Written by Hulet Smith, OT
For most of us, learning to drive marked the beginning of independence that signaled a shift into adulthood. Being able to get into the car and go, without asking for a ride or waiting for a family member to become available, gave us a sense of freedom that just couldn’t compare to anything else.
So it might be hard to imagine that one day, whether due to an accident or a slowly developing illness, you are suddenly deprived of your ability to operate a vehicle on your own, and can no longer go wherever you wish, whenever you wish.
James Chapman’s wife didn’t have to imagine this: her world shrank rapidly as she developed a disability that meant she could no longer manage a car’s gas and brake pedals.
James began searching for ways to improve his wife’s quality of life; in particular, he searched for an adaptive piece of mobility equipment that would allow his wife to drive again. However, every single product he came across either required that he permanently convert their shared vehicle, or purchase a brand new vehicle - and neither option fell within the boundaries of their family budget.
Observing the need and engineering an affordable solution, James Chapman invented the Freedom Staff as a way to give his wife the freedom to get back on the road!
The Freedom Staff was named after the purpose it serves: giving freedom back to individuals who have lost the ability to drive conventionally. The Freedom Staff distinguishes itself from other vehicle modification devices in several ways:
The Freedom Staff was originally created specifically to meet the needs of paraplegics and amputees. However, individuals with a broad spectrum of mobility challenges have discovered the remarkable ease and convenience of driving their vehicles with the help of Freedom Staff. This includes individuals who:
Even non-disabled drivers who tested the Freedom Staff have remarked on how easy it was to install, and how quickly they learned to use it. Some of these testers even remarked how convenient this product would be for preventing tired legs on long road trips, and expressed interest in purchasing a Freedom Staff of their own!
Using the Freedom Staff is far simpler than installing multiple different pieces of vehicle mobility equipment, which often includes hundreds of dollars worth of hand controls, wheel knobs, and complicated pedal extenders. Requiring no tools and installing in mere minutes, the Freedom Staff comes with everything needed for an individual to drive using hands only!
Once limited to the passenger seat, individuals longing to get back behind the wheel can do so in almost any vehicle - trucks, rental cars, golf carts, camper vans, all become drivable with the Freedom Staff.
In addition, many other vehicle adaptor options require financing in order to be truly affordable. The Freedom Staff is a far more economical choice that requires no financing and still gets the job done!
“I lost the ability to drive two years ago after losing the full use of my right leg from a nerve disease. It was one of the hardest changes that I had to make. However, thanks to these hand controls, I am able to drive again. My husband and I have just one car, and it is not in our budget to buy a second car with permanent hand controls at this time, so this is the perfect option for us.” - Amazon review
“I like these controls and it works great for me! The device is well built, the pedal clamps attach very securely, and driving is easy with just a little practice.” - Rehabmart customer review
“This was perfect. My mom is chronically ill. She already has a handicap van, but I wanted to let her drive my Mustang. She doesn’t have grip, so the pull was a little bit hard for her (her van is push/90 degrees). But we made it work. She got to drive it, and it was great!” - Amazon review
Click here to learn more about the amazing Freedom Staff and how it can work for you!
Co-founder/CEO of Rehabmart, Pediatric Occupational Therapist, husband, and father. Passionate about connecting special needs kids with superb nutrition, sensory integration, and complementary health strategies. Excited about Rehabmart's mission to become the premier online educational platform which empowers caregivers by spotlighting innovative devices and interventions to achieve optimal patient response and recovery.
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