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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News AP Entertainment Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Holiday Guide Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend December 12, 2006 Eagle Point woman with brittle bone disease needs wheelchair lift By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune EDITOR'S NOTE: "Light One Candle" is an annual Mail Tribune feature that focuses on the single need of an individual, family or agency during the holidays. Brittle bone disease and dependence on a wheelchair haven't stopped a 20-year-old Eagle Point woman from striving for independence. She's been through a job training program and is seeking employment in an office setting, but a dangerous cargo lift is the only means she has of hoisting her wheelchair into her parents' mini van. The cargo lift, typically seen on delivery vans, is not meant for supporting a wheelchair, so the woman's family must lift her in and out for the drive to job interviews. Although she has health insurance, wheelchair lifts are not covered. Like shoes, the lifts must be properly fitted to suit the needs of individuals using the equipment, said Glory Cooper, executive director for Mobility Unlimited, a Medford nonprofit organization. Advertisement "There are so many rules and regulations on these lifts for safety," Cooper said. Fundraising efforts have helped Mobility Unlimited outfit a dozen disabled Oregonians with wheelchair lifts this year. Relying on private community donations, the organization aims to put clients in a lift within weeks, but the process can take years for some, Cooper said. Mobility Unlimited is attempting to help the woman purchase the lift, which costs $6,395. The family plans to place it on a 1979 Chevrolet van, which has many thousands of miles but would be too expensive for the family to replace. Mobility Unlimited cannot help clients purchase vehicles, Cooper said. Donations can be mailed to Mobility Unlimited, 1214 Stowe Ave., Medford, OR 97501. For more information, call Cooper at 618-9468. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Men's Clothing Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Discount Hotel Reservations Send Flowers Casinos Canada Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Trunks, Footlocker Online poker at AbsolutePoker.com