Since the centre opened last July a large and growing number of disabled people have benefited from the services it offers. Based in Glasgow, DriveAbility Scotland is the latest driving assessment centre to open as part of the national Driving Mobility charity network.

Driving Mobility coordinates a network of over 20 centres in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, many with outreach facilities, which provide ‘fitness to drive’ and mobility equipment assessments. Supported by The Department for Transport (DfT), Driving Mobility Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and Occupational Therapists (OTs) guide and support individuals who self-refer or are signposted from the DVLA, Motability, Police and NHS. Every member is committed to enabling people with restricted mobility so they can remain independent whether driving an adapted vehicle, using assistive equipment or travelling by accessible transport. 

Driving Mobility’s latest centre, DriveAbility Scotland, will now provide services for Scottish people. Previously nearby centres in northern England, could not be accessed due to NHS commissioning rules and the DfT having no jurisdiction in Scotland. The centre has a fleet of dual controlled cars with various specialist driving and control adaptations so drivers and passengers can be assessed and given recommendations. The small specialist team has been carefully selected to offer friendly, professional advice, enhanced by clinical expertise, to ensure the best possible outcome for clients. The opening of the centre has been made possible by the support of Allied Vehicles, the respected vehicle adaptation specialist.

Edward Trewhella, CEO, Driving Mobility, is delighted with this new service as he comments: “DriveAbility Scotland represents an exciting expansion of our driving assessments and a first for the charity. We are continually focused on bringing our services closer to everyone, especially as Driving Mobility’s role is now more vital than ever before. We strive to ensure freedom, inclusivity and safety for all with restricted mobility – now possible in Scotland.”  

Charity funded DriveAbility Scotland provides the following services to people, of all ages, who have a disability or live with a life changing condition/injury:

• Driving assessments
• Driver/passenger access and seating assessments
• Specialist driving tuition
• Recommendations regarding accessible vehicles and adaptations

Gerry Facenna, owner of Allied Vehicles Group in Glasgow, has stepped in to help save the city’s only facility providing driving assessments for disabled drivers. He is donating a total of £7,500 to DriveAbility Scotland, part of national charity Driving Mobility, which oversees all such centres in the UK. “We are proud to have been manufacturing wheelchair accessible vehicles for nearly 30 years, helping to ensure the independence of people with disabilities.”, said Gerry.

“Hopefully this funding, which will be delivered over the next five months, will give DriveAbility Scotland breathing space to look to its longer-term stability”. Gerry’s donation through his company’s charity arm, Allied Vehicles Charitable Trust, has highlighted funding disparities for these facilities in Scotland and across the UK.

DriveAbility Scotland is located at 75 Hawthorn Street, Glasgow. G22 6HY.

Tel: 0141 648 8470 Email: info@driveabilityscotland.org.uk

Driving Mobility, the national charity which accredits driving assessment centres, has announced a new partnership with Oxford Brookes University, to deliver higher education courses in ‘Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility’.

Supported by The Department for Transport, Driving Mobility provides a range of driving and mobility assessment services to assist disabled individuals so they can gain or maintain independence. Its 20 centres, with over 70 outreach facilities across the UK, assist clients who self-refer or are signposted from the DVLA, Motability, Police and the NHS. To ensure employees, such as Approved Driving Instructors and Occupational Therapists, remain at the forefront of their profession, all staff are required to achieve certification from an independent educational institution. This maintains high standards within their duty of care and protects client outcomes. As a leading university provider of vocational and blended learning, Oxford Brookes University has been chosen to partner with Driving Mobility, its staff and clients.

Oxford Brookes University (OBU) is a top 50 UK university* with a learning platform that is world-class and departments relevant to Driving Mobility.  OBU has chosen to lead this course, as a clinical discipline, whilst underpinning delivery through a robust accessibility policy.

The educational programme from Oxford Brookes provides a qualification for employment at Driving Mobility or to gain certification for commercial and academic work elsewhere. The courses allow learners to work towards a Certificate in Higher Education, a Postgraduate Certificate or a Postgraduate Diploma in Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility, with the possibility of continuing onto Masters and Doctoral level study. Certification in ‘Driving Assessment and Outdoor Mobility’ is essential for all mobility practitioners including Approved Driving Instructors and Occupational Therapists. Study topics include medical conditions, fitness to drive, cognition, vision, assistive technology, driver behaviour and rehabilitation.

