A stroke survivor from the East Riding, unable to leave home for over a year following a stroke, can finally enjoy “life-changing” days out thanks to guidance from the new RDAC Hubs service, part of Driving Mobility.

Maureen (81) and husband Colin, (82), from Hessle, were an active couple enjoying days out and trips abroad, including in their VW Campervan. In 2018, a stroke left Maureen unable to walk, whilst as her caregiver, Colin’s health also deteriorated.

Daughter Rachael (50) said:  “It has been a very tough time. Mum was stuck in the house and unable to get out for almost a year and my parents effectively lost their independence and social interaction. I really wanted to allow them quality time outside of the house, as they were so isolated. However, Mum can’t walk following her stroke, she is catheterised and has poor cognition, (she also has Hydrocephalus) so it isn’t easy to manage trips out. Using public transport is all but impossible. I commute and work full time and I can be tired if I’ve been up throughout the night with Mum. I despaired of finding a solution. Then I met Kirsty from RDAC Hull, which was a real turning point.”

Kirsty Flint is a specialist Occupational Therapist in Driving Assessment at RDAC. RDAC is part of the charitable Driving Mobility network of assessment centres which provide support and guidance for disabled and older drivers and those seeking personal independence. She is also Community Mobility Coordinator of the centre’s new Hubs Project which advises on accessible transport – including local bus and community transport through to accessible train and plane travel.

Having met Rachael at a Stroke Educational Programme, Kirsty was able to reassure her that solutions were available. Amongst other information, Kirsty signposted the family towards local charity Motorvation, in South Cave, which provides accessible transport and days out to locations of their choosing.

Rachael said: “It has been a ray of sunshine and a link to normality for all of us. I can’t explain it any other way. Motorvation collects us in a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) and takes us to venues that are disabled friendly and accessible. Our first trip to Shibden Hall in Halifax was perhaps a little ambitious, so we have organised visits closer to home, including to Ledsham, near Leeds and the marvellous ‘Sistine’ exhibition in Hull Minster recently.   It’s been great to be able to take my parents outside of the house and the trips give us all something to look forward to. I’m really very grateful to Driving Mobility’s RDAC centre and Motorvation for making this possible. It has made a significant difference to my family’s health and well-being.”

Kirsty Flint comments: “The national Driving Mobility centres deliver excellent services including adapted driving assessments. With the launch of Hubs, seven centres including RDAC now also provide wider transport guidance. Hubs services include free information so individuals can remain independently mobile without use of a car and we can signpost people to local services, such as Motorvation. I believe our new offering will enable more people to retain or regain social activities within their community through access to essential and accessible transport information.”

For information regarding the RDAC Hubs Project contact:
Kirsty Flint, Community Mobility Coordinator (HUBS Project)
Specialist Occupational Therapist in Driving Assessment (RDAC Hull/Scunthorpe)
Telephone: 0300 300 2240. Email: hubs@rdac.co.uk

Representing Driving Mobility, Occupational Therapists from the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre and RDAC Salford will be demonstrating their driving assessment services for young disabled people at Kidz to Adultz North.

Thursday 14th November 2019. 9.30am – 4.30pm, EventCity, Barton Dock Road, Manchester.
M17 8AS. Stand F27. Free entry and parking.

Supported by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility centres offer professional support and driving assessments for young disabled people who wish to learn or retain the ability to drive. Each of the twenty centres accredited by Driving Mobility, many with outreach facilities, operate either as independent charities or within an NHS Trust. Occupational Therapists (OTs), Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and Administration staff support young individuals signposted from the DVLA, Motability, Police and healthcare professionals such as OTs and GPs.

Aspiring new drivers can apply for their provisional licence from 16 if they have a qualifying disability however a clinically-led fitness to drive assessment needs to take place – this is where Driving Mobility can assist following a self-referral or professional recommendation. OTs and advisors from the William Merritt Disabled Living Centre in Leeds and RDAC Salford will be able to explain this process at Kidz North along with all other services that signpost individuals to accessible driving. Both centres own a fleet of adapted and wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) so test drives and driver evaluation can be delivered for a variety of abilities. With professional advice from Driving Mobility, clients and supporting OTs can then proceed with sourcing the most appropriate vehicle for safe and comfortable driving.

Offering a fun and interactive opportunity, there will be a vehicle simulator on the stand at Kidz North for professionals and families to try. This feature is a replica of the equipment at many centres which is used to measure driver capabilities and will highlight certain considerations associated with adapted driving.

Edward Trewhella, Chief Executive, Driving Mobility comments: “As the national voice of assisted driving and independence, Driving Mobility is committed to helping as many young disabled drivers as possible get behind the wheel. Our services extend to all aspects of accessible travel particularly with our new Hubs initiative supported by the Department for Transport. The Driving Mobility stand at Kidz North will provide an invaluable opportunity for families and healthcare professionals to discover pathways to greater independent mobility for their clients and children.”

