Allied Mobility Access All Areas Magazine Autumn 2015

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Autumn 2015

s a e r All A ers

Family Matt

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ock Blackpool R

e Don’t Call M Special!

Discovering

Milestones

with Aaron Morgan

0800 587 9616

USED WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES

www.alliedmobility.com

Buy from the UK’s leading accessible vehicle specialist for added peace of mind.

FIAT DOBLO Seats: 3 + Plate: 57 (2007) Miles: 37,000

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Colour: Blue

PEUGEOT HORIZON

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Seats: 3 + Miles: 44,000

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VAUXHALL ZAFIRA

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Plate: 1 2 (2012) Colour: Kyanos Blue

3

Comprehensive quality & safety check

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12 months breakdown assistance

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12 months warranty

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12 months MOT (if applicable)

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Autumn 2015 P22

All Areas Welcome ing on The last edition saw us patiently wait we’re s seem it and e some sunshine to arriv mer sum busy a still waiting. We’ve had offer you however, despite the weather and of issue mn autu the a warm welcome to Access All Areas.

Button This edition, we catch up with the travelling ying enjo ’re they how hear family and dence. together in their brand new Indepen some grab to ugh eno y luck We were also e series Thre BBC of star es, Reev time with Josh the ‘Don’t ‘The Unbreakables’ and founder of Call Me Special’ campaign. es We discover the delights of Mileston e som e Museum with Aaron Morgan, shar bled handy tips on car insurance for disa up the drivers, thanks to DMUK and round top 10 accessible apps. d new All this, plus the chance to win a bran ion on petit com our in Samsung Galaxy tablet y the awa e chas sn’t page 11. Now if that doe will. t wha sure summer blues, we’re not

P21

P19

P4

Disability News

P6

Family Matters

P8

Top 10 Tips - Accessible Apps

P10 Allied Aftercare P14 Charity Focus: Spinal Injuries P15 Guide to Car Insurance P16 Discovering Milestones P19 Blackpool Rocks P20 Freedom with Ford P21 Dare to Dance

Ashley Morrison

P22 News Round Up

Editor

P14

P25 Don’t Call Me Special P28 Accessible Road Trip P30 On the Road with Allied P16

P31 Disability Sports News

0800 587 9616 3

Blue Badge holders in Gloucester are calling for motorists who park in disabled spaces to be fined. Recently, local MP Richard Graham and a police officer in a marked car, were both caught parking in disabled bays, which drew attention to the issue.

Awareness Local resident, Simon Limbrick, is glad that parking abuse is gaining awareness but says it’s something he comes across regularly: “Many times I have witnessed abuses by people parking in these spaces without a Blue Badge.”

“I‘ve been met with everything from indifference to threats of violence when I approach drivers about it.”

Simon finds that the problem is especially prominent in his local Asda’s car park, saying: “When I’ve approached Asda employees about this, they state that although they can ask people to vacate the spot, they can’t force them.”

A S ’ T A H W A TOY LIKE ME FOR DISABL ABUS Facebook group Toy Like Me has been running a campaign for companies to produce diverse toys that children with disabilities can relate to.

Now, British toy manufacturer Makies, has delighted campaigners by creating a range of dolls with disabilities.

London based Makies use an innovative 3D printer process to create their dolls and have released new models with

Have Your Say

Join the campaign by using #toylikeme facebook.com/toylikeme @toylikeme

Access All Areas 4

walking sticks, a hearing aid and birthmarks in response to the campaign.

Toybox Diversity

Chief Technology Officer, Matthew Wiggins, said: “It’s fantastic that our supercharged design and manufacturing process means we can respond to a need that’s not met by traditional toy companies.

We’re hoping to make some kids – and their parents – really happy with these inclusive accessories!

The campaign hopes to see many more companies follow suit after the quick response from Makies.

Penalties Parking in a disabled space without a blue badge can cost you up to £1,000 if it’s in a council-run, public car park but private car parks like those in supermarkets are not subject to the same penalty.

Spokesman for Asda, Tony Wilson, commented: “We’d like to reassure our customers that we take parking space abuse very seriously and regularly monitor our car parks for the misuse of disabled and family spaces.”

Asda have promised to step up patrols from a parking attendant in Simon’s local store to monitor the situation and try to combat the problem.

Simon believes that private car park owners should enforce a fine in the same way that public car parks do and thinks that disabled parking bays should be continuously monitored.

ASDA PRICE G N I K R A P LED SERS?

Wheelchair Alliance Vows to Improve Service With around 1.2 million wheelchair users in the UK, there’s an urgent need for wheelchair services to be developed and improved. A new alliance, formed earlier this year, is tackling this with Paralympic athlete, Baroness Grey-Thompson, at the helm.

Key Issues The Wheelchair Leadership Alliance was created to highlight key issues regarding services for wheelchair users and to suggest and implement improvements. Many wheelchair users currently face long waiting times for a wheelchair or have to make do with one that may not properly suit their needs which can lead to further medical problems.

Campaigners hope development of the Alliance will be key in addressing these issues and many others that affect wheelchair users across the country.

Getting it Right The first action on the Alliance’s agenda is the launch of the campaign ‘Right Chair, Right Time, Right Now’.

This campaign offers valuable information about the lack of services available to wheelchair users and highlights how this fails to meet the needs of the people who rely on their chair every day.

