Keith Dungait, 47 from Morpeth north of Newcastle, has regained his ability to drive following a life changing neck injury, thanks to the clinical support of North East Drive Mobility (NEDM, a Driving Mobility centre).

Keith is married with two boys aged 11 and 13. He runs his own health and nutrition business from home and is a full-time powered wheelchair user. A fan of sport and ex rugby player, Keith experienced a traumatic injury several years ago when he accidently dived head first into a shallow swimming pool on holiday in Majorca. This resulted in immediate CPR, intensive care for two weeks and over five months in hospital. Today he has rebuilt his life and remains positive despite lasting anxiety from the accident. In terms of mobility in a car, he has been a passenger in the family’s wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) up until receiving an assessment and tuition from the Driving Mobility staff at NEDM. Keith is now ready to start driving again.

Supported in England by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility co-ordinates a network of 24 fitness-to-drive and mobility equipment assessment centres across the UK. With over 80 outreach facilities, this clinically led service is provided by Occupational Therapists and Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) who focus on enabling as many people as possible. NEDM is Keith’s nearest centre which has supported him over a few years to now be able to drive again. He self-referred after Driving Mobility services were recommended to him when being treated at the James Cook Hospital, Newcastle. The Covid pandemic delayed the process but nevertheless Keith has managed to complete several assessments and driving lessons to ensure he has the skills to drive with hand controls.

Before setting up his business 24 years ago, Keith worked on his family farm. Driving large tractors with hand throttles became second nature so using different controls to accelerate and brake, without using his legs, felt quite familiar at NEDM. Keith picks up his story: “North East Drive Mobility were massively supportive, they couldn’t have helped me anymore. They understood my concerns and step-by-step they kept me relaxed throughout the whole process. My assessments lasted for around an hour and half each time, I was given the opportunity to safely drive a suitable vehicle around their private track so my needs could be assessed.”

Keith continues: “They made me feel confident and as I drove tractors many years ago, I was comfortable with using a hand throttle. I’ve found handling the vehicle easy especially as towing 12 ton of corn was previously normal for me. However, they appreciated I still got anxious around hospitals, as being in one for so long after my accident, so they let me take my time and step outside regularly for fresh air. Being able to get in and out of the driving seat from my powerchair was a new experience so again, I never felt rushed.”

Following his assessments, Keith was deemed safe to drive with hand-controlled push-pull accelerator/brake, steering ball, powerchair locking system and a six-way electrically adjustable driving seat. This type of seat can be rotated and repositioned for easy transfers in and out of a powerchair. Driving Mobility’s report was sent to the DVLA with the recommendation that his driving licence was returned. Specialist driving lessons were also recommended to ensure he remained comfortable with driving in this new way, whilst he waited for a suitable vehicle to be adapted.

“When I started my driving lessons, NEDM arranged to bring the accessible van to me at home instead of me having to drive to Newcastle. This was so much easier as I was in familiar places when practicing. They kept underlining they wanted to help me get back on the road at my own pace. They were so understanding.”

Today, Keith has his licence back and is now ready to drive again.  He is in the process of applying to Motability for a grant so he can get one of their vehicles adapted with the controls he needs. He should be independent soon, able to drive himself and his family wherever instead of being a passenger in the back of their WAV. Plus, he can once again grow his business. To conclude Keith says: “From the outset NEDM were so focused on getting me back on the road. And fitting around me and making me feel comfortable. Suzie and Emma at the centre were so helpful and accommodating. They bent over backwards to help me – fantastic people. I couldn’t recommend them enough.”

#MyDrivingMobility

Driving Mobility will be exhibiting at the upcoming ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference & Expo ’24, in association with AcciDON’T Driving School. 

Sunday 29th September, Newark Showground, Lady Eastwood Centre, Lincoln Rd, Coddington, Newark, NG24 2NY. 

Supported by the DVSA, this free-to-attend event offers a comprehensive agenda for driving instructors. Attendees can look forward to a variety of displays, hands-on activities and seminars held across three dedicated areas. The Live Stage will feature industry-leading trainers and a special session by Loveday Ryder, CEO of DVSA, who will discuss the organisation’s future plans and host an open Q&A.

Whether you are a new instructor, considering a career in driving instruction, or part of a franchise, the ADINJC & Intelligent Instructor National Conference & Expo ’24 is an event not to be missed. We encourage all visitors to stop and meet the friendly and knowledgeable representatives from Driving Mobility.

To secure your free ticket, please visit https://events.intelligentinstructor.co.uk

We look forward to meeting you there!

#MyDrivingMobility

Camille Craven, 58, from Scotland’s Western Isles, has been able to regain her confidence in driving with a disability, thanks to the new DriveAbility Scotland satellite assessment centre in Aberdeen. 

