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June 2005 Issue of the
Disabled Motorist
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Fighting for the rights of Disabled Motorists since 1922
Disabled Motorist is the monthly magazine of the Disabled Drivers' Motor Club. It's packed with useful and interesting information and it campaigns on the issues that affect you - whether you are a driver, passenger, or carer for a disabled child. Here, on our growing web site, is a small selection. If you would like to join the 20,000 people who receive a regular copy, please visit the Club membership page .
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News & Information
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Various news and information
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Comment
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Better late than never
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Roadshow
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Roll up, for all the fun of the show!
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Motoring News
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Maserati magic |
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Product news
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A look at some new products |
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Letters
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A selection of your letters |
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Back to June index
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To the index for June 2005 magazine |
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Back to Magazine index
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Back to the home page |
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Shopping
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To the DDMC merchandise shop. |
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Better late than never
DDMC members have the opportunity to remedy past failings by voting for merger with the Disabled Drivers’ Association at our Annual General Meeting on June 26th. Both organisations, often working in partnership, have achieved a great deal, but there is still much to be done.
The tasks ahead, such as arguing for a benefits system that recognises the spiralling costs of personal mobility and uplifts payments to keep pace; that doesn’t render you ineligible simply on grounds of age; or happily meets the costs of high tech vehicles needed by more severely disabled people; will require a strong
modern organisation representing a united voice. We cannot afford the luxury of personal rivalries and unnecessary duplication.
The idea of one organisation representing the needs of all disabled drivers and passengers is not new. The need for its creation has been apparent for decades, but we have never quite achieved the vision.
The last word belongs to Tim Shapley, a pioneer in the field of personal mobility and the original editor of our magazine who expressed the case eloquently in a
letter I received last week“I am writing this as I am unable to attend the AGM
next month.
“I was the founder editor of the Disabled Driver, appointed in December 1948 at the AGM held in a pub in Victoria, under the presidency of the renowned Prof Lowe. As a member of the DDMC Council from 1948 till 1956, of whom there must be few left, I well remember what I believe were the first attempts to form a merger.
“We had many meetings on this matter and at some of these we had Denny Denly representing the DDA, (or was it then still the Invalid Tricycle Association?).
Anyhow, we failed because of the jealousy between the officers of both sides. Both were in my opinion too parochial in their approach, and could not or would not
see the larger picture, and the benefits to be had from a united voice.
“At every subsequent attempt, my opinion has not changed – we ought to merge so that we have a stronger base in negotiations, particularly with government.” 
The Right Route to Mobility
Hats off to r2m, the company that operates the scooter and powerchair scheme on behalf of Motability. Working in an exceptionally difficult market, where poor practice and miss-selling abound, they’ve championed the interests of the consumer by combining improvements in pricing and service quality.
It’s a brave move to mirror the best aspects of the car scheme by creating an affordable rental package that combines expert assessment and total back-up with
the flexibility to change products if your needs change.
We are bound to hear cries of “foul” from dealers who have been excluded because they couldn’t match r2m’s new standards, but lets hope they are drowned
out by the congratulations of disabled people.
Ed Passant
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