Kelly Newton and her husband are based in Santa Barbara, California, and getting in and out of the car had been a struggle they’d perfected in their own way over the decades.
Kelly’s husband used a wheelchair for more than 40 years. As a person with hemiplegia, he had developed a familiar routine for transferring into their vehicle by standing and pivoting from his wheelchair into the car.
Towards the end of 2025, everything changed.
A broken femur meant he needed to remain completely non-weight bearing for three months. The injury itself was difficult, but its impact went much further. After losing significant strength and mobility, the transfer technique they had relied upon for so many years was no longer safe or practical.
Suddenly, something as simple as getting into the car became a major barrier.
Following her husband’s injury, Kelly found herself facing a problem they hadn’t experienced to this extent during more than four decades of wheelchair use.
“He lost so much strength and ability that he could no longer do any kind of safe transfer.”
Without a safe way to transfer into their vehicle, their independence and ability to simply get out and go were suddenly restricted.
Then a friend found something online that none of them had encountered before: Para Mobility’s IBIS Wheelchair to Car Access.
“We have never seen anything like this in the US. We had no idea such a lift existed.”
Finding a potential solution was one thing. Ordering unfamiliar accessibility equipment internationally was another.
Kelly and her husband needed confidence that the IBIS would work with their circumstances and vehicle before making the investment.
The Para Mobility team worked with Kelly to check the required measurements and determine the appropriate setup. Different options for customising the sling were also discussed to help identify a solution suited to her husband.
For Kelly, that communication made an important difference.
“Customer service was outstanding with clear communication. I was provided help to ensure my measurements were correct and was offered a few options to customise the sling.”
After months of having their usual transfer method taken away from them, the IBIS had an immediate impact.
“Within a day of its arrival we were mobile and in and out of the car again.”
For Kelly and her husband, the significance wasn’t simply that a piece of equipment worked. It meant getting back the ability to use their car again without attempting an unsafe transfer.
For Kelly, being able to manage the system herself was particularly important.
“It’s very manageable for me to operate and in our 60s we are grateful for anything that lightens our load.”
That last phrase captures something that can sometimes be overlooked when discussing assistive equipment.
The right solution doesn’t only support the person being transferred. It can also make an enormous difference to partners, family members and carers who assist with transfers day after day.
Shortly after purchasing the IBIS, Kelly and her husband unexpectedly needed to replace their vehicle.
For a permanently installed vehicle lift, changing cars can potentially mean reassessing or replacing significant equipment. The portable nature of the IBIS gave Kelly and her husband greater flexibility.
They were pleased to discover that their IBIS was also a good fit with their new vehicle.
Every accessibility journey is different. Mobility, strength, vehicles, transfer requirements and the level of assistance available can vary considerably from one person to another.
For Kelly and her husband, however, finding the IBIS at exactly the time they needed it made a profound difference.
“We decided to take the risk. It was worth every penny and more.”
At Para Mobility, stories like Kelly’s remind us why assistive equipment needs to be about more than specifications.
Behind every product is a person who wants to get somewhere.