Independence Day: Modifying vehicles for wheelchairs goes from hobby to full-time job

PALMER — Patrick Delia knows the transportation challenges presented to a wheelchair-bound person.

His son’s special needs require the use of a wheelchair, and since 2005, Delia has been helping other families that face the same issues. With his business, Access Vans of Alaska, Delia offers the rental, sale and repair of vehicles modified to suit the needs of drivers or passengers who require the use of a wheelchair.

The idea for his business, which is currently operated out of Big Lake, was inspired by not only his son, but a trip to Florida. Delia’s son, Luke, who suffers from Duchene muscular dystrophy, was sent to Florida, along with his family, by Make-A-Wish for a Disney World vacation. On that trip, the Delia family was able to rent a wheelchair from the company Wheelchair Getaways.

“It gave me the idea years later, as it became more of an issue to transport him,” Delia said. “We needed a vehicle, we thought there’s got to be other people who needed those too. In Alaska it’s very limited.”

So Delia did his best to fill that void, not only in the Mat-Su Valley, but the 49th state. It started out as just a rental car agency. But that evolved into a Wheelchair Getaway franchise in Alaska, and later into the sale and modification of vehicles. Delia is a longtime mechanic who used to work with heavy equipment on the North Slope. Now, Delia strictly works with his business.

Delia said most of his work is on minivans, but said he modifies full-size vans as well. Modifications can range from raising the roof, to lowering the floor, to adding ramps or lifts for the wheelchair. Delia modifies other vehicles, making upgrades as simple as adding hand controls to steering wheels.

Delia has a variety of vehicles for sale, many of which can be seen on his website, akmobility.com. There is also a handful for rent. The company generally has more rentals during the summer months, he said.

Delia said he has the only business in the state that strictly has vehicles already modified for sale, and he caters to clients throughout Alaska. Delia has delivered vehicles all over the state. He even took one of his vehicles to Skagway.

“That was a long drive, but whatever it takes,” Delia said.

But that is part of the satisfaction for Delia and his wife, Bessie.

“We’re trying to help the customer, whatever it takes,” Delia said.

Delia said he will routinely go to a customer’s home to pick up a broken down wheelchair-accessible vehicle and take it back once it’s fixed.

“They may not have other means of transportation,” Delia said.

Delia said his business has grown to where it can be his full-time focus and continue to help those with special vehicle needs. For more, see akmobility.com.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.