Baroness Grey-Thomson, who uses a wheelchair and fully supports the campaign, said: “We seem to know how long everyone has to wait in A&E every week, yet there’s not even a single national data collection on how many people need wheelchairs in this country, let alone how long they have to wait for one, or whether it’s the right chair.”

Have Your Say

Share your feelings on this story facebook.com/alliedmobility @alliedmobility

0800 587 9616 5

FAMILY

For the Button family, from Suffolk, Peugeot Independence™ is the wheelchair accessible vehicle that ticks all the boxes. Parents Aaron and Kelly find the vehicle ideal for travelling with their four children, including 19 year old daughter, Bethany, who uses a wheelchair.

CONFIDENCE TO CHOOSE The couple heard of Allied Mobility through word of mouth and called to arrange a free home demonstration. They met with local mobility consultant Karen and instantly felt at ease. Kelly says: “We loved Karen; she was so

Access All Areas 6

helpful and understanding so we were really confident in choosing the right car for us.”

The family of six need lots of space when travelling and the roomy Independence™, based on the popular Peugeot Expert, provides plenty of it. Independence™ is available in a wide range of seating layout options, so it can be customised to suit the needs of you and your family. With a simple to use, lightweight ramp, accessing the vehicle is straightforward and is designed to make life easy for the user.

FAMILY TIME

The Button family now enjoy an easier life thanks to their Independence™. For one thing, they can all travel together which is something they couldn’t do before. Mum, Kelly, comments: “If we decide to take a trip it’s a quick and easy process. It’s lovely that Beth can come everywhere with us so the whole family can be together.

The family recently travelled from their home in Ipswich to Norfolk for a caravan holiday and had a wonderful time. The whole

Matters family, including children Keira, Corey and Aidan, travelled in Independence™ alongside Bethany and found it an enjoyable and comfortable experience.

Both Aaron and Kelly regularly drive their Independence™ and find it a lovely car to drive. Kelly says: “It’s really smooth on the road, and much easier to drive than I imagined it would be!”

Did You Know?

Impulse™ is made up from 13,000 separate components.

“Independence is really smooth on the road and much easier to drive than I imagined it would be.”

CRYSTAL CLEAR

Kelly was really impressed by the service she received from Allied Mobility and says: “They’ve been a fab company to deal with.

Mobility advisor Karen was great – we couldn’t have asked for better – and she explained everything really well so we were crystal clear on the process and the vehicle that was best for us.”

info@alliedmobility.com

0800 587 9616 www.alliedmobility.com/independence

0800 587 9616 7

TOP 10 TIPS...

ACCESSIBLE APPS WIN

Fancy trying some of these apps out for yourself?

Turn to page 11 and enter our competition to win a Samsung Galaxy tablet!

With people using their phones and tablets more and more these days, the ‘app’ market is constantly growing. Apps can be really useful for a whole manner of things, from using your3 phone as a spirit level to reading your favourite books on the go. There are now lots of great apps available for people with disabilities to help with everyday tasks, useful advice, or simply to make life a bit easier. We did a bit of research and came up with ten of our favourite.

3.

7.

Wheelmap

Wheelmap lets you find out how accessible nearby restaurants and attractions are. The app is still growing so smaller towns and cities will have limited information, but users can add their own as they go. Destinations are clear to see on the map and are coloured in either red, orange or green depending on their level of accessibility.

Tap to Talk

(free, Apple, Android)

Tap to Talk is a basic app from the USA that allows the user to tap an image which will then speak out loud using the phone’s speaker. The app has limited phrases but can say things like ‘I’m thirsty’ or ‘I need my medication’.

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4. Glympse (free, Apple, Android)

(free, Apple, Android)

Access All Areas

4.

Glympse is ideal for people who like a little more security when going out alone. The app lets you quickly and easily send your location to someone you trust so they can find you if you’re lost, or so you can see exactly where you are and what’s nearby.

Stepping Stones – Daily Routine

8.

(£0.79, Apple) Stepping Stones is an easy to use app which allows you to build visual guides using your own photos. You can use pictures to build a step-by-step guide or routine which is both engaging and simple to follow. The app is ideal for people who benefit from visual support and can help those with anxiety and learning difficulties.

one

2. Voice Dream Reader (£7.99, Apple)

1. Be My

Eyes

(free, Apple)

Be My Eyes is a revolutionary new app which allows blind people to use the video camera on their phone to ask people for help. Helpers sign up to answer calls and the person on the other end can use their camera to ask them anything from the expiry date on their food to what colour sweater they’re wearing.

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6.

Assist-Mi (free, Apple, Android)

Assist-Mi lets people who require assistance request it simply by sending a message via the app. Participating locations (which are steadily growing) will receive your message and respond to let you know what assistance will be available when you arrive.

You can specify exactly what help you need, from a wheelchair ramp to help carrying shopping bags.

nine.

2.

At £7.99, Voice Dream Reader is a little pricey but comes with great reviews. The app can read aloud or display text in a combination of colours and text sizes, which is great for those with visual impairments.

Pillboxie

(£0.79, Apple) The Pillboxie app is a great way to remember what medication you need and when to take it. The app is visually appealing, easy to use and lets you schedule reminders so you know when to take your medicine. The app will even notify you if your phone is asleep so you never miss a dose.

Euan’s Guide

(free, Apple, Android) Euan’s Guide is a disabled access guide which lets you look up venues or categories (eg. bars, museums or hotels) and read reviews about how accessible they are for disabled visitors.

