts on the purchase of a new wheelchair van for the disabled. However, the same rules are not common for all states.

Some states may allow insurer people to get special discounts on purchasing a new wheelchair van. You must check out the rules for buying a new wheelchair van under the Medicare program through your state’s website.

Can I buy a wheelchair van through health insurance?

Of course, you can! Many third-party insurance companies provide financial assistance to handicapped people for the purchase of a new wheelchair van.

What’s the best way to get a wheelchair van for free?

If you are looking for a free wheelchair van without any hassle, you must hunt for non-profit organizations within your community. You can check for the same on the web, and you will get many active NGOs that provide free wheelchair vans to the needy ones.

Of course, you must pass the eligibility criteria the NGO sets and register your name to get help quickly. The NGO will contact you as soon as they get a donor for the wheelchair van. It is the best and most convenient way to get a free wheelchair van.

What funding programs are available for American Veterans?

American Veterans can get financial assistance through Veterans Affairs Department to get funds for buying assistive equipment and controls. However, the same group of people can have many other options to get funds for buying a new wheelchair van. Here’s the list of available funding programs for American Veterans.

Disabled American Veterans
S. Department of Veterans Affairs
S. Department of Veterans Benefits Administration
Navy-marine Corps Relief Society
Operation Family Fund
Coalition to Support America’s Heroes
Help Our Military Heroes

Can handicap people get special discounts on the purchase of a new wheelchair van?

Yes! Manufacturers offer special discounts on the purchase of their new vehicles that are customized for people living with disabilities. Many automotive manufacturers offer such people special discounts, incentives, rebates, and other benefits.

The rebates offered by the manufacturer can be utilized for the installation of transfer seats, hand controls, and other technologies that might be needed in the new wheelchair van.