How Ford is Providing Therapy for Hospital Patients in Spain

MADRID, Spain – Team Fordzilla’s racing simulator for gamers with reduced mobility has gone on loan to the National Paraplegic Hospital of Toledo in Spain where it will help patients learn the skills they need to return to driving. 

The world-first Ford Adapta Simulator, which incorporates elements like a steering wheel with paddles that allow the accelerator and brakes to be operated manually, is the result of collaboration between Team Fordzilla Spain, Ford Adapta, Fundación ONCE, and Hi-Speed.

The news was announced this week at special ceremony at the hospital where Ford Spain and long-time partner Fundación ONCE also displayed a Mustang Mach-E which has been specially adapted for use by people with reduced mobility. Just like the Ford Adapta Simulator, this first of a kind Mach-E has a special hand-held throttle and braking system.

Through Ford Adapta - a programme jointly developed by Ford Spain, its dealer network and ONCE Foundation – Ford has been helping to improve mobility for people with disabilities in more than 90 Spanish cities since its launch in 2014.

The presentation event in Toledo was attended by the president of Ford Spain, Jesús Alonso; the Secretary General of Fundación ONCE and Director of Transformation, Excellence and Equality, Virginia Carcedo; and the Director of the National Paraplegic Hospital of Toledo, Sagrario de la Azuela.

Alonso said: “We have been working for the disability and universal accessibility community for more than 20 years. We will continue to promote initiatives such as this one that allow us to enjoy driving and bring innovation, sustainability and electrification closer to the disability community.”