Transportation

Start looking into your options for getting back to driving, an important part of independence and a necessity for most of us.

  •  Your own vehicle can be modified with hand controls or wheel chair ramps. Accessible vehicles are also available.
  • Depending on the level of your loss, your transportation needs may not be impacted.
  • If you are a bilateral lower extremity amputee you can still drive using hand controls.
  • If you are a unilateral lower extremity amputee you may need to consider repositioning the gas pedal. Some people try to use their opposite/left foot on the gas pedal, but the twisting required is hard on your back and could cause pain or permanent damage.
  • If you are a bilateral upper or lower extremity amputee, you may have to reinstate your license by taking behind-the-wheel and driver’s tests.
  • Consider short-term versus long-term needs.
  • Contact your local DMV to get a handicap placard before you leave the hospital. It will make it easier to get around when you are ready to get out and about.
  • Long term, you can look into getting a handicap license plate if needed.
  • In some cases, you may have to get your license reinstated. Check with your local DMV about your license status.

Aaron

“When I walk into a hospital room and talk to somebody who had just suffered an amputation, they’re sitting there wondering ‘What is the rest of my life going to look like?’ Then someone like me or one of the other peer advocates at Wiggle Your Toes can say ‘You know what? I’m playing softball, I’m riding my bike, I’m jogging, I’m golfing, I went back to work: this is how I did it.’ To be able to share a personal story like that with an individual who has recently suffered an amputation is invaluable.”