March Issue of the

Disabled Motorist

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 .

ParaRallying adds thrill to Donington roadshow

VISITORS to this year’s Mobility Roadshow at Donington Park will have the chance to experience the thrill of a high-speed rally stage.
The ParaRallying rally school has persuaded organisers that the excitement of a high-octane session in a rally car will take the roadshow, which runs from July 7-9, to another level.
Dave Hawkins, founder of east Yorkshire-based ParaRallying, told Disabled Motorist: “We are doing an awesome thing this year.
“The World Rally Championship has what they call a super special stage, usually based in a big town, to keep the crowds entertained, and I’ve pestered the roadshow organisers for the past two years to let me do the same thing at their event.
“So now we are going to run a fullblown stage of a rally and give people passenger rides.”
Dave said Donington had actually been used for a super special stage in the past. “It will be full-speed, helmets on,” he added. “We are even going to produce pace notes so they can tell the driver what’s coming up. We run a rally school, so we know what people want.”
The stage, which will be created on the land inside the race circuit at Donington, will be about two miles long and include a hairpin bend.
“We will have three drivers rotating throughout the day. They have got to drive using appropriate adaptations – say a left leg amputee is the passenger, the driver has to use the appropriate
controls,” Dave explained. “If we have around 15 minutes per person in the car, including fi ve minutes loading and unloading, that’s 10 minutes’ driving – perhaps five or six laps.
“I can’t over-emphasise how much fun it will be. People will go away from this totally excited.
“I’ve been telling the show organisers they need something exciting to get people talking. You need something that will leave a lasting memory of the show, so you come away saying, ‘I can’t
believe how fast we went around that corner’.
“I personally think it will be the biggest draw at the show, they’ll be queueing around the block.”
With capacity for about 150 people to have a go over the three days of the roadshow, there is likely to be big demand.
Anyone who would like to contact Dave beforehand about the possibility of pre-booking should email him at: [email protected]

. . . but cash crisis threatens XDM driving school

A CASH crisis is threatening the future of a unique school that helps disabled people to drive high-performance vehicles off-road in Snowdonia.
X-treme Disabled Motorsports (XDM), which operates the scheme at a 400-acre site in Cerrigydrudion, North Wales, says without more funds it may only be able to run a couple of weekend courses in 2005, and may even be forced to close the centre permanently.
XDM, a charity founded by Merseyside- based Cyclone Mobility & Fitness, one of the UK’s top providers of hi-spec bespoke wheelchairs and fi tness/therapy equipment, aims to make motor sport more accessible to physically disabled people.
Its chairman, Stuart Dunne, said: “The situation for XDM is pretty desperate. I’m afraid we just can’t afford to keep the courses going without additional help from companies or individuals wishing to sponsor us. The cost of insuring disabled people to drive the vehicles
alone is prohibitively expensive, and it won’t be possible to maintain things as they are.
“XDM is a ‘not for profi t’ organisation, so we have to rely on course fees, donations, company sponsorship, and loans of support vehicles from motor manufacturers to keep the programme
going. The amount of support we’ve received to date is not even suffi cient to run a radically reduced service.”
People attending XDM courses are taught to drive a powerful quad-biketype vehicle called a Woodstar, during special weekend courses, which run between March and November each year.
The Woodstar can be customised for use by people with a wide range of disabilities.
Any companies or groups who would like to know more about sponsoring XDM should call 0151 334 8815. For more information, see: www.xdm.org.uk

