Transport is a major issue for many disabled Victorians, and the cost of car conversion is one of the biggest limitations.

By LIBERTY GADD

Jeff Williams' van is not just a mode of transport, it’s his freedom machine. And while it might not look it, it's a very expensive one.

Mr Williams was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy at 16, and for the past five years he has been wheelchair-bound and unable to transfer from his wheelchair to a standard car seat.

The van, including the essential modifications that allow him to access and drive it, cost more than $50,000.

Mr Williams says it was far more than he could afford, which is a problem for many Victorians faced with the cost of up to $60,000 for converting a vehicle. Mr Williams was able to bridge the gap with a legacy from his mother, but for many others there is no solution.

While the Transport Accident Commission and the Victorian Workcover Authority fund client modifications to vehicles where their requirements follow a road or workplace accident respectively, others must seek alternative means.

The State-Wide Equipment Program (SWEP) offers a maximum $10,000 subsidy, renewed every seven years, through the Vehicle Modification Subsidy Scheme (VMSS). The subsidy aims to ease the financial burden on Victorians seeking approved vehicle conversions.

However, modifications involving significant structural alterations to the vehicle are often far greater than the $10,000 VMSS subsidy.

In July 2011, Mr Williams bought a vehicle modification from Capital Special Vehicles, which specialises in wheelchair-accessible cars, allowing him to drive the vehicle from his electric wheelchair. The conversion includes a hydraulic lift, automated rear doors, a docking plate, and a left foot accelerator.

The cost was $27,790, on top of the price of the van itself. Mr Williams later had the power steering altered to compensate for the growing weakness in his arms, which cost an additional $2733.

“It cost me basically $50,000 as a bit of a gamble including buying the van … before I could even test drive it. Once I did test-drive it, I discovered the power steering was still too heavy, so then I had to have that done. And these are a few years ago. It would probably cost a bit more than that now.”

While Mr Williams appreciates the $10,000 VMSS subsidy that part-funded his car conversion, he says the funding alone was not enough.

“For a start I could not afford [the modification] even with that subsidy, except my mum had recently died and left me a small amount of money. [It] was the only way I could afford this car at all,” Mr Williams says.

Ros and Dave Stratton, from Newstead, were luckier. Mr Stratton displayed symptoms of multiple sclerosis in 1992 and was diagnosed in 1996. Their car was modified in March 2013, enabling him to travel as a front seat passenger again. His conversion bill was almost $10,000.

“I have later stage [MS] which is called, funnily, progressive. I’m on the steady decline,” Mr Stratton says.

Since becoming wheelchair-bound, Mr Stratton is unable to transfer independently from his wheelchair to a car seat. As a result, he has had a variety of vehicle modifications to enable his long-distance travel.

His latest vehicle modification includes a Milford hoist to lift him in and out of the front passenger seat as well as a docking station to secure his electric wheelchair in the car boot.

“The docking station … was (almost) $3000. The Milford hoist was $7000,” Mr Stratton says.

While the cost of the car conversion was relatively modest, overall the Strattons say they have had to spend about $200,000 on aid equipment overall.

Those awaiting or unable to fund a vehicle modification are particularly vulnerable to developing further health issues, such as depression, relating to disconnectedness from their community.

Mr Williams, whose sister also suffers from muscular dystrophy, and his wife moved to Somerville from central Victoria three years ago. They moved to be closer to his aging in-laws, but also because he was unable to work the hobby farm they had anymore.

The van gives him the freedom to get to weekly art classes, a way of helping him combat the difficulties he faces every day because of his condition. He has recently finished an oil painting of artist Godwin Bradbeer, his entry in the upcoming Archibald prize.

 “There’s not a lot to look forward to, decay and death. No seriously, I’m not really a despondent sort of guy but I make no plans. Today is better than tomorrow is going to be because I am wasting away. So I look forward to spending as much time as I possibly can with my wife, lovely lady. And you know, looking after my health as best I can … I’m doing the painting while I can,” Mr Williams says.