You can also use the ‘near me’ feature to discover new places nearby and search by specific catogries such as ‘reviews by powerchair users’.

10.

Hear You Now

(free, Apple) Hear You Now is an app created by Dutch hearing aid company, ExSilent, and is designed to help people who struggle to hear. After plugging headphones into your tablet or phone, the app works to cancel out background noise and make conversation clearer and easier to understand.

0800 587 9616

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NEW As the UK’s leading specialist in wheelchair accessible vehicles, Allied Mobility is dedicated to looking after our customers and providing ongoing support throughout the life of your Allied Mobility vehicle.

d e i l Al e r a c r e t Af

™

That’s why we’ve added even more to the Allied Aftercare™ programme.

Buy any wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) from Allied Mobility and you’ll benefit from our same great service, plus two fantastic new features: • • • • •

No-obligation home demonstrations Home delivery, nationwide Customer helpline, open seven days a week NEW post-delivery familiarisation check NEW annual safety inspection

Post-Delivery Familiarisation Check Once you’ve had your car a few weeks we’ll get back in touch and arrange for your local Allied Mobility consultant (whom you’ve already met) to deliver your post-sale familiarisation check1. This gives you the chance to ask any questions that may have arisen, while we double-check that key elements of your vehicle are all working as they should be.

Annual Safety Inspection Buy any WAV from Allied Mobility and you’ll benefit from an annual inspection visit, carried out by a trained technician2. This includes a 20-point safety check covering key accessibility and vehicle components including:

• Wheelchair ramp • Seating • Front and rear wheelchair restraints • Wheelchair user seatbelt • Assist winch (if applicable) • Tailgate • Lights & indicators • Gearbox • Hand controls (if applicable)

Minor issues requiring simple remedies like tightening or greasing will be dealt with on the spot by your technician. In the unlikely event that any significant issue is identified, we’ll arrange for this to be addressed by your local car dealer or one of our nationwide network of WAV repair agents.

Seven-day Advice & Support In addition to these scheduled visits, you can contact Allied Mobility, by phone or email, whenever you need us. Our friendly advisors are here to offer advice and support, seven days a week.

Allied Mobility – with you all the way.

1 Introduced 1st July, 2015 and applies to all vehicles purchased from that date. 2 Introduced 1st July, 2015 and applies to all vehicles purchased or leased from that date. Vehicles purchased direct from Allied Mobility will receive one safety inspection, one year from date of purchase or once annually, for as long as the vehicle remains under our warranty cover.

Vehicles leased through the Motability Scheme will receive an annual safety inspection each year until returned to Motability.

Access All Areas 10

WIN

PUZZLED

We’ve got a zoo themed word search for you this issue.

We’ve got a zoo themed word search for you this issue. There are a total of 15 animals to be found, There are a total of 15 animals to be found, good luck! good luck!

AARDVARK CAMEL ELEPHANT GIRAFFE LEMUR LION MONKEY PEACOCK PENGUIN SEALION SNAKE TIGER TREEFROG WALLABY Allied Autumn ZEBRA

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f you liked the look of the apps in our Top 10 feature on pages 8-9, now’s your chance to try them out yourself on your very own mini Samsung Galaxy Android tablet*. To be in with a chance, all you need to do is send your name and address in an email to competitions@alliedmobility.com by 31st October. A winner will be picked at random and notified after the closing date.

*winner will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, 7” tablet, 8GB, WiFi enabled in either white or black.

Congratulations to Jenni from Surrey, who won a set of long handled gardening tools and gloves in the last issue of Access All Areas!

AARDVARK CAMEL ELEPHANT GIRAFFE LEMUR LION MONKEY PEACOCK PENGUIN SEALION SNAKE TIGER TREEFROG WALLABY ZEBRA

MANUAL & AUTOMATIC MODELS AVAILABLE

WIN! the look of the apps in our Top 10 feature, now’s your chance to try them out yourself on ou liked Autumn Do moreIf ythis your very own mini Samsung Galaxy Android tablet*. To be in with a chance, all you need to do is with wheelchair send your name and address in an email to competitions@alliedmobility.com by Wednesday 30 September. A winner will be picked at random and notified after the closing date. accessible vehicle hire *winner will receive a Samsung Galaxy Tab 4, 7” tablet, 8GB, WiFi enabled in either white Small print from Allied Mobility. or black. th

n a separate wee box please put the following: Emma • Short or long term-­‐ ihire • Wide range of wheelchair and Congratulations to Jenni from Surrey, who won her a set of long handled gardening tools and gloves adapted vehicles f Access All Areas! issue in the last in • Delivered anywhere theoUK

0800 587 9616

www.alliedmobility.com

0800 587 9616

www.alliedmobility.com

ACCESS FOR NEW

NEARLY NEW

USED

HIRE

ADVANCE PAYMENT

PEUGEOT EXPERT INDEPENDENCE™

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4 - 8 seats

£3,195

The UK’s most popular accessible MPV > Low floor option > EasyFold™ ramp > Personalised seating layouts > Two wheelchair option > Air conditioning > Privacy glass > Parking sensors > Assist winch

FORD FREEDOM™ 3 - 5 seats

Accessibility, comfort and first class safety

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> Easy clean lowered floor > RE model for larger wheelchairs > Original Ford seating throughout* > Air conditioning > Unique EasyGlide™ pull-out ramp > Privacy glass > Easy-use electric winch and parking sensors ADVANCE PAYMENT

FIAT DOBLO FESTIVAL™

from only

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3 - 4 seats

Class leading headroom > Low floor > Lightweight ramp > Air conditioning > Parking sensors > Privacy glass > Fuel saving Start & Stop system

PEUGEOT BOXER SPIRIT™

from only

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Roomy and comfortable > Automatic lift > Personalised seating options > New HyGenius interior finish > Bluetooth > Air conditioning TM

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Discover the unique benefits of Allied Aftercare™ alliedmobility.com/aftercare

ALL

With Allied Mobility, having your own wheelchair accessible car doesn’t have to cost the earth.