Baywatch survey shows abuse still a big problem

THE BAYWATCH survey, conducted by disabled people in January 2005, shows that more than 20% of disabled parking bays at retail outlets are still being abused by non Blue Badge holders. At 28% of all stores there were no available disabled bays because of abuse.
Across the “big four” supermarket chains, apart from a marked improvement in Safeway ratings as a result of the takeover by Morrisons, there is little change on the results obtained last
year. However, nearly 26% of stores had eradicated abuse entirely.
The Baywatch Campaign, which now involves Scope's “Time to Get Equal Campaign” as well as the Disabled Drivers Association, British Polio Fellowship, Disability Now and the Disabled Drivers Motor Club, broadened the 2005 survey to include other stores, plus venues such as hospitals and leisure centres.
Sainsburys and Safeway/Morrisons achieved the lowest abuse at 18% followed by Tesco and Asda at 21%. In terms of general parking facilities, Asda led the way with 36% rated “Excellent” and 38% rated “Good.” Sainsburys achieved 16% “Excellent” and 45% “Good”, Tesco 19% and 45% respectively and Safeway/Morrisons 13% and 40%.
Ed Passant, Chief Executive of the DDMC, argues that stores need to be doing more. “Depressingly, our survey shows that the problem of abuse is still vast. However, many stores have successfully tackled the problem, showing what needs to be done.
“Frankly, if one store can do it there is no excuse for those that don't. It's time for all local Store Managers to take the problem seriously – otherwise they'll be debating the issue in court,
with frustrated disabled customers exercising their rights under the Disability Discrimination Act.
The Baywatch Campaign is also hosting a meeting at the House of Commons in March, to encourage more store groups to join the campaign.

New products on show at Naidex

NAIDEX 2005, the homecare, disability and rehabilitation exhibition, returns to the NEC in Birmingham from May 24 to 26 expecting to build on last year's record-breaking success.
The show is the major event in the healthcare calendar for keeping in touch with the latest independent living developments.
Last year's event featured 330 exhibitors, a 20 per cent increase on 2003, and also attracted more than 11,000 visitors, offering a broader choice than ever before to serve the information needs of healthcare professionals and their clients.
Initiatives running at the show this year include “New Product Starbursts”, attached to the exhibitor's stand for high visitor visibility and the industry-recognised Naidex New Product of the Year award for design in innovation.
In addition, many charities and associations, including DDMC, willbe highlighting the work they do and there will be a wide-ranging programme of seminars for healthcare professionals.
To pre-register for Naidex 2005, call 0870 429 4428 or visit: www.naidex.co.uk

ABLE-BODIED and disabled cyclists (Left) enjoy the challenge of a fundraising
ride organised by the charity Regain, which is dedicated to improving
the lives of people who become tetraplegic as the result of a sporting accident.
Regain is now looking for able-bodied riders to join their next fundraising
adventure – The Africa Bike Ride in Kenya, cycling 400kms over five days from the slopes of Mount Kenya to Lake Victoria through the Rift Valley.
Three tetraplegic hand cyclists are already registered to take part in the event from 19-28 November.
Paralysed cyclists have previously taken part in rides in Malawi, Spain, South Africa and Cuba using specialist hand cycles provided by the charity and helping to raise more than £300,000 for Regain.
To take part in The Africa Bike Ride, rifers will need to pay a registration fee of £250 and then raise a minimum of £2,500 sponsorship for Regain.
In return they receive bikes, flights, food, accommodation and guides for the entire challenge. Further information from Ann Frampton on 0845 408 2698.

Let’s make a difference now

NATIONAL charity Shaw Trust has welcomed a Government initiative which aims to achieve full equality for disabled people by 2025, but says Ministers are missing the chance to make a real difference now.
The charity's managing director, Ian Charlesworth, is calling on Ministers to harness the power of experts in the voluntary sector to help the millions of people currently struggling to take their
rightful position in society.
“The report Improving the life chances of disabled people is a radical step forward, but it doesn't go nearly far enough,” he says. “Organisations like Shaw Trust are achieving life-changing
results every day, but we are frustrated by Government programme limits.”
The Prime Minister's Strategy Unit report states that: “By 2025, disabled people in Britain should have full opportunities and choices to improve quality of life and will be respected and
included as equal members of society.”
Implementation of policies will be overseen by the new Office for Disabled Issues, which reports to the Minister for Disabled People, Maria Eagle.
Shaw Trust, a provider of employment services for disabled people, applauded the major expansion of the Direct Payments scheme, where disabled people manage their own budget
for tailor-made care, and the linking of this with back-to-work programmes.
But the Trust regrets the heavy involvement of local authorities to drive forward the programme, insisting that expert voluntary organisations are best placed to do that. It also regrets that
there are no apparent plans to increase spending on employment programmes for disabled people.
Shaw Trust delivers 33 per cent of the New Deal for Disabled People programme. “We will help 35,000 clients this year, but we have the expertise to help ten times that,” Ian explains.
“There are a lot of expert voluntary organisations operating in action areas targeted by the Government. It makes sense to use us. If they don't, the Government is missing out on the
big chance to make an enormous difference now to the life chances of disabled people.”