By qualifying, their strengthened clinical and technical knowledge will enhance professional practice and ensure better outcomes for clients with disabilities. Studying is possible at either undergraduate or postgraduate level to suit academic backgrounds and to meet professional aspirations.

Edward Trewhella, CEO, Driving Mobility comments: “Ensuring all our instructors and clinicians are able to fulfil their roles effectively through the latest education is key. Now with the support of Oxford Brookes University, we can deliver world-class training for employees, so service levels remain high through advanced understanding and practice. As our new educational programme rolls out, we also intend to offer the course to professionals and academics outside of the charity who will benefit from enhanced knowledge regarding mobility. Both in the UK and worldwide, Driving Mobility has affiliations with many associated driving organisations hence welcomes all international students, with an interest in assisted driving, to gain invaluable insight through our new courses.”

Victoria Gilbert, Placement Lead at Oxford Brookes University, said: “Oxford Brookes University is delighted to have launched this exciting partnership with Driving Mobility. As an organisation, Driving Mobility continually strives to provide exceptional quality of driving care in line with current best practice. The support of staff to undertake university accredited courses demonstrates their commitment to, and expectation of, high levels of expertise and skill within practice. Oxford Brookes University is proud to provide the academic support to allow the driving team’s clinical skills to be showcased through this clinical-professional development opportunity.”

Tanya Rihtman, Occupational Therapy Programme Lead at Oxford Brookes added: “The Oxford Brookes University-Driving Mobility courses, housed within the Occupational Therapy suite of programmes, are in their first year of delivery, and the academic modules support a clear pathway through the qualifications on offer.”

“Looking to the future, the Oxford Brookes University-Driving Mobility collaboration hopes to expand on the teaching and learning offer. For example, widening course availability to university students on healthcare courses and to our North American occupational therapy students who require mandatory Driving Mobility training as a prerequisite to professional registration in their home countries. We look forward to the years ahead working collaboratively to successfully run these courses.”

Claire Holtaway, 26 from Birkenhead, has achieved her goal to drive independently with Cerebral Palsy through the guidance and support of Merseyside’s North West Driving Assessment Service.

Accredited by the national charity Driving Mobility, North West Driving Assessment Service (NWDAS) is part of the Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust based in St Helens, Merseyside. Its specialist team of Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors provide professional support and driving assessments to people who need to gain, or retain, the ability to drive following a diagnosis involving impairment or disability. They have recently introduced car seat and harness assessment clinics for disabled children and mobility scooter assessments to their range of services.

Claire, now age 26, developed an interest in learning to drive at the age of 19. Following discussions with several friends with disabilities, she was encouraged to investigate how and where she could turn her dream into a reality. Claire comments: “My parents came across NWDAS through a friend whose daughter attended assessments there whilst learning to drive. I decided to contact them for advice and was invited to an initial meeting with an OT. We discussed my medical history and my physical and visual abilities so the Centre could plan effectively with me how to reach my goal.”

In August 2012, Claire began driving assessments at NWDAS which continued for four years. As well as learning to drive a car, it was important Claire found the most comfortable and suitable vehicle adaptations to ensure safe driving. During this time, the Centre trialled a variety of specialist driving aids as well as cushions and backrests until the best accessible options were identified.

Claire continues: “It was a slow process – which was exactly what I needed to build my confidence and to provide me with enough road practice. My assessor, Dave, was incredibly patient throughout. He tried many different mobility aids in a bid to simplify the driving process for me. Initially, we tried a Lodgesons Lollipop infa-red hand control on the steering wheel to operate the indicators, horn, window wipers etc. but I found this quite difficult to use. So, for a while, I drove an automatic car with dual controls whilst Dave controlled the indicators and anything else that I struggled with.”

After a few years, the NWDAS staff suggested to Claire that she should try the hand control again and she found it now suited her well. In addition, they recommended an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI), Martin Vivers, who could provide specialist tuition from home. In May 2017 Claire successfully passed her driving test at the first attempt. Whilst she continues to take refresher lessons with Martin to retain road confidence, she acknowledges that being able to drive has been a huge boost to her independence.

