Disabled Motoring UK - Disabled Motoring UK is the charity for disabled drivers, passengers & Blue Badge holders.

Debbie Deboo, winner of the Disabled Motoring UK Mobility product award, writes how becoming disabled inspired her to set up a new business. Continue reading »

A Breeze mobility scooter supplied by TGA alongside a highly customised Supersport, have both successfully completed an extreme challenge on a Welsh mountain in association with Help for Heroes for the BBC Top Gear programme (broadcast 19 February 2012, BBC Two, 8pm). Continue reading »

Helen Dolphin puts four different scooters to the test

When you’re looking to buy a scooter there are lots of things to think about. Where are you going to use it? Does it need to fit in your car? Do you have somewhere to store it? I was therefore really impressed when I spent a day with the company TGA that the first thing they did was go through a questionnaire looking at both my ability to drive a scooter and also what I needed it for. Continue reading »

If you are young, disabled and keen to get behind the wheel, or newly disabled and want to research adapted motoring options, Get Going Live! is just for you.  This exciting one-day event will help you start driving and plan for your first car.

Taking place at the Yorkshire Event Centre, Harrogate on Saturday 28^th July, Get Going Live! is organised by Disabled Motoring UK and Mobility Choice, the team behind the Mobility Roadshow. The William Merritt Mobility Centre in Leeds is also playing its part in delivering this important service to novice disabled drivers.

Young people with disabilities can gain a driving licence at 16, a year ahead of those who are not disabled. That’s great news, but where do you start?

At this free one-day event you can test drive adapted vehicles and get expert advice from organisations and companies with a wealth of experience.

You must be aged 14 to test drive one of the adapted vehicles on a safe on-site road system, accompanied at all times by a professional driver. Younger prospective learners are welcome to practise transferring, familiarise themselves with controls and may also travel as a passenger with an instructor.

Around the driving there is a fun action-packed programme of activities, still being finalised, but already confirmed is a 7m climbing wall with over 20 routes to the top.

Last year’s inaugural Get Going Live! day at Donington Park was voted ‘simply fantastic’ by participants. “The beaming smile just says it all!” said Lyn Williams of her son Jordan, aged just 14, on his return from test driving a Chrysler Voyager from his wheelchair. “This will give him the confidence to get his licence when he’s eligible and go on to gain his independence – this is a fantastic event to give young people such a thrilling experience.”

“It was awesome – I can’t wait to be 16!” said Jordan.

Further dates and venues for Get Going Live! 2012 to be announced – check out www.getgoingnow.org for the latest news and to register, or call 01508 489 449.

Applications for the Disabled Driver Scholarship are now open.

The Disabled Driver Scholarship is run by the Loughborough Car Club, and was set up toget more disabled drivers into motorsport. There are two Scholarships available, which includebeing invited todrive in a series of club AutoSOLO & Autotest events based in the Leicester area and all the costs associated with competing withh be covered by club sponsorship.

You must be over over 16 and be able to control a car using common adaptations to be eligible. 12 applicants will be invited to attend a selection and training day where their driving aptitude and personal attitude will be assessed. Two drivers will then be selected for the scholarship from this group.

For more information and an application form please click here to be taken to the Loughborough Car Club website. Closing date for applications is Friday 16 March 2012.

European Association of service providors for persons with disabilities (EASPD) and DisabledGo are looking for volunteers!

Do you have a disability and drive regularly? If you can answer yes to these questions then why not get involved in a very exciting trial for a ‘Sat Nav’ that is set to launch in 2012. Continue reading »

2by2 Holidays, a specialist operator that organise holidays for travellers who have physical and mobility impairments, have teamed up with South African Tourism to bring you an exciting online competition opporuntity. The competition is called ‘Feel Different’ with a top prize of a tailor-made holiday to South Africa worth £5,000.

The online competition will run from 20 February-25 March.

The ‘Feel Different’ competition will encourage people to log on to 2by2 Holidays’ website (www.2by2holidays.co.uk) and tell the specialist how they want a holiday to make them feel. 2by2 Holidays will respond to each entry with a South African holiday recommendation.

For example, an entrant may say: “I want to feel… reconnected to my children again as my hectic work schedule means we don’t spend any quality time together.” 2by2 Holidays could suggest that the entrant reconnect with their children on safari in a malaria-free game reserve, ending the experience with some family-fun time at the activity-packed Sun City resort.

Each week, for five weeks, five finalists will be chosen based on the following criteria:

• Impact – how will the person entering be affected by the win?
• Creativity – how original is the idea?
• Quality of submission – how much thought and effort went into the submission?
• Number of online votes received – how did the online community respond to the submission?
• At the end of five weeks, a panel of judges will select from the 25 finalists and one lucky winner will win a South African holiday for two valued at £5,000.

Runner-up prizes include copies of Nelson Mandela’s book Long Walk to Freedom.

Remember the competition does not open until 20 February, but get your thinking caps on.

To enter the competition, log on to www.2by2holidays.co.uk after 20 February. 

To book a holiday to South Africa, log on to www.2by2holidays.co.uk or call 01582 766122.

See the latests ads for accessible holidays, vehicles and more…

London 2012 is seeking volunteer performers for the biggest show on Earth – the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Think you could perform in front of an audience of millions of people from around the world? The search is on for volunteer performers for the Paralympic Opening and Closing Ceremonies.

Artistic Directors, Jenny Sealey, Bradley Hemmings and Kim Gavin are searching for 5000 volunteer performers to fill roles as general all-round performers. They are looking for both disabled and non-disabled applicants, previous experience is not required. London 2012 say: “we’re really looking for enthusiasm and commitment. Anyone with a positive attitude, huge amounts of energy and a willingness to perform in front of a stadium audience and to millions of people around the world can apply for an audition.” The only eligibility criteria they state is; you must be aged 18 years or older on 1 March 2012 and be able to meet the commitments of rehearsals.

Don’t Delay! The closing date for applications is 22 February 2012.

To find our more about how to apply for an audition and for full details on the commitments involved please click here

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has launched a consultation exercise on the second draft of the assessment criteria for Personal Independence Payment.  In particular, it is seeking views on the changes that have been made since the first draft, the proposed descriptor weightings and entitlement thresholds and the draft regulations. The consultation document can be found here. Continue reading »