Ability Classifieds"

A Heartbreaking Reality for Australians with Disabilities.

I don’t even know where to begin. The truth is, living with a disability in Australia comes with a price tag that’s cruelly inflated. Every product, every service, especially mobility-related, is marked up simply because providers know we have no choice. And now, something even more devastating is happening.

Factory-built wheelchair accessible vehicles from Toyota and Nissan, designed with safety, dignity, and comfort in mind, are being pushed out of reach.

Why? Because a handful of engineers and businesses have found a way to profit from vulnerability.

These businesses are converting standard vehicles into wheelchair-accessible ones and selling them for over $100,000.

They claim their conversions are “better” and “safer” than the original factory-built models. But their claims are backed by self-serving engineering reports, not truth.

One engineer even made a video showing a factory restraint system “failing”, but what actually gave way was the floor under an extreme, unrealistic load.

Any restraint system, even a chain, would have buckled under that force. Yet this misleading video was used to revoke all model approvals for factory wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Now, these same engineers have submitted new model reports requiring expensive modifications, kits costing $3,000, plus $1,500 for restraints, and more for installation.

And here’s the kicker: you’re forced to buy their kit. No other approved brands allowed. Once installed, the factory-designed electronic restraint system and winch are ripped out, leaving gaping holes in the floor and walls. It’s a disgrace.

AbilityClassifieds.com is being gutted. We’ve spent years helping families access affordable, factory-built wheelchair accessible vehicles, vehicles that were safe, reliable, and within reach.

For example, a 2019 Toyota Voxy with 80,000 km might cost $50,000 at a dealer. We could import a newer, better Esquire with just 15,000–30,000 km for $34,000–$37,000.

But now, with these forced modifications, prices jump by $7,000 or more, putting them out of reach for the very people who need them most.

This isn’t just about cars. It’s about freedom. It’s about dignity. It’s about families who can’t get their loved ones to school, to work, to the doctor, or even to the park.

I have a plan to fight back. But I can’t do it alone.

If you care about fairness, accessibility, and stopping this exploitation, please reach out to me, John, through the Contact Us page, here www.abilityclassifieds.com. Your support could change lives.

Alternatively, you should draft a letter to your MP, explore advocacy groups, or even share personal stories that highlight these issues. Or send them to admin@abilityclassifieds.com we will post them on our Blog and our Facebook page.