Nicky Abdinor is the Founder and Chairperson of ‘Nicky’s Drive,” a registered non-profit organisation in South Africa. The project was motivated by Nicky’s need to plan for the future so that she can remain mobile and independent. She drives a specially adapted car that was donated to her from the United Kingdom. The adaptations are incredibly sophisticated (she drives using only her shoulder and right leg!) but they are very expensive to replace. Based in South Africa, Nicky will need to have a replacement car adapted in the UK, where the specialised conversions for her to drive have been developed and fitted for over 20 years. “Nicky’s Drive” is not only set up to assist one individual, but it aims to help people with disabilities around South Africa with funding to have cars specially adapted. As Nicky says, “There is nothing quite as exhilarating as the freedom of driving!”
Nicky hopes to INSPIRE, ENABLE and MOTIVATE people with disabilities to be mobile and independent!
Here is Nicky’s Story:
A supportive family, access to mainstream schooling and my own personality helped me to achieve independence and a positive outlook on life. I was born without arms and shortened legs (the medical terms are Phocomelia and Bilateral PFFD). While there was no medical explanation for my disability, I was fortunate that my parents were determined to have an optimistic view for my future. I attended mainstream schooling and learnt to write with my foot. I was a happy and outgoing child, taking part in many activities at school including swimming, tennis (I held a racket between my chin and shoulder!) and drama. I did well academically and was always self-motivated – I do not think my parents ever had to tell me to do my homework!
Independence was always important to me and it was a great challenge to begin university life. I attended Stellenbosch University and stayed in residence. I battled with the walking distances on campus and I relied on friends and classmates to take me to lectures in a wheelchair. In my second year, I obtained funding for a motorized wheelchair and this gave me the freedom to move around campus independently. I completed my BA degree (majoring in Psychology and Social Work), followed by my Honours degree in Psychology (cum laude) in 2001.
During my university years, it was a dream of mine to be able to drive a car. As a child, my parents made contact with a young woman in the UK with a similar disability. She drove an adapted car, so I knew that this was possible. Stellenbosch University’s Mechanical Engineering Department even took the idea on as a project, but they found it difficult not having the technical knowledge that is available in the UK. In 2001, the friend in the UK heard about my dream to drive. She was in the process of having a new car adapted and kindly donated her “old” car to me – a 1995 Honda Civic. As her disability is not exactly the same as mine, further adaptations were necessary to enable me to drive. I undertook fundraising efforts and visited the UK for fittings and basic driving lessons.
In 2002, I was selected for the Master’s Programme in Clinical Psychology at Stellenbosch University. It was also during this year that my car arrived in South Africa and I obtained my driver’s licence. What a great accomplishment! I remember how liberated and proud I felt driving away from the Stellenbosch Traffic Department on my own! Driving a car was certainly important to my independence and self-confidence, but also to my career development as I needed to be mobile to visit communities, clinics and hospitals in and around Cape Town.
Not a day goes by that I am not grateful for the opportunity that driving has given me. Over the last 9 years, I have always been interested to meet with local conversion specialists to show them my incredible car in the hope that one day somebody could modify a replacement vehicle for me. My physical limitations only allow me to drive using a joystick hydraulic steering system with my right shoulder (go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNwDb0j_8dU to view a video of me driving). Unfortunately, the technology for such a steering system is not available in South Africa. I initiated a fundraising project to plan for the future – I knew that one day I would need to have a replacement vehicle adapted in the UK. The costs for the adaptations alone exceed £35 000 (approximately R450 000), excluding the cost of a car, fittings in the UK and shipment costs to South Africa. While it seems that buying a new car and hiring an (able-bodied) driver would be a cheaper option, this would be defeating all my hard work of striving to lead an independent lifestyle. This is a long term project that I am very passionate about to ensure my continued independence.
I currently work in private practice as a Clinical Psychologist in Milnerton and lecture Psychology Honour’s students part-time at Varsity College in Rondebosch. I enjoy motivational speaking and linking my own story and accomplishments with psychological principles I have learnt through my studies and work. Motivational speaking is a way for me to contribute to companies and organisations in return for their support of “Nicky’s Drive.”
“Nicky’s Drive” was motivated to enable other people with disabilities to experience the freedom that driving an adapted car can offer. I love taking people for a drive to see how the adaptations work. My car certainly attracts a great deal of attention. Whenever I step in or out of my car, onlookers are astounded. I never feel offended by this as it is rather incredible that a person can drive a car without arms! I want to inspire other people with disabilities to be able to drive, challenge the stereotype of disability and highlight the abilities of people with disabilities!
