Access All Areas - Summer 18

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Access All Areas

Hire to Horizon Top 10 Accessible Holidays SUMMER ISSUE 2018

Smooth Sailing at South East Mobility Day

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KS C A R C HELEN DE O C E H T

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ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE HIRE

Whe accesseilbclheacir & minibus h ar ire

the UK’s leading supplier of accessible vehicles Allied Mobility offers a wide variety of wheelchair accessible and specially adapted vehicles for short and long-term hire. For advice on finding a vehicle to suit your needs, call our experienced team now.

Driving for Perfection

Driving aids and adaptations Tel: 0800 587 9640 www.alliedmobility.com

WELCOME Access All Areas is excited to bring you the latest mobility news and updates in our summer 2018 edition.

Our event season is officially in full swing and we’ve visited three of the UK’s top attractions so far. We were delighted so many of you could join us for a fantastic day out and a cuppa!

We catch up with vehicle customers the Briggs family from West Yorkshire and review ten of the best accessible holiday destinations across Europe. Our special reporter, Helen Dolphin, gives the low down on her visit to the once highly secretive Bletchley Park and racing driver Aaron Morgan shows us the vehicle adaptations he uses to compete week in, week out.

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Happy reading!

News Round-up........................................ 4 Hire to Horizon ........................................ 6

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Charity Focus............................................ 9 Top 10 Accessible Holidays.................... 10 Aaron’s Adaptations............................... 12 Mersea Island Festival............................. 16

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Cracking the Code ................................. 17 Wedding Bells......................................... 20 Special Sporting Partnership.................. 22 A New Lease of Life for Logan............... 24 Fun in the Sun......................................... 27 Sports Update ........................................ 30

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News Round Up\\\

No Laughing Matter

The situation escalated and the police were called, then staff announced to the packed train that Tanyalee was holding up the train’s progress ‘indefinitely’. She was made to feel embarrassed and upset after being blamed for the 20-minute delay, which caused herself and other passengers to miss their connections.

Disabled comedian, Tanyalee Davis, was reportedly told to Great Western Railway has since apologised, stating its move her mobility scooter to make way for a pram on a Great wheelchair priority policy is clear and Tanyalee shouldn’t have Western Railway train. been asked to move.

FORWARD FASHION Fashion brand, ASOS, has been praised for its offering of clothing designed with disabled people in mind. The online retailer has released a waterproof jumpsuit (aimed at festival goers), which zips off at the waist – making it easier for disabled people to get in and out of.

The initial idea came after British athlete, Chloe BallHopkins, emailed the company, noting the lack of products available for disabled customers.

The final product has been praised for its versatility. It’s suitable for all types of customers, both disabled and able-bodied, and has been commended for its marketing as such. Chloe is featured in the advertisement for the product, alongside an able-bodied model.

This isn’t the first time ASOS has used disabled models.

It also featured Mama Cax, a model who’s had her leg amputated, in one of its campaigns at the beginning of the year.

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Coronation of a New Initiative

Coronation Street stars Cherylee Houston and Melissa Johns have announced a new networking initiative, aimed at improving representation of disabled artists in the entertainment industry.

The stars, who play Izzy Armstrong and Imogen Pascoe on the ITV soap, have set up the Disabled Artists Network Community (DANC).

The pair express a desire to help disabled people get noticed and make a name for themselves. They’re aware of the challenges disabled people face in the entertainment industry and want to help eradicate these.

Cherylee told the BBC: “It’s about that responsibility of putting back into your career for the people of the future for their careers, so people don’t have to keep facing the blocks we faced.”

SHARED CONCERNS The government’s accessible transport advisory body, the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), has called for an independent evaluation to be carried out on ‘shared space’ developments, with the involvement of disabled people.

‘Shared spaces’ are areas in which vehicles and pedestrians co-exist, without the strict separation of roads and pavements. The creation of shared spaces often means the removal of kerbs and controlled crossings, placing those with disabilities at an increased risk – particularly those who are partially sighted, blind or deaf.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the Department of Transport produced a joint statement, saying they take the issue of accessibility very seriously.

Their statement said: “We understand the concerns that have been raised around ‘shared space’ schemes and are considering what action may be appropriate. Disabled people must have the same opportunities to travel as other members of society and it’s essential that streets are accessible and safe.”

Atrocious Airports

Aviation watchdog, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), inspected all airports in Britain to asses their accessibility and disabled facilities. Four major airports were told their disabled passengers were being treated unacceptably.

Manchester received a ‘poor’ rating, with some passengers waiting over an hour on incoming planes before assistance arrived to get them off the aircraft. Officials at Gatwick, Stansted and Birmingham failed to provide sufficient information on policies and procedures regarding their standard of service.

Disability charities have welcomed improvements made in recent months, with many airports making good progress.

London Heathrow received a ‘poor’ rating last year but was rated ‘good’ this year.

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HIRE TO HORI

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For Paul Di Giacomo and his partner Karen, Allied Mobility was already a name they were familiar with. As avid holiday goers, they first hired a wheelchair accessible vehicle from us in 2016 so that Paul could take his electric wheelchair on their travels.

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Ready for Change

Paul has Guillain-Barré syndrome, a condition that affects his nervous system and he was feeling the stress and strain of transferring from his manual wheelchair to the passenger seat. Karen was also struggling to push Paul’s manual wheelchair on their trips as the electric chair didn't fit in their Volkswagen Golf.

