Adaptive car controls
By Palesa Matlala
South Africans with physical impairments that affect their mobility have an opportunity to have their car modified with free hand controls valued at R20 000.
Hand controls are fitted to a car when a person cannot use their legs or when the function of their legs is unreliable. The controls are fitted below one side of the steering wheel on the left or right depending on the driver’s preference.
Nicky Abdnor, a psychologist and motivational speaker from Cape Town, has phocomelia – she was born without arms and has shortened legs.
In 2001 a young woman from the United Kingdom with a similar impairment owned an adapted car that she donated to Abdinor. To drive the car Abdinor used her right foot to press buttons to start the car, rev the engine and brake. A U-shaped joystick is placed beneath her right shoulder which enables her to steer much easier.
After experiencing this life-changing adjustment, Abdinor founded Nicky’s Drive, a non-profit organisation that funds and adapts cars for people with physical impairments in South Africa.Abdinor donates a portion of the money that she raises from her motivational speaking career to Nicky’s Drive and that is how they are able to sponsor four projects per year.
In an interview with ThisAbility, Abdinor said that they would be funding a fifth car adaption recipient for 2022. “Our goal as an organisation is to fund four projects per year, however, during the covid-19 pandemic there were fewer applications because people were worried about the future and so, we are in a comfortable position to support another project this year.”
Abigail Ashington, a secretary at Nicky’s Drive and part of the selection committee, said that to apply for car adaptions, one has to be a South African citizen with a physical impairment, owns an automatic car that is roadworthy or has funding for a car. Applications must include a driving assessment from an occupational therapist to assess the needs for driving along with quotations from a car adaptation specialist.
“We at Nicky’s Drive have partnered with the QuadparaAssociation of South Africa(QASA) Driving Ambitions who can assist with driving lessons,” Ashington added.
Themba Kapo, from Khayelitsha, Cape Town is a recent recipient of adaptive car funding. In early 2022 he was robbed and shot and the incident left him with a spinal cord injury. Kapo said that his occupational therapist told him about Nicky’s Drive. She encouraged him to apply for the adaptive car financial support from Nicky’s Drive.
“Nicky’s Drive believes in helping you regain your independence and I would encourage anyone who wants to apply for funding towards their car adaptions to have faith, be patient and trust the process,” said Kapo.
People who are in interested in applying for the funding towards their adaptive car are encouraged to visit www.nickysdrive.com for more details and can apply at apply@nickysdrive.com