4 - 5 seats

PEUGEOT PARTNER HORIZON™ The UK’s most popular WAV

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PEUGEOT PARTNER IMPULSE™

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2 - 4 seats

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SE option for larger wheelchairs Original Peugeot seating throughout*

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Easy-use electric winch and parking sensors PLUS Air conditioning and privacy glass.

Drive from wheelchair OR Up-front passenger

UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9616

13

The Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) is the UK’s leading user-led spinal cord injury charity, dedicated to helping rebuild the lives of those affected.

They do this by providing life-long services such as peer support and sharing valuable first-hand experiences and information with their members.

They also campaign to ensure that people affected by spinal cord injury can lead a full and active life.

SIA’s support is long term and they’re there to help people in hospital, at home, or even at work.

Importance of Family SIA understand that it’s not just the individual directly affected with spinal cord injury that needs support, but the people closest too them too like family and friends. That’s why they offer a Family and Friends membership which provides essential support such as advice lines, online forums and information packs.

Patricia Kane, whose son Nic suffered a spinal cord injury after a motorbike accident, reflects on how SIA helped her:

“When it first happened it was so frightening and I couldn’t see a way forward – it was all doom and gloom. SIA showed us that there are ways to live after injury and they became a lifeline for us. I had hundreds of questions and SIA were there 24/7 to help.

They really care for the whole family.”

In support of their Family and Friends service, SIA are running their annual Going the Distance event in London on Sunday 20th September. The walk, sponsored by Helping Hands, covers some of London’s most iconic and famous bridges and the eight mile

Access All Areas 14

route will start at the picturesque Victoria Embankment Gardens, which is fully accessible.

There’s also a shortened four mile route for families who’d like to take it on as a team!

Money raised from the event will go towards providing essential services to our Family and Friends members.

By raising just £40 in sponsorship, you can provide a member with a full hour of professional telephone counselling; critical support needed to help them come to terms with the changes in their life.

If you’d like to take part in the event, visit: www.spinal.co.uk/goingthedistance www.spinal.co.uk

Guide to Car Insurance for Disabled Drivers Drivers with disabilities sometimes, for whatever reason, have problems finding car insurance at what they consider to be the right price. It’s important to find the right policy for your needs and to realise that, as with all motor insurance, the cheapest quote doesn’t necessarily come with the best cover.

We spoke to Information Officer, Janet Moore, of Disabled Motoring UK Magazine (DMUK) for advice.

What to Consider Where to Find Insurance

When you’re looking for your insurance you can try comparison services. However, not all companies are featured on comparison sites, including Fish and Chartwell, who offer policies aimed specifically at disabled drivers.

Adaptation Issues Some insurers use vehicle modifications or adaptations as a reason not to quote. However, the equality act 2010 makes it an offence for them to refuse cover on the grounds of disability or to discriminate by charging higher premiums to drivers with disabilities, which most insurers do comply with.

It’s important to establish the policy cover particulars, especially with cars that carry wheelchairs, hoists or ramps or those that have been adapted with swivel seats or hand controls. The car itself may be insured, but does that cover include the adaptions too?

Understand the extent of the cover in the event of an accident or theft and whether or not a like-for-like replacement vehicle will be provided.

DVLA Notification Insurance will be invalid if a notifiable illness or disability has not been mentioned to the DVLA. Disabled drivers, or those with certain health conditions, should make sure that they’re registered with the DVLA for the right type of licence.

The DVLA must be informed of notifiable medical conditions and disabilities and told if they get worse.

Moving from Motability A driver who had full no claims discount on their driving history before they joined the Motability Scheme only receives a Motability ‘Claims History’ from RSA Mobility (RSAM) on leaving the scheme. Any no claims discount held prior to joining the scheme is lost.

On leaving the Motability Scheme, ask RSAM for the claims history letter. If you’re leaving the Scheme because of an unsuccessful PIP re-assessment, you will automatically be sent a claims history letter. Unfortunately not all insurers will accept this claims history in lieu of a notification of no claims discount.

For More info, visit www.disabledmotoring.org www.motability.co.uk www.gov.uk/dvla

0800 587 9616 15

Discovering

s e n o t s with e l

i M

Racing driver, Aaron Morgan, has been out on the road again for Allied Mobility discovering an amazing journey back in time at Milestones Museum.

Milestones Museum can be found in Basingstoke, Hampshire, just outside the town centre. It offers visitors a unique opportunity to go back in time to see how people lived in the past.

ARRIVING I arrived by car and was able to park in one of the six disabled parking bays which are located at the main entrance to the museum. Five of these bays have additional space to one side to allow room for a wheelchair but one of them doesn’t, so it wasn’t suitable for me. There’s plenty of room behind this bay though, so it would be ideal for a wheelchair accessible vehicle with rear access.

The main door at the entrance is really wide so I had no problems getting through it with my wheelchair.

