Success Story: The Frempong’s fell in love with the Ford Independence™!

We recently caught up with our customers Nesbah and Kenneth Frempong, who live in Glasgow, Scotland. Three years ago, they brought home Ford Independence™ from Allied Mobility, adapted from the spacious Ford Tourneo Custom. They have three children: two girls and a boy. Their son, Baruch lives with Cerebral Palsy and uses a wheelchair, and the whole family love the convenience that this fully wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) has brought to their lives.

We were delighted to speak with Nesbah and her family and find out that they had finally been able to go on holiday around Scotland, worry-free, in their new WAV.

Space Was Our Biggest Issue

The idea of upgrading to a wheelchair accessible vehicle was suggested by a friend, at a time when the Frempong family were looking for a solution to the tedious process of seating their own son in their car. Kenneth, who prioritises space above all, says, “Having to take him out of the wheelchair and lift him up to move him into the car got difficult as he grew older and got heavier.” Not only was this inconvenient, but it also left them not able to travel far. Nesbah added, “…the amount of work it took…we couldn’t go on holiday because we were limited by the space in our boot.” They wanted a vehicle that could “fit their son’s wheelchair and equipment like his feeding tubes.”

Having then spoken to a close friend and an advocate from Sense Scotland, who made them aware of Ford Independence™, the Frempongs fell in love with the car at first sight!

A multi-passenger vehicle, ideal for larger families or even small groups requiring wheelchair accessible transport, the Ford Independence™ offers optimum accessibility, ample space and an easy drive.

“We fell in love with the car!”

The low gradient EasyFold™ RE ramp is designed to make wheelchair entry and exit easy and safe while the FlatFold™ RS ramp offers lightweight, easy-to-use functionality, and additional boot space (by folding the ramp flat into the vehicle floor). You can also use an electric winch for some extra help.

The Flexibility of a Home Demonstration

Speaking of the convenience of phoning in and arranging a UK-wide free home demonstration, Nesbah enthuses, “It was a great experience. The mobility advisor explained a lot of things, including things we didn’t previously know about the car. For people like us, having the flexibility of people coming to your home to render their services, makes our lives a lot easier.”

According to Nesbah, who had previously seen our showroom in Glasgow, “We didn’t know how to go about the process at all. So we phoned Allied…and when we told them how our son’s condition was, what we were looking for, they were quick to come over and give us a free home demonstration.” Nesbah and her family wanted something suitable for the long-term, “We did a lot of research because we didn’t want to go for something that we would have to change two years down the line.”

As the UK’s leading supplier of wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs), we know how important it is to find a car that fits all your needs. This is why we offer free home demonstrations throughout the UK on our new and used WAVs.

To arrange a free no-obligation demonstration, our team of mobility advisors will set up a meeting for you with the local consultant, at a time that suits you, with the wheelchair accessible vehicle(s) of your choice. At the demonstration, they will talk about the accessible features of the car, answer any questions you may have and even help you complete the necessary paperwork to complete your order.

“All we did was just hop in the car!”

On to New Adventures with the Ford Independence™

Upon asking what they have been up to recently in their wheelchair accessible car, the Frempong family told us they’ve already been to Ayr, Helensburgh and other places in Scotland for holidays. They love exploring the country and have been setting their sights on other places to go. The fact that their kids love the WAV and are finally able to enjoy the long drives is a matter of great satisfaction for the family.

Kenneth explains, “The Ford Independence™ was a great choice for us because it has a lot of space. When we are travelling, we are able to pack a lot in that space…three bicycles and all!” It’s perfect for the Frempong family as their children can sit in the back together.

When asked about what they loved about the car, Nesbah is quick to add, “I love the heated seats!”

With an 8″ colour touch screen, heated driver & front passenger seat, driver armrest, high-quality wheelchair restraints, and other features, the Ford Tourneo Custom Independence™ offers an exceptional user experience. To meet diverse needs and preferences, Independence™ is available in a variety of seating layouts and a choice of models. These are the popular Independence™ RS, the spacious Independence™ RE, and the Independence™ Twin which can accommodate two wheelchair passengers. What’s more, Independence™ gives you the option to choose where to position the wheelchair user in the vehicle.

Words of Wisdom

From delivery to date, the Frempong family has been loving the experience so far. To anyone looking for recommendations, Nesbah says, “Our advice to anyone who’s out there wanting to buy a WAV…there are a lot of options available. But we went with Allied because they took time to explain things to us, never forced us to make a decision, and they were quick to come over to give us a demonstration.”

Kenneth also thinks, “You must pay attention to the deposit you have to pay; look into the charity organisation that can help you with that. For us, it was Motability.”

The Ford Tourneo Custom Independence™ is available exclusively at Allied Mobility via the Motability Scheme, as an outright purchase or to hire.to buy, To qualify for the Motability Scheme you must receive the Higher Rate Mobility Component of your DLA award, which is determined by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

If you are new to the world of WAVs, and/or are looking for more information about Ford Independence™, please call our mobility advisors on 0808 278 8408 or click here to enquire online.