Claire concludes: “Martin has been such a supportive mentor throughout – building on my skills, knowledge and confidence, and taking me to test level! Having obtained my driving licence, I have now moved to my first flat in Greasby. I have also just started driving a VW Transporter which enables me to transfer from my wheelchair independently. I access the car through a boot lift and lock my wheelchair down in the back of the vehicle. I use a swivel driving seat as well which assists me with mobility. My car has all the correct accessories and adaptations that I require for driving independence and I happily credit this to the help I received from NWDAS – the team’s support went way beyond my expectations. The staff at the Centre have been incredibly understanding and I now know that driving is indeed a possibility!”

#MyDrivingMobility

Ceremonial Mayor Councillor Ronald H Wilson and Mayoress Pat Wilson officially opened the new RDAC Greater Manchester driving assessment centre, part of the nationwide Driving Mobility accredited network, on 1^st November 2018.

The new custom-fitted centre is located at the AJ Bell Stadium Salford which welcomed high numbers of visitors to its launch event. Service users, healthcare professionals and partner associates attended the event along with the Mayor and Mayoress of Salford and senior representatives from the Department for Transport. Members from the wider RDAC network came along to support their Manchester colleagues including the CEO, Colin Barnett. Chief Executive of the overseeing charity Driving Mobility, Edward Trewhella, also attended and was delighted to present the new centre’s Assessment Team Manager, Sean Barratt, with its official accreditation certificate.

The charity, Driving Mobility, accredits a UK network of 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. RDAC is part of this network and has been in existence since 1989 – it provides assessments for older and disabled drivers, passengers, motorcyclists and mobility scooter or wheelchair users. The new RDAC centre in Salford will serve people living in Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire. It provides a team of Approved Driving Instructors, Occupational Therapists and Administrative Staff – all focused on providing assessments that can facilitate safe adapted motoring, sometimes with adapted vehicles.

The launch event encompassed displays of the latest adapted driving controls, steering mechanisms and wheelchair accessible vehicles. Speeches were delivered on behalf of RDAC and Driving Mobility and the indoor vehicle assessment bay generated a welcoming space for many visitors to engage and discuss independent driving.

Sean Barratt, Assessment Team Manager, commented: “Today has been a huge success and I would like to thank everyone involved with organising and attending. It has been fantastic to see so many people, both end users, professional therapists and dignitaries, coming together to understand more about the driving assessment services RDAC provide. The Mayor and Mayoress commented on how impressed they were with the variety of adaptations available these days. They spent considerable time with us understanding what we do and how we aim to provide driving independence to as many disabled and elderly locals as possible. We really appreciate the support of the Mayor, Mayoress and Salford City Council – this has enhanced the impact of our centre’s opening and provides the perfect platform for growth and success in the future.”

The Carshalton based Driving Assessment Centre, managed by the Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People, will be hosting a relaunched Get Going Live! event so that young and recently disabled people can experience assistive driving.

Friday 5^th October. 9:30am – 4pm. Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF),1 Metcalfe Avenue, Carshalton. SM5 4NR. Free admission and accessible parking.

QEF Mobility Services is one of sixteen independent organisations, many with satellite centres, which offer professional information, advice and driving assessments for people seeking assistance with mobility. Overseen by the charity Driving Mobility, all centres are staffed by Occupational Therapists as well as Approved Driving Instructors so that safety for drivers with injuries, disabilities or restricted mobility is maximised. As well as conducting assessments on behalf of the DVLA, Motability and healthcare professionals, Driving Mobility accepts self-referrals.

Get Going Live! – Try Adapted Driving And Explore Options For Accessible Motoring

QEF Mobility Services is delighted to be hosting the first in a series of free-to-attend Get Going Live! which will be officially opened by Mayor, Councillor Steve Cook and Mayoress Pauline Cook of the London Borough of Sutton.