Once inside, the reception desk is right in front of you, with the gift shop to the left and exhibits and toilets to the right. I asked at the desk if there was a concession rate for people with disabilities and their carers and was informed it would be £8.45 for both of us. This is the price for a concession, with carers allowed free with a paying visitor. Scooters and manual wheelchairs are available to hire for free but

Access All Areas 16

Aaron Morgan

they do recommend that you book ahead as they’re subject to availability.

DISCOVERING DINOSAURS The main museum exhibits are accessed by lift, which I found spacious. Once you come out of the lift there’s a selection of vintage arcade games, all of which I could access and play easily from my wheelchair. Once I’d had my fill of these I carried on to the temporary dinosaur exhibit (there until 27th September) which houses four animatronic dinosaurs on loan from the Natural History Museum. There’s information about each dinosaur and a small interactive game in this section, all of which is on one level and easily accessed.

After the dinosaurs, I entered the main part of the museum which houses a recreation of a Victorian and Edwardian street. This section is really good and features various period shops and businesses, some of which you can even go inside! There’s an ironmongers, bicycle shop and fire station to name a few. Although the road is historically accurate and cobbled, it did make manoeuvring it in a wheelchair a little tricky.

I kept to the pavements when I could but there aren’t many drop kerbs, so I was limited in where I could go.

BACK IN TIME The museum also features living room sets from various decades throughout the 1900’s to showcase how life, style and fashion has changed through the years. Once you come to the end of this section there’s a rail of vintage clothing you can try on to make the experience even more authentic!

As I came to the end of the museum I went through the saw mill, which reveals what life was like working there and what sort of tools were used. There are lots of exhibits in cabinets at this section, although a few of them were mounted a bit too high for me to see properly.

ACCESSIBLE FACILITIES The toilets on the lower floor have grab rails and plenty of room for my manual wheelchair, but you might struggle a little if you have a larger powerchair or scooter. The museum shop has a wide selection of souvenirs, sweets and toys and was fine for me to Continued over leaf...

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...continued from previous page

get around. The café can be found near the shop and offers a selection of hot and cold food, with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating (if weather permits).

I had a nice day out at Milestones and I think young children would love it, with plenty to explore, see and do. Aside from the cobbled street, the accessibility was really good and I would definitely recommend it to other disabled people.

How to Get There: only 3 miles

By Car: Milestones is d in the Basingstoke from the M3, situate ns the brown tourist sig Leisure Park. Follow for ‘Leisure Park’. a free shuttle bus

By Bus: You can catch s station which takes from Basingstoke bu door of the museum. you right to the front ular rail services from By train: There are reg ing towns although, London and surround 3 s at platforms 2 and unfortunately, the lift *. use of rrently out at Basingstoke are cu *information correct

t

at time of going to prin

01256 477766 hampshireculturaltrust.org.uk/milestones-museum

Access All Areas 18

l o o p k Blac ! s k c o R had by A brilliant time was lied all who attended Al est Mobility’s North W kpool Mobility Day at Blac Zoo recently.

With the sun shining the (which made up for g bleak weather durin !) set up the day before miles people travelled from mily around to see our fa ible of wheelchair access rtners vehicles, meet our pa e and, of course, see th show fantastic animals on in the zoo.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

got the chance to mingle with our event partners, including local mobility shops, an accessible hotel, leisure venues, Motability and DMUK.

Nestled amongst elephants, camels and the Amazon Experience, visitors could see our entire range of mobility cars in one place, a great advantage when you have lots of different things to consider. We had models of the UK’s most popular wheelchair accessible vehicle, the Peugeot Horizon™ on display, together with other small, medium and large-sized wheelchair accessible cars and people carriers.

Animal Magic

Guests were entitled to free access to the award winning Blackpool Zoo and enjoyed glorious sunshine throughout the afternoon. The zoo is home to a huge array of animals ranging from Aardvarks to Zebras (and everything in between), although our favourites were the beautiful We also had our brand new Ford big cats and the cheeky monkeys in Amazonia!

Freedom™ on show for visitors to see and try out. Based on the Blackpool Zoo’s operators have stylish Ford Tourneo Connect, gone out of their way to improve Freedom™ is an exciting new accessibility and visibility at each addition to the Allied Mobility exhibit. Their efforts have won range of wheelchair accessible recognition from Accessible vehicles.

Britain and a big thumbs up from the crowds attending the North West Mobility Day.

Visitors were treated to free refreshments as they arrived and

0800 587 9616

info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com 19

F

d e e o r m F w d it in

A new and exclusive addition to the UK’s leading range of wheelchair accessible vehicles, the brand new Ford Connect Freedom™ from Allied Mobility offers stylish, ultra-modern comfort coupled with fuel efficient, environmentally friendly performance.

Safety First Safety is paramount. There are front and rear wheelchair restraints and a lap and special diagonal seat belt for the wheelchair occupant. All are tested and certified to meet the highest automotive standards, for both comfort and security.

The specially lowered rear floor in the all new Freedom™ offers easy access for a wheelchair or scooter without the need for a boot hoist. The innovative new EasyGlide™ ramp can be folded upright to accommodate a wheelchair user or flat to create abundant luggage space.

Freedom™ is based on the much anticipated Tourneo Connect. Ford’s new baby quickly attracted acclaim, being named MPV of the year at the Independent Motoring Awards.

