Customer Service - sponsored by W.C. Duke Associates, Inc.
GM Mobility Helps People With Disabilities
From TheCarConnection.com
http://www.thecarconnection.com/index.asp?n=156,175&sid=175&article=6608
There used to be an advertising tagline that said, "We bring good things to life." Bringing good things to life is just what automobile manufacturers have been doing for seniors and people with disabilities.
There are currently 80 million people in the United States over the age of 50, and more than 50 million people with some form of disability. And for them, the transportation options have only become more varied.
Gary Talbot, manager of mobility engineering for General Motors, states that "GM's priority is to design vehicles that will allow as many people as possible to maintain their independence, either as a driver, passenger, or with the aid of a caregiver. We're dedicated to keeping people in motion."
GM launched its Mobility Center, which is dedicated to helping customers maintain an active lifestyle, in October, 1999. From engineering to marketing, the Center includes employees with disabilities such as severe arthritis, deafness or hearing loss, and spinal cord injuries. These employees are tasked with making key decisions on how GM will adapt its passenger vehicles for use by disabled customers.
Gary Talbot is a prime example. Since a severe automobile accident in 1980, he has been a full-time wheelchair user.
The minivan boon
The advent of the minivan has been a boon for people with disabilities. These vehicles offer a wealth of versatility and can be customized to the physical needs of practically any individual. They offer larger door openings, both front and rear; they have higher cargo capacity and interior space necessitated by such things as wheelchairs, ramps, lifts, etc.; higher seat cushions for easier entry/exit; large rear hatch area for stowing equipment; second-row captain's chairs allowing modification for seating options; and power sliding doors that enhance accessibility.
The availability of safety-related items inherent in minivans, such as run-flat tires, all-wheel-drive, fully independent rear suspension, available steering controls and other items a larger vehicle would offer is a real plus. All GM mid-size vans have a sliding door opening that will accommodate a 30-inch-wide, ADA (Americans With Disabilities Act)-approved lift/ramp with no modifications.
And optional accessories are even more thoughtful, like GM's Sit-N-Lift Power Seat. It's available on model-year '04 Chevy Venture, Pontiac Montana and Oldsmobile Silhouette minivans. The seat requires virtually no drilled holes and no modifications, which means the seat base can be installed on a leased vehicle. Consequently, there will be no financial penalty to resale value and owners will not be stuck with an aging car, truck or van because of once-heavy up-front alteration costs. The Sit-N-Lift Power Seat is a dealer-installed option.
Maximum capacity of the seat is 300 pounds, putting the specs within range of a majority of individuals. I sat in the seat and was cycled through the entire process and was amazed at the speed, safety, and comfort the mechanism provided. It's installed on the curbside (right, passenger side) of the minivan, so there's little, if any chance of a person being clipped by an oncoming vehicle.
Another valuable asset GM offers in its vehicles is the OnStar System. At the touch of a button, advisers are available to contact emergency service providers or roadside assistance, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The comfort factor alone adds to the fundamental independence for seniors and people with disabilities. The commercials OnStar runs that play actual recordings of emergency calls are not for entertainment. They project a powerful message that you are, in fact, never alone.
Independence comes at a price, but engineered solutions that are integrated into the vehicle enable many the ability to afford it. In the case of Sit-N-Lift Power Seat for example, it's $4,590 (dealer-installed) and the cost can be incorporated into the bottom-line purchase figure. When factoring in GMAC's financing - sometimes as low as zero percent - including the cost of mobility equipment grants the customer the broadest possible reach of personal needs at a very affordable payment.
GM doesn't just use minivans for its mobility assistance. Other vehicles that have accessibility wins for seniors and people with disabilities include the Saturn ION, Buick LeSabre, Pontiac Grand Prix, and GMC Sonoma Extended-Cab Pickup, just to name a few. Basically, any vehicle can be modified, but some are more adaptive than others, depending on the customer's needs.