Emily Else, 19 from Swansea an A-level student with Cerebral Palsy, has been able to apply for university thanks to her ability to drive independently through support from the South Wales Driving Mobility Centre.

Emily first contacted the South Wales Mobility & Driving Assessment Service in 2018. This centre is based at the Rookwood Hospital in Cardiff and is part of the wider Driving Mobility network. Supported by the Department for Transport, Driving Mobility is a national charity which oversees 21 centres which provide clinically-led ‘fitness to drive’ and mobility equipment assessments so people with restricted mobility can gain or maintain independence. Service users self-refer, such as Emily, or are signposted to Driving Mobility from the DVLA, Motability, Police and healthcare professionals.

Each centre provides professional recommendations on adapted driving and wheelchair accessible vehicles through the knowledge of specialist Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) and Occupational Therapists. Emily first discovered Driving Mobility on the Motability website whilst researching how to drive with a disability. At the time she was 16 and wanted to apply for her provisional driving licence; however due to her restricted mobility, Emily knew she would need an adapted car to start driving lessons. She contacted the South Wales centre for an assessment of her needs and an appointment was organised.

From the beginning Emily was impressed with the support she received from Driving Mobility: “Upon arrival at the centre everyone was warm and welcoming; they instantly made me feel relaxed. They spent time talking and listening to me about my condition and how it affected my lifestyle. I was then assessed on their indoor driving simulator to check my reaction times and eyesight; no problems there. After that I got to drive a car for the first time in the car park – quite nerve-racking, but the staff kept me calm!  They had already set up an automatic car with something called a lollipop control stick which attaches to the steering wheel. This steering knob allowed me to steer the car with one hand and access secondary controls via buttons – wipers, indicators and lights. The only other adaptation I needed to suit my requirements was an easy release hand brake.”

“I then knew the type of adapted car I needed for driving lessons and they also put me in touch with a recommended Driving Instructor who had specialist experience of teaching drivers with disability. I was all set to go.”

Emily started her driving lessons on the day of her 17^th birthday and went on to pass her test first time after 40 hours of tuition. She was absolutely delighted with her achievement and was so thankful to her ADI, Dave Broadhurst, for all his expert support. As she was learning to drive, she applied for a Motability vehicle with adaptations recommended by Driving Mobility. Emily adds: “My parents already had a Motability car, so I knew how good the scheme was for getting you on the road. Motability organised the new car and its adaptation at a local vehicle convertor based in Llanelli. I was able to take delivery of my new car only four weeks after passing my test which was so exciting. I suddenly had independence which was amazing, especially for getting to college and back. That was until the pandemic and everything got locked down. However, I know as we get back to normal my car is going to be invaluable for future education and work.”

Emily is currently completing her A-levels and has received conditional offers to study Occupational Therapy at Cardiff and Bristol Universities. Without the ability drive on her own she would never have been able to go to University, especially to study her chosen degree, as she concludes: “Studying Occupational Therapy, working on placement and then becoming a qualified OT involves visiting a lot of patients in the community. I needed to be able to drive not only to study, but to ultimately get a job. It’s been such an odd 12 months with A-level exams being scrapped but I’m hopeful I will still get into Uni with my assessed grades. Being an OT is my dream job as I’ve had experience from the other side as a client, so I totally appreciate the real difference their work makes. Being able to drive has made my dream job possible – a role that I believe is now more vital than ever before.”

#MyDrivingMobility

One Big Day Harrogate brings together everything available on the Motability Scheme to make joining the Scheme as easy as possible. It’s free to attend and a great day out for the whole family. There will be:

• Over 100 cars, Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs), adaptations, scooters and powered wheelchairs on display
• The opportunity to test drive adapted and non-adapted cars
• Motability Scheme advisors available to chat to
• Free parking, free tea, coffee or soft drink
• A children’s play area including a bouncy castle and more…

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

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

A full list of the exhibitors attending One Big Day at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate will be available closer to the event date.

https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/harrogate/display/

Friday 28 and Saturday 29 June 2019 – 9am to 4pm

At The Big Event specialist advice will be available from:

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

https://www.motability.co.uk/news-views-and-events/one-big-day/the-big-event/display/

 

Part of the Driving Mobility national network of driving assessment centres, East Anglian DriveAbility (EAD) has assisted Gary Gray from Braintree to discover motoring independence with a disability.

Driving Mobility oversees 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 driving assessments, its Occupational Therapists and Driving Advisors provide several additional services including guidance regarding specialist paediatric car seats and mobility scooters.

