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The photo is taken outside. A man is sitting on the step of the open door of a black vehicle to the left-hand side. In the middle of the photo is a young man smiling. He is sitting in his wheelchair. To the right-hand side of the image is a woman, she is looking at the man. Those photographed are Warren, Tyler and Teresa.

“How did we manage before?"

Tyler is 18 years old and lives in Norfolk with his mum Teresa and dad, Warren. They are both his full-time carers. He received a Bespoke Passenger Solutions (BPS) grant for a highly adapted Volkswagen Crafter.

Tyler was born with spastic quadriplegic Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease and cannot walk or sit unaided. Travelling was distressing for him before they were awarded a grant. 

Happier journeys

Teresa says her son is noticeably happier since having the vehicle. “We call the van ‘The Beast’ because it is so big. There’s a hoist to lift Tyler out of his wheelchair, lockers, a rock and roll chair to change him on, tinted windows for privacy, and restraints for additional equipment."

The photo is taken inside their vehicle. Tyler's dad Warren and Tyler's mum Teresa are using a fitted winch in the ceiling of his vehicle to transfer Tyler into his wheelchair.
“He is more confident knowing we can pull over and stop, lift him out of his wheelchair, give him a stretch if he needs it.”
Tyler's mum, Teresa

Box fresh

Now, Tyler can comfortably travel for over an hour, twice a week, to his favourite gym. “His condition is progressive, but boxing helps tremendously,” says Teresa.

“Able2b gym is somewhere we travel to a lot, it’s run by an orthopaedic surgeon and an ex-boxer. Tyler never had muscles before going there, but he loves boxing, and his muscles are getting bigger by the day.

"Although his condition is progressive, we are sure the facilities and classes have helped him tremendously. It takes over an hour to drive there, but the journey is made easier with this vehicle.”

“His condition is progressive, but boxing helps tremendously, his muscles are getting bigger by the day.”
Tyler's mum, Teresa
The photo is taken inside the Able2B gym. A young man with brown short hair, navy scarf and green jumper is using an exercise machine smiling. Behind the young man is a man in a black top and brown joggers. He is holding the young man’s head to ensure he is sitting correctly when using the exercise machine. Those photographed are Warren and Tyler.

Life changing

One of the best things about the van is that Tyler looks forward to going out. "He is more confident knowing we can pull over and stop, lift him out of his wheelchair, give him a stretch if he needs it. Then put him back in and get going again.

“Tyler loves history. He loves learning about the wars and seeing the tanks, so we often have trips to museums. Sometimes I wonder how we managed to travel before, because The Beast is just so comfortable!

"Tyler is so much happier these days, I can’t say it enough: getting a Motability Foundation grant for such a fantastic vehicle has changed our lives.”