The director of wheelchair van conversion company Automobility, Jeff Watters, says the costly nature of vehicle conversions can be attributed to the labour hours required to modify a vehicle as well as large material costs.

“Most of our cars are about 100 man-hours to build. The really high level drive from wheelchair cars are 200-plus hours to build,” Mr Watters says.

Mr Williams suspects the smaller Australian vehicle modification market also contributes to the costly nature of major modifications.

For those clients who are unable to personally fund the gap between the SWEP subsidy and the cost of the required conversion there are few options. SWEP procurement and corporate governance manager Simone Davey says clients often rely on their occupational therapist to help them find extra funding.

“Clients often contribute their own funds, undertake fundraising or look at accessing philanthropic organisations to assist with gap funding,” Ms Davey says.

In some instances, clients opt to borrow money from financial institutions or family to fund the gap.

“People might find that they can put money on their mortgage. The level [of clients] under that are people who just … really struggle. They are the ones who they might be on a disability pension. They just do not have the long arms and deep pockets, ” Mr Watters says.

Clients with restricted funds can sometimes reduce costs by purchasing an already modified second-hand vehicle.

“The brand new conversion; that tends to go to the high level compensatory people ... [and then] it… works its way down the chain to the lower levels. The people who have the minimal amount of funding … end up with cars that are six … to 10 years old,” Mr Watters says.

But having a car is of special importance to those seeking a vehicle conversion. Public transport is often not a viable option for some disabled people and many wheelchair users. Jeff says he happily travels to the Somerville train station in his electric wheelchair when he is confident the wheelchair batteries will last the distance on the return trip.

Most occupational therapists and wheelchair users agree that while wheelchair-access taxis are useful alternatives, on occasions they are not a reliable mode of transport.

Car conversion company  Frank’s Engineering director Frank Parisi says many of his clients are unable to use public transport and are sometimes left waiting for a wheelchair access taxi for up to two hours.

Mr Stratton is hopeful that the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) might provide solutions to the financial challenge faced by many when buying a vehicle modification.

“I don’t know what the NDIS is going to look like under Abbott. But everything that I’ve heard would suggest that a disadvantaged disabled person would be supported much better through that,” Mr Stratton says.

Road to funding a long one

By LIBERTY GADD

Disabled drivers seeking state funding for vehicle modifications can face a long wait.

Lags in Victoria’s Vehicle Modification Subsidy Scheme (VMSS) are forcing some State-Wide Equipment Program (SWEP) clients to wait five to nine months for funding approval, SWEP procurement and corporate governance manager Simone Davey said.

“This program is experiencing very high demand at present and has had to implement a waiting list. Applications are usually funded in chronological order of receipt,” Ms Davey said.

The VMSS provides Victorian clients access to a maximum $10,000 fund replenished every seven years for VicRoads approved vehicle modifications.

Norden Conversion sales manager, Bob McKenzie said the wait for VMSS funding continued to increase.

“There’s more people applying and there’s [not enough] money being put into the pool,” he said.

Disability Motorists Australia (DMA) treasurer Fiona Waters said the long waiting lists for funding through the VMSS disadvantaged disabled motorists.

“We often have to wait long times just to get a simple product … basically you’re off road until you can get these things you require,” Ms Waters said.

For those clients who are unable to self-fund vehicle modifications, there is no alternative but to wait, she said.

“A lot of people … who are disabled are on limited incomes. They are not in full-time employment, they are on pensions or they are elderly, or maybe they are retired already. Money becomes an issue,” Ms Waters said.

VMSS applications deemed urgent may be priortised and accelerated through the queue.

“Urgent [applications] can be escalated and approved for funding more quickly,” Ms Davey said.

The Victorian Government will increase funding for the Aids and Equipment Program of which the VMSS is a part of by $8.5 million in 2014-2015.