Big plus points for Connect’s sister, the Freedom™, are it’s spaciousness, great all-round visibility and superb fuel economy.

Access All Areas 20

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Freedom™ also achieves a maximum five star Euro NCAP safety rating, the first in its segment to do so.

Model Choice Choose the RS model for wheelchair access with full original Ford seating, or the RE model for a longer, wider wheelchair or power chair. Both RS and RE models offer plenty of comfort features to enjoy including air conditioning, DAB radio, USB/iPod connectivity and electric windows. An electric controlled winch, privacy glass and rear parking sensors are also available as additional extras.

Enjoy the Freedom™ of the road with Allied Mobility and the all-new Ford Connect. Freedom™ is available now to buy, lease or through the Motability Scheme with Advanced Payment from just £1495.

To arrange your free home demonstration call 0800 587 9616 email info@alliedmobility.com visit www.alliedmobility.com

“Anyone can dance!

Why not do it yourself?”

Dare to Dance!

Paddy and Lin’s first dance Did you know that wheelchair dance has been around since the 1960’s?

The sport can be traced back to a rehabilitation centre in Scotland that was teaching people how to move in their wheelchair. Since then the sport has developed and in 2006 the Wheelchair Dance Sport Association (WDSA) was born.

The WDSA works hard to show that everyone can dance, regardless of their disability and travels the country hosting events, running training sessions and providing demonstrations.

WEDDING FEVER Wheelchair dance isn’t always about glitzy events or international competitions, they often get asked to help couples choreograph their wedding dance, which is how they met Paddy and Lin. Paddy uses a wheelchair and when the couple tried to find a dance studio to help them they met a barrage of barriers. Most studios weren’t accessible, wanted more money or lacked understanding of their

which was really important to us.”

The couple chose their music (Extreme’s More Than Words) and met with trained WDSA instructors at a nearby studio. The couple were sceptical at first but soon got into the swing of it and spent a total of 12 hours over six sessions learning their dance moves. requirements. They were even asked why Lin couldn’t just sit on Paddy’s lap as he ‘spun around’.

ANYONE CAN DANCE The couple were disappointed and resigned to not having a traditional first dance when Lin came across the WDSA. She asked if they could put on a demonstration in place of a first dance to entertain their guests and was told ‘Anyone can dance! Why not do it yourself?’

Lin says: “This was the first time that something wasn’t a struggle or going to costs us thousands more because Paddy is in a wheelchair. WDSA were able to help us dance as a couple,

UPCOMING EVENTS:

31st October – WDSA International Competition, Stoke Mandeville Stadium, Buckinghamshir

ROUND OF APPLAUSE When it came to the big day WDSA instructors Sue and Ruth took to the floor, pretending to do a demonstration dance for the guests. Paddy and Lin took everyone by surprise by joining them half way through and were met with loud rounds of cheers and applause. They had a brilliant time showing off their new moves.

The couple enjoyed the experience so much that they’ve started their own group in their home town of Watford.

Lin comments: “All it takes is one person to tell you that you can do it to make all the difference.”

0300 111 30 45 info@wdsauk.co.uk www.wdsauk.co.uk

Allied Mobility is a proud sponsor of theWheelchair Dance Sport Association.

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NEWS ROUND UP Google Pledge Millions for Disability

Internet search giant, Google, has announced plans to invest millions of dollars into funding technology to help people with disabilities as part of an initiative called ‘The Google Impact Challenge: Disabilities’.

Google.org, the charitable side of the company, is planning to spend up to $20 million on non-profit organisations using new technology to “increase independence for people living with disabilities.”

Swansea is Disability Confident

The Welsh city of Swansea has become the first place in the UK to earn the status of ‘Disability Confident’ for their commitment to helping disabled people into work.

The Disability Confident campaign was launched two years ago by Prime Minister David Cameron and is aimed at providing employers assurance when employing people with disabilities.

Boost for Accessible Events Tickets

UK charity, Attitude is Everything, has reported a marked rise in the sale of disabled access gig and festival tickets in the last two years. The charity, which works to improve access to live music for disabled people, found that sales were up by 70% since 2013.

Attitude is Everything’s charter of best practice was created to help the music industry understand the needs of deaf and disabled music fans ensuring they have a positive experience at live music events. To date, 106 festivals and venues have signed up including Glastonbury and Download.

Hands Free Wheelchair Uses Segway Technology

A New Zealand inventor has designed a prototype hands free wheelchair by taking apart his Segway. The one-of-a-kind invention is controlled by the user’s body movement and is completely hands-free, which could make a huge difference to many disabled people. Inventor, Kevin Halsall, hopes that with a few small tweaks, the ‘Ogo’ wheelchair will become commercially viable.

Access All Areas 22

Alter UR Ego – Fashion for Wheelchair Users

Heidi McKenzie, 29, left paralysed after a car accident has created a trendy line of jeans specially designed for wheelchair users.

Frustrated by the lack of fashionable yet practical clothing available for wheelchair users and compelled by the discovery that she was not alone. Heidi teamed up with designer Kristin Alexandra Tidwell, launching Alter Ur Ego and a Kickstarter campaign to bring trendy yet functional clothing to fashion conscious wheelchair users.

Anonymous donor funds Katherine’s Wheels

Four years old Katherine, who has a rare brain disorder called perventricular leukomalacia, received an anonymous and incredibly generous £3,500 donation to the Go Fund Me campaign set up by her mum, Amy. The campaign was created to fund a new wheelchair, as she’s outgrown her current one and a replacement was unavailable on the NHS. Now that the campaign has generated more than they need, the family have set a new goal to raise even more to help other children get the equipment they need.