 

#MyDrivingMobility

The QEF team at Carshalton has delivered another successful free open day this week displaying a comprehensive range of adapted vehicles, products and services for independent living.

The Get Going Live driving feature was busy all day with young drivers and those new to disability taking advantage of the opportunity to test drive accessible vehicles around the unique QEF private road network. The event was well supported by a range of exhibitors and was officially opened by Sue Rogers MBE, Manager for Mobility Centres in England at the Department for Transport. Motability Ambassador, Chris Edwards, also supported the day with a series of informative seminars which were well attended. Overall attendance was healthy with a diverse range of visitors including individuals with restricted mobility, families with disabled children, healthcare professionals and representatives from charities such as Age UK.

The diversity of features which included accessible vehicles, wheelchairs and mobility scooters perfectly reflected QEF’s standing as a new Hubs centre. This was enhanced by its existing TryB4uFly services which continue to prove popular as the interest in accessible air travel continues to grow. The mobility scooter test drive course provided by TGA was also popular with many QEF colleagues and visitors keen to understand more about these products and the latest advice regarding road safety.

#MyDrivingMobility

Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF), accredited by Driving Mobility, will be hosting a free-to-attend mobility open day so disabled people of all ages can discover the latest solutions for mobility, including driving adapted vehicles.

Date: 9^th October 2019
Location: QEF Mobility Services, 1 Metcalfe Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey, SM54AW
Time: 10am – 4pm

ALL PRESS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS WELCOME

Michelle Giles, QEF Mobility Centre Manager says: “This event will provide a unique experience for disabled people looking to increase their independence by learning to drive. Our knowledgeable team can provide support and guidance on driving an adapted car around our private track. We’ll also have Occupational Therapists available to help with mobility challenges for both children and adults. Overall the day promises to be really informative and very rewarding.”

QEF Mobility Services is proud to be part of the nationwide Driving Mobility network. Supported by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility centres offer professional support and driving assessments to people who need to gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability. Centres operate either as independent charities or within an NHS Trust. QEF is also part of the new regional transport ‘Hubs’ project which now offers additional information-led services regarding accessible bus, train, coach and taxi travel. Help with accessible locations and attractions can also be obtained along with awareness of useful local groups, charities and organisations. Advice on assisted air travel is also a particular speciality at QEF with its Tryb4uFly assessment service.

At the forthcoming QEF Mobility Open Day, there will be a display of the latest assistive equipment and QEF’s professional team will be offering free mobility assessments for children and adults. As part of the ‘Get Going Live’ feature, teenagers with disabilities or individuals new to restricted mobility, will have the opportunity to drive an adapted car around QEF’s private track. Children’s disability charity MERU, part of the QEF group, will also be exhibiting paediatric mobility and accessibility products, and will also be offering free adaptions of children’s toys so they can be used with an accessible switch.

The event will be officially opened by Susan Rogers MBE, Manager for Mobility Centres in England at the Department for Transport. Motability Ambassador, Chris Edwards, will also be in attendance to provide the latest advice regarding the popular adapted vehicle and assistive equipment leasing scheme.

Event highlights:

• ‘Get Going Live’ – experience driving an adapted car on a private track
  with a qualified instructor. Open to everyone aged 15+
• Vehicle seating and transfer, mobility scooter and wheelchair assessments
• Specialist mobility scooter track
• ‘Bugzi’ assessments – small powered wheelchairs for children under 5
• Mobility scooter and wheelchair assessments
• Specialist child car seat advice
• QEF Tryb4uFly assessments – advice and information regarding air travel with a disability
• Free toy adaptations so they can be used with an accessible switch
• Latest information on the Motability scheme
• All introductory assessments are free on the day if booked in advance.

To book your free introductory assessment  call QEF Mobility Services on:
Tel: 020 8770 1151 or email: mobility@qef.org.uk.

www.qef.org.uk/mobilityopenday

 

#MyDrivingMobility

Supported by The Department for Transport, Driving Mobility, the nationwide charity which accredits driving assessment centres across the UK, is partnering with the Tower Hamlets’ REAL charity to provide an accessible travel event in East London.

REAL ACCESSIBILITY EVENT. Thursday 3rd October, 10am – 4pm. Mile End Art Pavilion, Clinton Road, E3 4QY

Free to attend, this charity-led event will bring together a range of displays that demonstrate how locals living with restricted mobility can benefit from greater independence. Visitors will receive one-to-one advice from qualified representatives, including healthcare professionals on:

• Accessible public transport choices
• Travelling with a disability
• Adapted cars
• Mobility scooters and wheelchairs

Members from Driving Mobility will also be seeking feedback from attendees so the charity can help influence future transport services in the area. This is part of the charity’s ongoing ‘London Project’ research initiative which aims to understand more fully the needs of elderly and disabled people in terms of private car, taxi, bus, train and tube accessibility. With this information Driving Mobility can more effectively put forward proposals to reduce the risk of isolation and loneliness in the area.