The Get Going Live! events which focus on younger people with disabilities, novice drivers and individuals that have become recently disabled. Get Going Live! was originally a popular feature of the national Mobility Roadshow which was held annually from 1983 up until 2017. Attendees to this relaunched exhibition will be able to safely test drive a range of accessible and adapted vehicles around a dedicated test track with qualified specialist instructors. The event will provide the opportunity for visitors and their families, including teenagers from the age of 15, to try adapted driving for the first time and explore options for accessible motoring.

What’s On at Get Going Live!

Features of the event will include:

• Free test drives and driving assessments (pre-booking required) please call 0208 770 1151 to book
• Displays from a range of assistive product specialists who supply WAVs (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles), mobility scooters, wheelchairs and more
• The latest range of adapted driving controls and assistive technology
• Informative presentations regarding accessible motoring
• Refreshments and ample level parking
• Accessible aviation travel training

Marion D’Moirah from QEF comments: “We are delighted to be hosting the relaunched Get Going Live! event. Based on its popular heritage, we believe it will be well attended and deliver a unique experience to young and recently disabled individuals seeking driving independence. Our friendly and knowledgeable team will be on hand to offer the latest guidance regarding assisted driving and to provide instruction around our test drive track. We will have around 30 vehicles available for test drives and overall the atmosphere of the day promises to be fun and fully rewarding.”

Exhibitors at Get Going Live!

Click an exhibitor’s name to see more information…

Get Going Live! Talk schedule: In the Board Room

Richard Dutton, 65, from Bristol, recently attended the Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England), to assess fitness to drive, twelve years after a serious vehicle collision resulted in partial loss of vision.

The charity, Driving Mobility, is a network of sixteen independent organisations, many with satellite centres, covering England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland which offer professional, high quality information, advice and driving assessment to people who need to gain or retain independence through mobility. Driving assessments include checks of visual, cognitive, and physical abilities with all centres staffed by Occupational Therapists as well as Approved Driving Instructors. The Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England) provides passenger, driving and scooter assessments and enables people to stay independently mobile, in safety and comfort.

In 2006, Richard was involved in a head-on collision with a motorist travelling in the opposite direction, who was overtaking six cars simultaneously. The impact was so severe that Richard spent the following month in the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxfordshire. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by the force of the sudden head-on impact resulted in Homonymous hemianopia – a visual field loss on the same side of both eyes. It is often seen as a result of strokes and traumatic brain injuries due to the way vision is represented in the brain.

Richard underwent a standard eye test, the binocular Esterman visual field test, used by the DVLA to assess if people are fit to drive, and his right-hand side vision was graded as being lower than the acceptable benchmark.

Mr Dutton comments: “The day of the crash, I was on my way to work. A trained jazz musician and performer, I was teaching music at Magdalen College School in Oxford and had also taught prison inmates for 15 years.  I simply could not escape the car coming towards me on the same side of the road. My injuries meant that I had to surrender my driving licence and as I was unable to transport music equipment in my car, unfortunately my professional career stopped at that point.”

In 2017, having relocated to Bristol, Richard decided to see if his driving could be assessed again. Accustomed by now to using public transport, he also felt that he had adapted to his altered vision and would like to see if he could regain his licence. The DVLA requested written support from medical professionals and his new GP contacted them. He also received support from a private neurologist in London, who was familiar with Richard’s eye condition and felt he was fulfilling DVLA criteria.

Richard comments: “The DVLA have now agreed to reconsider my case under Section 88 permission. They referred me for an initial assessment with the Driving and Mobility Centre (West of England), at the Vassall Centre in Bristol, who provide comprehensive assessments of ability to drive a vehicle safely. I had a meeting with an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI) and an Occupational Therapist, who then accompanied me out in a car.”

Richard continues: “This is the first time I had driven in twelve years and I admit to being a little rusty on the gears and clutch! Mark and Helen were both incredibly supportive however. Afterwards, we spoke about things that had gone well and they also highlighted some areas of concern. The centre has now sent a report to the DVLA and recommended that I take a short course with an accredited driving instructor. The services offered by the Driving Mobility centres are so beneficial and I really hope people are made aware of them in the early stages of rehabilitation. I shall be returning for a second assessment and I am hopeful that as I will be familiar with driving by that stage, a clear picture of my abilities will emerge.”

#MyDrivingMobility