Creative Costumes for Wheelchairs

Lon and Anita Davis, from Kansas, found inspiration to launch a Kickstarter campaign to make sure children like their son Reese, who uses a wheelchair, can enjoy holidays like Halloween just as much as every other child.

From their first challenge of creating a Wall-E costume that fit around Reese’s wheelchair, Walkin’ and Rollin’ was born.

The campaign aims to raise money to help design and build creative costumes for wheelchairs and walkers, free of charge for any child.

0800 587 9616 23

0800 587 9616

www.alliedmobility.com

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UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9616

e M l l a C Don’t ! l a i c e p S

Meet Josh Reeves, star of recent BBC documentary ‘The Unbreakables’ Picture by Richard Ansett Copyright BBC Pictures

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Here at Allied Mobility we’ve been hooked on the recent BBC Three series, ‘The Unbreakables’. Aired as part of their ‘Defying the Label’ season, ‘The Unbreakables’ follows students with disabilities at National Star College in Gloucestershire as they experience life living away from home. National Star is an independent, specialist college for people with a broad range of disabilities.

One of our favourite stars of the show, 18 year old Josh Reeves from Wales, has used the program as a launchpad for his Don’t Call Me Special campaign. We sat down to have a chat with him about it.

crew said they’d like to film me I thought it was a great idea. It’s really important for me to get my message out there because I want everyone to see that people with disabilities are still human.

National Star looks like a great college – what made you decide to go and what’s life like there?

I wanted to have independence away from my parents and National Star offered facilities that mainstream colleges don’t have. In my comprehensive school I felt isolated. I wasn’t allowed to go with my friends to hang out in our favourite place because it was muddy and when I came back in the staff had to put paper down so I wouldn’t leave muddy tracks.

National Star is completely different.

My parents had to fight for funding for me to go there but it was the college of my choice because I knew I would learn the right life skills and gain the independence that I wanted. Life there is great – I’ve just been elected as student union vice president!

What are your plans for when you finish college?

I really want to work for Disability Wales as a campaigner and go around schools talking to children and adults about living with a disability, rights and awareness.

Hi Josh, thanks for chatting to us! We loved The Unbreakables, what made you decide you wanted to be on the show?

I want to change people’s views on disability and change the world but I didn’t know where to begin. Being at National Star college opened the door for me.

I was planning to visit local schools to talk to children about disabilities and when the BBC 26

You’ve launched a new campaign called ‘Don’t Call Me Special’. Can you tell us a bit more about it?

I launched ‘Don’t Call Me Special’ because I want to help make the world a more equal place and I don’t want other children with disabilities to go through what I did. I have cerebral palsy, which I didn’t ask for and it makes me angry that I’ve got little choice of where and how I live and where I go to school.

I visit primary schools and explain to the

children that people with disabilities can do the same as everybody else, just in a different way. Just because we’re in a wheelchair doesn’t make us special.

Many of our readers have a disability and we’ve learnt from them that a lot of discrimination and assumptions come from a lack of education about disabilities. Do you agree with this?

Yes definitely! My dream was always to be a museum tour guide so I signed up for GCSE history in my last school. The class was held on the first floor and the lift didn’t work so I had to stay downstairs and have one-on-one lessons rather than be in with the class. I wouldn’t have minded being in a mainstream school if they’d just made a few adjustments for me so I could be included. I felt like an outsider and not human.

What made you want to start the ‘Don’t Call Me Special’ campaign?

The people who treat me differently because I’m disabled. The thing I hate most is when people talk to my parents or carers and not me, or when they try and kneel down to talk at ‘my level’.

How can our readers get involved in the campaign?

You can find me on twitter @moshua360 or visit facebook.com/dontcallmespecial.

Help spread the work by using the hastag #dontcallmespecial on social media – the more awareness we can raise the better!

Thanks for chatting to us Josh!

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS We asked Josh a series of quickfire questions to gain some insight into the man behind the campaign!

Favourite movie?

The Dark Knight Favourite band?

Slayer Favourite hobby?

Playing Xbox Favourite college class?

Customer Service Favourite food?

Rib eye steak Favourite place?

Disneyworld, Florida.

No.1 on your bucket list?

To change perceptions about disabilities.

Tell us a random fact about you.

I’ve got my own YouTube channel!

Find me at youtube.com/geekmoshua

Learn more about National Star College www.nationalstar.org 01242 527631 27

The Accessible Road Trip Travel the UK by car and discover some of the best accessible tourist attractions!

1. ANTRIM

Giant’s Causeway You might not think of basalt columns on the Antrim coast as an accessible destination, however the fabulous new visitor centre is all on one level and there’s ample disabled parking too. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/giants-causeway

5. BLACKPOOL

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Blackpool Zoo From aardvarks to orangutans and meerkats to tiger cubs, there’s a myriad of wonderful creatures to meet at Blackpool Zoo. Much of its 32 acres is fairly level and the operators have done a huge amount to make parking, catering and exhibits as accessible as possible. www.blackpoolzoo.org.uk

7. NORTH WALES

Electric Mountain Ever wondered how we get power from a mountain lake? Take the tour deep inside Elidir Mountain, set amid the stunning scenery of Snowdonia and you’ll find out all there is to know. Parking, visitor centre and tour bus are all wheelchair-friendly. www.electricmountain.co.uk

9. SOUTHEND

5 1

Adventure Island Can a theme park really be accessible for disabled visitors? It’s not perfect but Adventure Island is making a big effort. ‘Disabled-friendly rides’ are highlighted and staff are available to help people on and off.