For more information regarding the REAL Accessibility Event, email: robert.morton@towerhamlets.gov.uk

The ‘London Project’ online survey can be located here: https://www.drivingmobility.org.uk/london-project/

Please feel free to download the pdf and share: 2046DM_REALeventSept19v2

The North West Driving Assessment Service (NWDAS) based in St Helens, Merseyside, has launched two new outreach schemes at community fire stations in Liverpool, enabling increased access to driving and adaptation assessments alongside home fire safety guidance.

With a team of Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors, NWDAS is delivered by Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (Bridgewater) and overseen by the charity, Driving Mobility. Driving Mobility accredits twenty independent organisations which offer professional support and driving assessments to people who need to gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability.

Following the success of a recently launched outreach scheme in Leyland, Lancashire, NWDAS is now officially offering independent driving and adaptation assessments at Netherton and Crosby Fire Station and Bellevale Fire Station, both in Liverpool. As part of this new arrangement, NWDAS clients visiting the two new Merseyside services will be able to access free home fire safety guidance combined with advice about how to stay safe and well at home.

Rebecca Jones, NWDAS Team Leader, comments: “We are proud to have a strong working relationship with partner organisations in local communities and by locating our services within community fire stations we can become even more accessible to the public. The two additional Merseyside locations will provide a reduction in travel time for many people living in the region. Outreach locations not only provide a greater choice of venue but increase availability for assessment appointments as well, which we hope will encourage more people to seek professional driving information and gain specialist advice.”

Rebecca concludes: “As with all Driving Mobility Centres, we always endeavour to ensure the provision of high-quality services and information, and we are delighted to be linking our assessments with an opportunity for clients to gain valuable fire safety advice.”

Assessments are free when referred by healthcare professionals, the DVLA and Motability. Alternatively, individuals can make a self-referral to the service via the main centre in Haydock, at a cost of £50.

To find out more about the support available from The North West Driving Assessment Centre visit www.bridgewater.nhs.uk/northwestdrivingassessmentservice or call 01942 483713.

Twitter: @nwdrivingassess
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BridgewaterNHS
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/bridgewaternhs

#MyDrivingMobility

 

Pictured: Hilary Kay, Specialist Occupational Therapist and Martin Vivers Approved Driving Instructor

Driving Mobility, the charity which accredits a network of driving assessment centres nationwide, has appointed Annie Wallace-Stanley and Sean Lawrence to its board.

During Driving Mobility’s recent national conference and AGM, Annie, Driving Advisor, Cornwall Mobility (left) and Sean, CEO, Hertfordshire Action on Disability, were voted in following a ballot of centre managers.

 Sean commented: ” I am extremely pleased and proud to have been nominated to the DM Board and I would like to thank everyone who voted for me. My first task was thrust on me very quickly, when I was asked to chair the afternoon session at the conference – ‘straight in at the deep end’! I am looking forward to becoming more involved with the NE London project, having joined the Steering Group to support Christine Parr, who is heading up this project.  I am excited about the prospect of developing my communication and teamwork skills, and broadening my knowledge and understanding of the mobility sector and hope to positively influence outcomes for Driving Mobility, it’s Centres and Clients.”

On receipt of the ballot result Annie added: “I was prompted to request nomination to the board because I am passionate about ways to support clients to keep them driving safely for longer. To promote collaboration and encourage engagement with the DVSA, our local GPs, Memory Clinics, OT networks, rehabilitation programmes, ADIs and other relevant individuals/organisations to provide a more consistent nationwide service that can support our clients. I understand the need to move forward with the ever-changing environment in which we live and the varied community of clients that we serve and hope that I can contribute to the future development of Driving Mobility.”

 

East Anglian DriveAbility (EAD), a charity which is part of Driving Mobility’s UK network of assessment centres for elderly and disabled drivers, has officially opened its new extended Thetford centre to high visitor numbers.

Isabel Coe, retired Centre Manager, officially cut the ribbon to celebrate the opening of the new training facilities and expanded waiting area facilities. The opening was also supported by Helen Dolphin MBE, chair of the EAD charity and highly respected accessibility campaigner. A high number of visitors attended particularly Occupational Therapists (OT) and fellow healthcare professionals who were keen to discover more about the latest services offered by EAD. EAD is currently expanding its services beyond driving assessments to include quality guidance regarding all forms of accessible travel and independent mobility.