Camille works as an Estate Services Manager responsible for tourist facilities and activities. In June last year she felt she was struggling to move her right foot safely and lost confidence with driving. This resulted in her husband needing to take time off to drive her to work, the shops and hospital for regular appointments. Camille discussed these difficulties with her Healthcare Specialist who signposted her to Motability, who referred her to DriveAbility Scotland.

A member of the national charity Driving Mobility, DriveAbility Scotland provides clinically led, ‘fitness-to-drive’ and mobility equipment assessments. These services focus on enabling as many people as possible so they can maintain or regain independence with restricted mobility. Clients self-refer or are signposted from the NHS, DVLA, Motability and the Police.

Living off the Scottish mainland and in the Western Isles, Camille benefited from DriveAbility Scotland’s brand-new satellite centre which has just opened in Aberdeen. It meant she didn’t need to get to the main centre in Glasgow. She begins her story:

“I read Motability’s website that in Scotland if you want to drive with adaptations, you need to go to a DriveAbility Scotland centre for a driving assessment. I made contact with them and they explained how they would recommend the right controls for me and how I might be able to lease an adapted car through Motability. The centre in Aberdeen had literally just opened so I decided to book an assessment and was actually one of their first clients. I went along and didn’t really know what to expect so was nervous, but Fiona and Alex went out of their way to be kind and explain everything from start to finish. They put me at ease in an automatic adapted vehicle and allowed me to try both pull push hand controls and a left foot accelerator.”

“Once the driving part of the assessment was done, we went back to the centre and they discussed everything. They asked me what I thought about the options and I said the hand controls for braking and accelerating felt a bit alien and more tricky for me. I felt a lot more comfortable with the left foot accelerator. Following the visit, I was posted my report with all the information and recommendations set out clearly which I could take to a car adaptation centre such as City Mobility.”

Camille has driven for many years and being behind the wheel remains fundamental to her career and lifestyle. She continues: “Driving independently is important to me for work. At the moment, I rely on either my husband taking me to and from work or my colleagues picking me up. Friends also take me places. The island I live on is quite big and our main town for supermarket shopping is 60 miles away. I do have a local shop just over a 5 minute drive away, but I must rely on other people to get further afield, especially for hospital appointments. So being able to drive myself again means I can get to work and go shopping without asking for help.”

In summary, Camille has been very impressed with the level of service and support she has received from DriveAbility Scotland. She encourages everyone with restricted mobility, who wants to drive, to reach out to the charity to see if they can help. “I think for anybody that’s concerned about their confidence when driving, I would definitely recommend DriveAbility Scotland as they are so helpful. The team do their very best to put you at ease and in the end, there is nothing to worry about, it is not a test. You’ll receive very good independent advice and guidance.”

“They kept saying we are not here to judge you; we are here to help you with your future driving. We want to find what’s going to help you get the best out of driving. I would say for anybody that’s having mobility issues or thinking they are never going to be able to drive again, not to write it off at all and get in touch with them. DriveAbility Scotland will do whatever they can to help you get back on the road and keep you on the road.”

#MyDrivingMobility #DriveAbilityScotland

Driving Mobility has appointed a full time, permanent Chief Operating Officer (COO) to work alongside current CEO, Edward Trewhella.

With extensive experience of providing services for disabled people, Keith brings to this new role a broad spectrum of knowledge that will enhance the charity’s services and initiatives. With several years on the Driving Mobility Board and directing its ShopMobility UK operations, Keith already has ample insight he can leverage in future charity decisions and strategies.

Supported by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility co-ordinates a network of ‘fitness-to-drive’ and mobility equipment assessment centres. Its team of Approved Driving Instructors and Clinicians advises self-referring clients and those signposted from the DVLA, Motability, NHS and the Police. If driving is not or has never been an option, the new Hubs Mobility Advice Service from Driving Mobility offers alternative accessible transport guidance. Many of Driving Mobility’s new initiatives will be part of Keith’s remit as he aims to strengthen services and opportunities for people with restricted mobility across the UK.

“The decision to accept the appointment was made easier by my passion for improving outcomes for disabled people and my admiration for the work of the charity,” says Keith. “These are exciting times for the charity and its clients as adapted vehicles continue to evolve at pace. Equally, with the scope of Driving Mobility services diversifying year-on-year, my new role promises to be both engaging and rewarding.”

Keith’s career has spanned many aspects of civil service and local government as well as with national, regional and local charities. His most recent leadership and management responsibilities included core operations at award-winning disability charity Dial West Cheshire. Keen on networking, learning from others and sharing good practice, Keith’s wealth of relevant skills will add value to the Driving Mobility proposition.

In conclusion, Edward Trewhella, Driving Mobility CEO adds: “We are delighted that Keith is now onboard fully with the charity. His expertise and approach will accelerate our progress and reach – ultimately resulting in more people with disabilities becoming enabled through our services.”

#MyDrivingMobility