‘Groundbreaking’ ideas welcomed

AT THE launch of the Prime Minister's strategy unit report Improving the life chances of disabled people at the National Centre for Independent Living's offices, joint NCIL chairs Menghi
Mulchandani and David Morris welcomed it as a potentially ground-breaking strategy for disabled people.
Maria Eagle, Minister for Disabled People, stressed the importance of working directly with disabled people to ensure empowering support structures to maximise equality and potential.
NCIL particularly welcomed the proposed consultation on a right to independent living for disabled people.
Menghi Mulchandani said: “This report is a key document on the road to supporting disabled people away from being passive recipients of services to being active members of society.”
David Morris said: “NCIL can play a vital role in making this vision a reality.
It is particularly exciting to see the recommendation to extend the network of Centres for Independent Living to every locality by 2010.
“We hope that Government and local authorities will continue to recognise and help develop the key role of userled organisations and the expertise that we can bring to the process of disabled
people becoming equal citizens,” added Mr Morris.

Motability bonus boon

MOTABILITY CUSTOMERS who keep their car in good order are in line for a new £200 cash bonus. Motorists who make no loss, damage or third party claims during their hire agreement, and who maintain the car's good condition, will be eligible to receive the Good Condition Bonus.
From January 1 2005 anyone who fulfils the requirements will automatically receive the £200. The new benefit has been introduced following the improved fair wear and tear policy, which now sees around 90 per cent of customers passing their end of contract inspection with no
problems.
Requirements for the Good Condition Bonus are:
No loss, damage or third party claims made during the life of the car agreement.
Car passes the final inspection.
The car is returned in good order to an accredited Motability dealer at the end of the agreement.
Mike Betts, Chief Executive of Motability Operations, the company which operates the Motability car schemes, says: “The Good Condition Bonus rewards customers who keep their car in good order. A car lease that requires no claims administration is more cost-effective for Motability Operations, so as well as re-investing in improving the Scheme, we can ensure that there are
some great rewards for our customers.”
Customers who have made claims for loss or damage to a car where no excess applies will still receive their bonus. For example: if a window or windscreen has been replaced by the Motability approved supplier it will not affect a customer receiving their bonus.
Customers who have had to make a claim because of an accident which was the fault of a third party will still be eligible for the bonus if Royal & SunAlliance 'Motability' has confirmed that they will waive or refund the insurance excess.
The Good Condition Bonus is automatic. Motability will contact eligible customers towards the end of their agreement. Customers can then spend the money on anything they wish, or even
use it as the advance payment for their next Motability car.
For more information call 0800 093 1000 or visit www.motability.co.uk.

GOLF TROLLEY

GOLF TROLLEY and mobility aid manufacturer Trolltech has received funding from Bank of Scotland Corporate, enabling the Brighton-based company to manufacture revolutionary products.
Trolltech has designed Hill Buster, an electric wheelchair assistant that attaches to the rear of most wheelchairs and pushes them uphill; Golf Chariot, an stand upright golf buggy; and Street Chariot, which is similar to the golf vehicle and allows people to stand while at the same time
moving independently through streets and shops.
Pictured left are Trolltech’s managing director David Jackson, who recently came out of retirement after spending most of his life in the engineering industry, and Rachel Harris, New Business Manager for Bank of Scotland Corporate in Reading.

Annual fuel bill tops £1,000 as cost of motoring soars

Sailing away with award

RYA Sailability has been named as Sports Governing Body of the Year in the London Sports Awards, for its work in creating opportunities for people with disabilities to go sailing.
The charity, founded ten years ago, received the award in recognition of Sailability for London, an initiative launched by HRH The Princess Royal in December 2004 to provide and promote accessible boating throughout London for all disabled people as regular recreation or competition.

Hidden costs of used cars

A QUARTER of used car buyers questioned in a survey by Lloyds TSB Personal Lending admitted to having problems with their new vehicle within the first year.