Amigo Mobility International - Healthcare: eLibrary

Convenient Travel with your Amigo and RV
Friendly Wheels, Issue 12

Amigo Owner Barbara Gratzke
using the electric lift in her RV

"Get out and live" is the goal of the Handicapped Travel Club. Formed in 1973 to encourage people with disabilities to travel, it has become a valuable resource for many new and seasoned travelers.

Barbara Gratzke, Amigo owner and avid RV enthusiast, is one of the 250 members of the very active travel club.

"I'd like to let all know about our POV/wheelchair accessible RV as many don't know this is even an option."

Since retiring, Barb and her husband Bill have spent many days and nights on the road in their 39' Damon Escaper, complete with a lift elevator for Barb's Amigo eXcite. In 2007, they spent six months on the road visiting Texas, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, Washington, California, Arizona, New Mexico and more!

Barb strongly recommends checking out www.handicappedtravelclub.com as a helpful resource for on-the-road travelers with disabilities.

Jan in the "Miss Liberty" Parade
at an RV rally

Jan Ewing, and her husband Evan, have been RVing since 1992. An Amigo owner since 1994, Jan says "Once I am on my Amigo, I can be on my own. This past summer we visited friends living lakeside in Michigan and it was no problem enjoying their deck. At RV rallies, we often have parades, themes, or special activities, and "Miss Liberty" was part of a fashion parade last year."

"Before we found out about the Amigo, we had a lightweight, folding wheelchair that we used to enable Jan to get places that were inconvenient or impossible for her to access on foot," Evan said. "As I am the power for the wheelchair, Amigo spells freedom for both of us. Whether we are touring an area, shopping or enjoying local opportunities, her Amigo-based independence is a blessing for both of us."

RV travel is convenient as you don't need to worry about booking accessible hotels, campground cabins or car rentals. An RV provides a customized vehicle and home while traveling.

The most common RV customizations are an installation of a lift, hand-control systems and the widening of entrance and/or aisles. For a list of RV conversion companies, check out Handicapped Travel Club's list.

After Barb and her family moved to Homestead, Fla. in 1994, she became extremely active in disability advocacy and volunteering in Miami. Her advocacy work includes five year chairmanship of the Miami Dade County Commission on Disability Issues (CODI), President of post-polio state chapter of south Florida, former President of Homeowner's Association in Homestead, Fla. and board member for nationwide Center of Independent Living.

Barb says, "My Amigo has allowed me to utilize public transportation in order to meet my advocacy obligations and fulfill my passion to improve the lives of the disabled community throughout the state of Florida."

Barb and Bill in front of their RV

Amigo offers a variety of compact travel POV/scooters that are easily transportable for your RV excursions. The Amigo TravelMate and TravelMate RD are especially convenient for RVs as they are very narrow, easy to maneuver and travel-friendly. For more information visit www.myamigo.com or call 1-800-MY-AMIGO.

Happy and safe travels to all of our Amigo RVers!
(And future Amigo RVers!)