Info for Veterans and VA Disabled

[Dave in Nevada]

Hi, My wife is a 100% disabled retired veteran. We recently bought a Winnebago Roam handicap accessible van. The following info may help you.
First, we got a grant from the VA for just over $21,000 to pay for the lift and tie downs for this vehicle. To do that my wife had to get a doctors prescription for the handicap accessible van from the VA and coordinate thru Prosthetics at the VA. Second, you have to get past the "usual suppliers." Those are Braun and VMI plus a few others. Their units are based on a minivan like the Pacifica, Odyssey or Sienna. They are great around town but not for long trips. The bathroom is the issue. Those of you who are in wheelchairs know how hard it is to find a bathroom when on a road trip. Even if you find one they are often hard to get into, they may be blocked by boxes or dirty. The best argument for the Roam is the cost to the VA is less than with those vehicles because they do not have to chop the floor with the Roam. Third. coordination is needed between the VA and the dealer. The dealer has to have a contract with the government. It took months to get this done for us because we were working new ground. We had to coordinate with the VA and with the RV Dealer so they could get a contract with the Defense Logistics Agency so they could be an "official" supplier to the VA for these units. We even had to get our Representative (Dusty Johnson SD) involved. Now that we got that done, you can just talk to Jason Pasto at La Mesa RV, Mesa, AZ as he did all the paperwork and subsequent purchases should be a lot easier. Fourth, each state has different rules for writing off sales tax on the handicap equipment as it is consider medical equipment. This will save you at least $800 in low tax states and quite a bit more in high tax states. Arizona requires veterans to be 100% disabled OR for it to be paid for by a VA grant. South Dakota requires it to be by doctor's prescription. You need to find out what it is for your state. Fifth, you will not be able to drive your wheelchair into driving position. You will have to move yourself from the wheelchair to the drivers seat. Fortunately it rotates so that will not be a problem for many of you. Sixth, the length is a little under 20 feet. That is short enough that you can park in most van accessible handicap sports without it sticking out too much. a new version available is longer by 15 inches and that might be a problem. Seventh.....this is a big one, it says Winnebago on it and people may assume it is just an RV so you need to get a sign to put on the side sliding door saying it is a handicap van and not to park closer than 8 feet from the door. In South Dakota during the Sturgis Rally there is a real problem with motorcycles parking in the stripped area next to the van accessible parking spots. A motorcycle can block you just as much as a car. If you are a veteran or trying to help a veteran and have any questions let me know.