Parking, catering and toilets are accessible. www.adventureisland.co.uk

11. CORNWALL

Eden Project Dramatic global gardens with huge biomes, the Eden Project has disabled access, parking and toilets. www.edenproject.com

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2. EDINBURGH Our Dynamic Earth

Futuristic-looking Dynamic Earth uses modern technology to visualise the fantastic geological forces that shaped the world we live in. Designed with wheelchair access in mind including parking, catering and all the main exhibits. www.dynamicearth.co.uk

3. NEWCASTLE

Life Science Centre

4. WAKEFIELD

National Coal Mining Museum

Family-oriented attraction offering fun for all ages.

From cave paintings to space travel the whole building is well thought through for wheelchair users, although we recommend calling ahead ahead to reserve a Blue Badge parking space next to the entrance. www.life.org.uk

A hidden gem, set in the Yorkshire countryside.

Follow the tough history of mining in Britain with a mine guide and even take the lift to an underground world.

All open to wheelchair users - just let them know in advance to ensure the best possible experience. www.ncm.org.uk

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National Space Centre

6. LEICESTER

Who knew? Britain really does have a space centre and what’s more it’s a brilliant attraction! Exhibits span mankind’s first steps in space, moon landings, space stations and modern satellite technology. Modern attraction with well-planned space. www.spacecentre.co.uk

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8. GREAT YARMOUTH

Redwings Horse Sanctuary

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Redwings care for more than 1,500 horses, ponies and donkeys at several sites. At Caldecott, near Great Yarmouth, there’s a wheelchair accessible visitor centre, central concrete path and level gravel track around the stable yard. www.redwings.org.uk

9 10. LONDON

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Royal Air Force Museum RAF Hendon is home to a staggering collection of aircraft. From remarkable First World War models to the famous Spitfire and mammoth Vulcan bomber, anyone that likes planes will love this wonderfully accessible attraction, which is level throughout. www.rafmuseum.org.uk/London 29

On the Road with Allied Don’t miss out on the chance to see our wide range of vehicles on display at events up and down the country. Here’s a round up of where we’re going and when:

Independent Living 7-8 October - SECC, Glasgow

A new event that aims to offer advice, support and information for individuals living with a disability, carers and families. http://www.independentlivingscotland.org

West Midlands Mobility Day 15 October - RAF Cosford, Shropshire Local stores and charities join Allied Mobility for this free mobility event with entry into the museum included. http://www.alliedmobility.com/events/

Kidz to Adults up North 19 November - Event City, Manchester Information and advice for children and young adults with disabilities and special needs, their families and the professionals who work with them. http://www.disabledliving.co.uk/Kidz/Scotland

Don’t worry, if you can’t make it to an event near you.

Take advantage of our free home demonstrations where one of our mobility advisors will bring your favourite WAV to you.

Call 0800 587 9616 to arrange your no obligation home demonstration or email info@alliedmobility.com Access All Areas 30

DISABILITY SPORTS NEWS Jonnie Peacock Sprints to Victory 2012 London Paralympics gold medallist, Jonnie Peacock, stormed to victory again at the recent English Athletics Disability Championships in Bedford. His time of 11.04 seconds in the qualifying round of the 100m sprint earned him the fastest time of the day and he gave a repeat performance in the final to take home gold.

Britain Win Big in LA

Is Disability Sport Losing Popularity?

D

avid Weir, winner of four gold medals at the London Paralympics, has expressed his concern that disability sport is losing the momentum it gained in 2012. His comments come after the recent National Paralympic Day, held at Olympic Park in London, attracted just 20,000 spectators. The same event two years ago had over 60,000 visitors and Weir thinks this may be down to a lack of marketing for disability sport.

“I’m a big believer that we need to be in the public’s faces all the time; it will die if we’re not

The biggest ever Special Olympics were held recently in Los Angeles and Team GB came away with an impressive 179 medals. Great Britain brought home gold in sports such as cycling, gymnastics and football with half a million spectators in attendance over the nine day event.

The team were helped with funding from the UK government but Special Olympics GB president, Lawrie McMenemy, says more money needs to be invested in disability sport.

Wimbledon Champ Awarded MBE 2015 Wimbledon winner Jordanne Whiley has been awarded an MBE for her services to wheelchair tennis. The 23 year old from Birmingham has an abundance of big wins under her belt including Wimbledon, the US Open and a Paralympic bronze medal.

on TV every week.”

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We’re the UK’s leading wheelchair accessible vehicles specialist, offering a wide range of mobility cars throughout the UK. Here’s just a few reasons why.

“A car that allowed me to take my wheelchair up-front was the perfect solution and Impulse ticked all the boxes.”

“They have been a fab company to deal with. Mobility advisor Karen was great – we couldn’t have asked for better.”

PEUGEOT INDEPENDENCE

The Button Family, Suffolk

PEUGEOT IMPULSE Peter Taylor, Lancashire “The features of the car are really easy to use, especially the ramp, which needs very little effort to lift.”

PEUGEOT HORIZON

The Ruddock Family, Bury St Edmunds

0800 587 9616

www.alliedmobility.com