Fueling up to become easier for disabled drivers

Fueling up the minivan is often one of life's challenges for Cherie Clark, a disabled motorist from southeast Cedar Rapids.

Clark says her lack of dexterity makes it almost impossible to remove the fuel cap from her van, so she beckons for help.

“I generally say, “Hey You ! Come here! Would you like to be a good Samaritan?” said the outgoing Clark.

On Friday, Clark could simply  push a big button within easy arm's reach to call for help when she pulled up to the pump at Hy-Vee Gas, 5050 Edgewood Road NE.

When Clark pushed the button, a voice inside the store chimed “customer needs assistance,” and a store employee went out to the fueling island to fill Clark's tank and take her payment.

It's possible because of a system called FuelCall  from Evanston, Ill.-based Inclusion Solutions that was installed over the summer.

The wireless system became active in early July, and is now available to any customer with a disabilities placard on their vehicle.

Hy-Vee Inc. became aware of the system after one of its own store directors, Willy Amos of Mount Pleasant, became disabled in a fall from a deer blind in 2008. He had scheduled an appoointment with Inclusion Solutions sales consultant Mitchell Swanson to discuss the purchase of a stand-up wheelchair, and was late because he had so much trouble getting gas for his vehicle.

Swanson said he could instantly identify with Amos' difficulties. He said it sometimes takes 20 or 30 minutes to flag down a customer who will tell the convenience store attendant he needs help fueling.

Since the first FuelCall system in Iowa was installed at the Hy-Vee Gas in Mount Pleasant,  Hy-Vee has installed the systems at 50 f 85 Hy-Vee Gas locations.

The  Edgewood Road store next to a newer Hy-Vee grocery is the first to have the system in the Corridor.

Hy-Vee store director Jamie Franck said the FuelCall service is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily in order to help customers with special needs.

Clark said she plans to push Hy-Vee and other gasoline retailers to install the system. She said having FuelCall at the Edgewood Road Hy-Vee Gas is a big help, but individuals with disabilities should have the convenience of being able to call for help at a convenience store near them.

Hy-Vee is the only customer for the FuelCall system in Iowa, Swanson indicated. The Petroleum Marketers of Iowa did not return calls seeking information on access at other convience store chains.

The Americans With Disabilities Act requires that gasoline retailers with two or more employees on duty assist with fueling of disabled customers when asked at the self-service price, according to information posted on the Inclusion Solutions web site.