In November’s ‘Driving Mobility Centre of the Month’ we focus our spotlight on Derby DrivAbility in Kinsgsway, Derby
Operating for over 40 years as a specialist service for driving assessments, Derby DrivAbility initially operated as an informal service run through the Occupational Therapy department at the local Rehab Hospital.
The centre’s name has changed over the years: in 1985 becoming Derby Disabled Driving Centre, in 1995 Derby Regional Mobility Centre and in 2006 their current name of Derby DrivAbility was born. They have now been in their current purpose-built building since 2018.
Derby DrivAbility has a very enthusiastic team working from the Centre that offer support and advice to the clients. When asked about what the team love about their jobs they said, “that every day is a learning day, and that they get huge satisfaction when young people can drive for the first time, or when they are enabling people to resume and continue driving.
The services they currently offer are driving, passenger, non-driving assessments, paediatric powered wheelchairs, assessments, special seating clinics and a very limited amount of tuition using adapted controls that are not generally available. They are currently in the very early stages of providing mobility scooter assessments.
The Centre has two outreach services that operate from Newark and Stoke on Trent, but they are currently limited to the days they open due to the availability of premises.
Derby DrivAbility team have future aspirations and aim to expand their existing services and explore new opportunities such as the Hubs project and Try B4U Fly, advising and helping people travelling by airlines with a disability. They are also in the early stages of working with Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Police on Fitness to Drive assessments to help older drivers maintain driving and independence.
If you are local to the Derby area and want to find out more about how the Derby DrivAbility team could help you or someone you know please visit:
https://www.uhdb.nhs.uk/service-drivability/
Tel: 01332 788300
Email: dhft.driving@nhs.net
#MyDrivingMobility #DrivingAssessments #DisabledDrivers @DerbyDrivAbility #Derby #Newark #StokeOnTrent