In Pursuit of an Education: Ainsley Wood’s Story

Ainsley Wood was 14 when she fell out of a tree and sustained a spinal cord injury that left her a quadriplegic. After two months in the hospital and six months of rehabilitation, she wondered how she would pursue a post-secondary education and achieve an independent life. “That was the biggest question I had: ‘What was my future going to look like?’” recalls Ainsley.   Now 19, she is a student at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan. After doing online classes during COVID, she discovered that distance learning wasn’t the same educational experience as attending in person. She did not want to miss out on the opportunities of a traditional college education, and although her city has good public transportation, she’s not able to access the bus stops easily, especially in winter. She didn’t want to have to rely on anyone else to help her commute to campus every day.   The only option was to invest in a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV). “The thing with accessible vehicles,” says Ainsley, “is they are so amazing, and they provide independence, but one of the biggest barriers…is the cost.”   With her particular spinal cord injury, which affects her hands and upper extremities, she requires specific technology to make driving possible, such as a ramp to the driver’s seat and hand controls. “And that,” she says, “comes with a big price tag.”   The dealership Ainsley was working with, Alliance Mobility Solutions, a member of the NMEDA network, helped her get in touch with Bridge to Mobility, and we were able to provide $5,000 of last-dollar funding for her WAV. Today, Ainsley continues to pursue her degree and is considering going into law so she can advocate for others with disabilities. She has a part-time job and many volunteer endeavors such as Spinal Cord Injury BC, the Rick Hansen Foundation, and the Praxis Spinal Cord Institute. Having fun and being able to drive herself to meet with friends and family is also important to her.   Although the journey to independent mobility was a long and costly one, Ainsley says it was worth it in the end. “That’s why I’m glad that Bridge to Mobility exists, to be able to provide financial support for that journey, because it’s definitely much needed.” Watch Ainsley Wood's Story →