Driving Mobility accredits twenty independent organisations which offer professional support and driving assessments to people who need to gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability. EAD is part of this network with centres in Thetford and Colchester. In addition to guidance regarding adapted controls and wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAV), its OTs and Driving Advisors provide additional advice regarding mobility scooters, powerchairs and wheelchairs.

The open day showcased several adapted cars and WAVs from the EAD fleet which included a variety of specialist driving controls and disabled driver and upfront passenger solutions. Visitors were also able to meet several specialist manufacturers which included TGA mobility scooters, Autochair car boot hoists and the WAV convertor Sirus Automotive. The TGA mobility scooter test drive course proved to be busy all day with OTs trialing products and gaining new insight. CEA Mobility, Andys Kars and David Relph also assisted with vehicle adaptations during the event.

Yvette Bateman, CEO, East Anglian DriveAbility, comments: “Our official opening was a significant success for visitors and our charity. Attendees told us they gained so much from coming to the event and hence we now plan to hold an open day annually at either our Thetford or Colchester centre. It was a delight to welcome lots of OT students from the UEA who gained invaluable vehicle and product knowledge for future client prescriptions.  Thank you to all the EAD team for organising such a positive event and we appreciate the support of several manufacturers who attended and added depth to our showcase. We are proud of our new facilities which give us the platform to expand services so independent mobility is achievable for many more people whether that’s in a car or any other mode of accessible transport.”

Teams from Derby DrivAbility and Birmingham’s Regional Driving Assessment Centre (RDAC) represented Driving Mobility at Motability’s ‘The Big Event’ on Friday 28 June and Saturday 29 June 2019.

‘The Big Event’ is Motability’s flagship event and the teams had a busy two days on the Driving Mobility stand.

 

Henna Zaman, Derby DrivAbility and Steve Dent, RDAC were ready and waiting to say hello to visitors on day one. They answered any questions visitors had about assessment centre services, driving assessments, modifications, adaptations, driving safety and vehicle loading. They also demonstrated the Ford C Max to visitors.

In addition to the stand activity Steve Dent, Assessment Manager, and Barbara Hutton, Occupational Therapist delivered talks on ‘advice and support available at driving assessment centres’ in the busy main Speaker Area.

The One Big Day programme of events will now take place in four locations across the country, offering disabled motorists and their families the chance to discover worry-free motoring.  The regional One Big Days are free to attend and offer visitors the chance to see a large display of vehicles for disabled people.

The event will showcase:

• Over 50 cars from 25 different manufacturers
• Over 20 adapted cars and Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV)
• Over 35 scooters and powered wheelchairs
• Specialist advice from our Scheme partners

At One Big Day Exeter specialist advice will be available from:

• Motability Scheme advisors
• Adaptation and WAV specialists
• Disabled Motoring UK
• Driving Mobility
• Kwikfit, RAC and RSA Motability

The One Big Day event dates and venues are:

• One Big Day at Westpoint, Exeter, Saturday 27 July 2019
• One Big Day at Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate, Saturday 10 August 2019
• One Big Day at East of England Arena, Peterborough, Saturday 7 September 2019
• One Big Day at Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh, Saturday 21 September 2019

Please check the Motability website for more information: https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/

 

Driving Mobility, the charity that accredits a nationwide network of driving assessment centres, has successfully exhibited at the latest Royal College of Occupational Therapists Conference (RCOT).

The team representing Driving Mobility which included Occupational Therapists (OTs), Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and centre managers welcomed healthy numbers of OTs onto their stand at the conference.

Information was available to all delegates regarding Driving Mobility services which provides professional driving assessments and advice for individuals with restricted mobility. This support can signpost clients to suitable adapted controls, wheelchair accessible vehicles, training and further services. Centres operate as either independent charities or as part of an NHS Trust so that service users can gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability. Individuals can self-refer or are signposted by the DVLA, Motability, Police and healthcare professionals such as OTs and GPs.

In addition to discovering information and seeing specialist steering controls, delegates were able to experience a vehicle simulator on the stand which proved to be very popular. This interactive feature replicated equipment at many centres which is used to measure driver capabilities in a clinically-led format. By sitting in the driving seat OTs were able to more clearly consider the many aspects to consider when assessing a client’s ability to drive safely.

Edward Trewhella, Chief Executive, Driving Mobility comments: “We were delighted that RCOT provided a successful showcase for Driving Mobility services and many delegates benefited from our exhibition display. As many regard us as the national voice for adapted motoring, being able to engage with so many OTs face-to-face is an invaluable opportunity to explain our client-centred ethos. As the national umbrella charity for all the centres, we believe in delivering independence for all and our strong relationship with healthcare professionals is key to achieving this promise.”

 

#MyDrivingMobility