Gary, 53 from Braintree, worked as a Mobile Tyre Fitter until he became ill with peripheral neuropathy in 2011, a condition which develops when nerves in the body’s extremities are damaged. He subsequently spent considerable time dealing with life-changing consequences and was unable to drive for several years. Before contacting EAD, he had attempted to test drive a WAV (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle), which resulted in damage to the vehicle and a serious dent to his already ‘rock-bottom’ confidence. By self-referring himself to EAD, Gary was determined to find professional and appropriate advice that would re-enable safe independent driving.

Gary comments: “This time a comprehensive assessment took place before I was allowed near a vehicle. This was to provide the EAD staff, including an OT and Approved Driving Instructor, with a true picture of my health, medical requirements and physical and cognitive abilities. It was very professional and completely different to my first experience elsewhere. When I began the actual driving assessment, I was accompanied by specialist staff and received guidance throughout. I tried different options for getting in and out of a vehicle and trialled new assistive controls, such as a steering wheel knob – all at a pace that suited me.”

Following the assessment, EAD provided a comprehensive report which advised Gary on suitable adaptations for safe driving and suggested further lessons would be beneficial. Once these are completed, Gary hopes to choose a vehicle with adaptations via the Motability scheme, based on EAD recommendations.

Gary concludes: “I would really like a drive-from-wheelchair vehicle as this would be easiest for me. EAD have been extremely helpful in showing me all the different aids and adaptations. I now know that a steering wheel knob and wheelchair ramp will be essential which I hadn’t considered before. I feel so informed which will definitely help me with purchasing and driving requirements. Thanks to EAD independent driving is now a possibility for me for the first time in over seven years.”

Philip Wilson, 62, from Stockport, has regained his driving life-line after experiencing a stroke thanks to the support of the new Regional Driving Assessment Centre (RDAC) in Greater Manchester, part of the Driving Mobility network.

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. Within its services practical advice is given regarding appropriate driving adaptations, WAVs (Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles) and specialist tuition so that domestic and professional drivers can remain independent and safe. The new, custom-built RDAC centre in Salford represents a ‘flagship’ modern facility servicing people from Greater Manchester, Lancashire and Cheshire.

Following his stroke in January 2016, which resulted in left-side paralysis, Philip spent six months in hospital undergoing rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Once discharged, Philip requested to have his driving licence returned and was delighted when it came back with no restrictions. Philip comments: “I have always been active and mobile. Originally from Liverpool, I was in the navy until 1981. Shortly before my stroke, I worked in International Sales, leaving home on a Monday and returning on a Friday. I spent a lot of time driving and covered about 30,000 miles each year. Being able to drive is important to me and I was thrilled to have my licence back.”

However, due to his left-side weakness and eighteen months without driving, Philip found he had lost confidence and was unsure how to proceed. He had purchased an automatic car but could not find a driving instructor with an automatic dual-controlled vehicle to provide tuition and guidance. Following an online search, Philip contacted RDAC who invited him for a self-referral assessment.

Philip comments: “The Centre staff were welcoming and helpful. I met with Sean Barrett, the Assessment Team Manager, and John Allen, an Approved Driving Instructor (ADI). The assessment they gave me was very thorough. They asked me about my stroke and rehabilitation and also about any medication I was taking. I had cognitive and visual tests and I could see they were observing the way I walked and talked. It was very detailed and I really felt I was in safe hands.”

Philip was then accompanied for a drive in a dual-controlled automatic vehicle and was able to try different adaptations that promote safe and comfortable driving. As Philip finds using left-side controls a challenge, such as the indicators, RDAC recommended a steering ball as well as a Bluetooth device which allows a driver to operate everything with one hand. The centre also provided a written report and details of external Approved Driving Instructors.

Following his RDAC assessment, Philip is driving with confidence again, supported by assistive vehicle adaptations. He is now able to visit the gym three times a week, with rehabilitation exercises specifically aimed at improving functionality.

Philip comments: “A stroke wipes out the memory bank in terms of movement, so I have had to retrain my body to do basic things. In fact, when I first left hospital, I had a competition with my little granddaughter to see who could walk first! My driving assessment was part of this retraining and the Centre’s response was so positive that the boost to my confidence has been huge. I thought “I can do this” – and I have. The Driving Mobility centres offer such a good service to people who are struggling with driving confidence. They have given me my independence back – an absolute life-line for me.”

 

#MyDrivingMobility