Michigan Wheelchair Van Grants
Children with Special Needs

Michigan's Adoption Medical Subsidy program is intended to assist with payment for necessary services related to the treatment of a physical, mental, or emotional condition certified by the Adoption and Guardianship Assistance Office (AGAO) of a child who has been placed for adoption. This program may assist with the cost of a van lift for a related condition certified the AGAO up to a maximum of $5,000 every five years.

Coverage Area: Michigan - Statewide

The mission of The Jenna Kast Believe in Miracles Foundation is to enrich the lives of Michigan children suffering from life-threatening medical conditions by buying gifts and bringing joy and hope to their lives. Past gift recipients have requested funding toward a wheelchair accessible vehicle modification.

Coverage Area: Michigan - County Specific

The mission of the Cerner Charitable Foundation (formerly First Hand) is to build healthier tomorrows and stronger communities around the world. They acheive this by providing individual medical grants and wellness programs, engaging volunteerism, championing community initiatives, and developing strategic partnerships. Their individual medical grants cover a wide variety of clinical, equipment, travel & lodging, and vehicle modification costs related to children's healthcare needs. Grant assistance for vehicle modifications (which includes ramps, ramps, and transfer boards) ranges from $1,250 - $2,500 and is based on income.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

The Children with Special Needs Fund provides support for children in Michigan with special health care needs not available through any other funding source. The Fund helps with the purchase of equipment and services that promote optimal health, mobility, and development, enhancing the lives of children and their families. This includes vehicle accessibility modificaitons such as van lifts, ramps, and turney seats.

Coverage Area: Michigan - Statewide

Chive Charities is committed to championing those most in need, including children with rare medical conditions. To fill the gaps where insurance and other resources cannot, Chive Charities provides critical grants for recipients with life-altering or life-threatening needs. This can include funding for a wheelchair accessible van.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

The Duchenne Family Assistance Program is a collaboration between Team Joseph and Little Hercules Foundation, and provides personalized assistance to individuals and families affected by Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. This can include financial assistance purchasing an accessible vehicle or modifying a van. The only criteria for applying is a diagnosis of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

Easterseals MORC services for children with special needs are available to families who are eligible for public mental health services and choose Easterseals MORC as their service provider. They can provide assistance with the Children’s Waiver Program, a federal program for children with developmental disabilities and complex medical or behavioral needs. Services could include nursing, speech, recreational, dietary, community living supports, transportation, respite care, durable medical equipment and accessibility adaptations. Approval from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is required for enrollment.

Coverage Area: Michigan - County Specific

The Emily Ann Griffin Foundation is a Michigan-based non-profit organization. Their mission is to help kids with special needs within the state reach their full potential. One of the ways they acheive this is by providing funding for equipment and life-enhancing experiences. This includes financial assistance for wheelchair accessible vehicle modificatoins.

Coverage Area: Michigan - County Specific

Giving Songs is an all-volunteer charitable organization focused on helping families with disabled children who are wheelchair users by providing grants for wheelchair accessible vehicles. Their grant giving is concentrated in the following Southeastern Michigan counties: Genesee, Hillsdale, Ingham, Jackson, Lapeer, Lenawee, Livingston, Macomb, Monroe, Oakland, St. Clair, Shiawassee, Washtenaw and Wayne. 

Coverage Area: Michigan - County Specific

Help Hope Live is a nonprofit organization that helps individuals and families raise funds to pay for medical expenses related to a catastrophic injury or illness. The organization provides fundraising assistance and support services to those in need, such as those who have suffered a traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, organ transplant, or other life-altering medical conditions.

Help Hope Live offers a platform for individuals to create personalized fundraising campaigns and provides resources for organizing events and outreach efforts. They also offer financial management services to ensure that funds raised are used appropriately and responsibly for medical expenses.

As a trusted resource for families facing medical crises, Help Hope Live has helped thousands of people across the United States to access the care they need.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

Laughing At My Nightmare works to improve the quality of life for people living with disabilities by providing free adaptive and medical equipment and assistive technology to people in need. Through their equipment granting program, No More Nightmares, they offer financial assistance to people living muscular dystrophy to purchase important equipment and technology to keep them living awesome lives! Grant awards typically range from $5,000 - $13,000.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

Lori's Voice is a non-profit organization based in West Michigan that provides assistance and support to children with special needs and their families. The organization was founded by Lori Hastings, who was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy as a child and wanted to make a difference in the lives of other children with disabilities.

Lori's Voice offers several programs and services to children with special needs, including financial assistance for medical equipment and services, grants for wheelchair accessible van modifications, scholarships for college-bound students with disabilities, and educational programs to promote awareness and understanding of disabilities.

Coverage Area: Michigan - Statewide

If MESSA is your family’s health insurance provider, your child may be eligible for MESSA’s Medical Case Management (MCM) program. This program provides members with serious illnesses or injuries with personal support from a registered nurse. MESSA’s MCM nurses work directly with members and their families to ensure they access the right care at the right time and return to their highest quality of life.

Coverage Area: Michigan - Statewide

MagicMobility Vans by Special Kids Fund is a program that provides used wheelchair accessible vans to families with children who have special needs. The program is run by Special Kids Fund, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to helping families with children with disabilities.

The MagicMobility Vans program was created to address the transportation challenges that many families with special needs children face. Getting around can be especially difficult for families with disabled children, and the cost of modifying a van to accommodate a wheelchair or other mobility aids can be prohibitive. The MagicMobility Vans program seeks to provide families with a safe and reliable means of transportation that is tailored to their specific needs.

To apply to receive a MagicMobility Van, families must submit an application that includes information about their child's disability and their transportation needs. Families must demonstrate that they do not have the resources to afford an adapted van on their own. They will also be required to carry car insurance, register the vehicle and pick it up from the donor.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

​The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) offers timely financial support to families, so they can focus on what is most important – improving the quality of life of their child. UHCCF grants help with medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by a family’s commercial health insurance. If the applicant meets eligibilty requirements, wheelchair-accessible vehicle modifications are considered for grant assistance. The child must be 16 years of age or younger at the time of application.

Coverage Area: Nationwide

Let's Roll, Wheelchairs 4 Kids' flagship program, is dedicated to fulfilling the organization's primary mission: improving the lives of children with physical disabilities. Let’s Roll provides wheelchairs, home and vehicle modifications, as well as other therapeutic equipment to children that have limited mobility due to illness, accident or abuse. Vehicles must meet certain criteria to be eligible to receive funding for modifications. Additionally, the parent or guardian must own the vehicle or provide a notarized letter from the owner permitting the modification.

Coverage Area: Nationwide