That’s when the couple decided to make the move to having their own wheelchair accessible car.

Having enjoyed the Peugeot Horizon™ they’d hired, they knew exactly what they were looking for.

Now proud owners of their own Horizon™ wheelchair accessible car, life has become much more manageable for Paul and Karen. Paul enthuses: “Having our own wheelchair accessible car has changed our lives. I can now drive

straight into the car using my electric wheelchair, meaning Karen doesn’t have to push me anymore.”

Giving That Little Bit Extra With extras such as an electric winch and privacy glass coming as standard, it’s easy to see why the Horizon™ is the UK’s most popular wheelchair accessible vehicle. Allied’s innovative EasyGlide™ ramp simply pulls-out from the rear floor of the vehicle to become an ultra-strong, low-gradient ramp.

Paul comments: “With the ramp, I can be in and out of the vehicle in 30 seconds. We use it seven to eight times a day and it couldn’t be easier.”

Paul and Karen were visited at home

by Scott, a mobility consultant with over 20 years’ experience working with Allied Mobility. He provided a free

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With the ramp, I can be in and out of the vehicle in 30 seconds.

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0800 587 9640 info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com/horizon

demonstration to make sure the vehicle was right for the couple.

Paul remarks: “Scott was great – nothing was too much hassle. We’d planned a holiday around the UK and Allied Mobility managed to deliver the vehicle early, which saved us having to rent a car again.”

Peugeot Horizon™ is available exclusively from Allied Mobility to buy, rent or via the Motability Scheme, with advance payments starting from just £1,095.

REFER A FRIEND You can claim £100 for a successful referral. Check out our website for more details www.alliedmobility. com/referrals or email us at referrals@alliedmobility.com.

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0800 587 9640

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Advance Payments correct at time of going to press. Images for illustrative purposes only.

Free UK-wide home demonstrations call 0800 587 9640

Access All Areas delves into the world of Newlife, which provides the only fasttrack equipment service for sick and disabled children in the UK. By their own definition, “Newlife exists because if it were your child, you’d want the very best for them”. With around one million disabled and terminally ill children in the UK, in addition to sourcing essential equipment, Newlife also provides invaluable information and support for families in need.

Care Services

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Photo by Ben White on Unsplash

Newlife exists because if it were your child, you’d want the very best for them.

such as rights and benefits to rare health conditions, the advisors approach their role with compassionate professionalism.

Comfort Capsules The charity provides a range of specialist equipment, delivered directly to families’ homes. Play Pods are available to loan and contain specialist toys and equipment for children ranging from birth to 18 years old. Visual, auditory, interactive and tactile pods are available and offer a wide range of sensory experiences.

Comfort Capsules provide families with practical equipment to help them spend precious time together. One of the most valued items supplied is a digital camera, helping families to make lasting

memories, which can help them through the difficult time they face.

Emergency Loans Newlife also offers emergency equipment loans of mobility products, such as specialist buggies or beds, to children who’re at risk of injury or who have an urgent need for a particular device. When a family is finished with the product, it’s cleaned and reused for another child in need. They also offer grants to families who have been denied equipment from other service providers.

Allied Mobility is delighted to support the work of Newlife.

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For more information on Newlife visit their website www.newlifecharity.co.uk

Newlife’s team of qualified nurses is on hand to offer specific advice and assistance when it’s needed most. With a wealth of knowledge ranging from topics Newlife the Charity for Disabled Children - Registered Charity Number: 1170125 in England & Wales.

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1. Mar y Sol, Tenerife, Spain With the goal of showing that: “Usually travelling with a disabled person means you have to compromise. Not here.”

- it’s understandable that this resort repeatedly gains five-star reviews from travellers.

Designed with wheelchair users in mind, Mar y Sol is ideal for those looking for warmer climates. It offers two swimming pools fitted with hoists and manned by lifeguards at all times. Priding itself on accessibility for all, the hotel’s onsite physiotherapists organise activities throughout the day ranging from water gymnastics to golf! www.enableholidays.com/Mar-y-Sol

5. Barceló Bávaro Beach, Dominican Republic If you like to venture a bit further a-field, this luxurious hotel rests on the white sands of Bávaro Beach. The spacious rooms are suited for wheelchair users and ramps and elevators throughout mean getting around is hassle-free.

The hotel also offers a beach wheelchair for use on sand and sea. Additional mobility products can be hired from companies like Scooter DR.

2. Centre AlgaRve, Moncarapacho, Portugal

Claims to be Europe’s only specialist holiday centre catering for both children and adults with special needs. With 14 bedrooms, the centre focuses on a more intimate holiday experience. Fullyequipped hygiene rooms, a sensory room and an animal enclosure ensure the centre provides an unforgettable experience in a safe environment. www.centrealgarve.org

TOP

ACCESSIBLE

www.enableholidays.com/barcelo-bava

7. Casa Peguche, Cumbre Del Sol, Spain

8. The Heather Barn Cottage, Cornwall, England

Accommodating 8-10 people and overlooking the nature reserve of La Granadella, this tropical retreat is ideal for those looking to relax in the Mediterranean sunshine. The kitted-out kitchen comes complete with lowered units, while the wheelchair access bedroom offers adjustable beds, a trapeze bar and an accessible ensuite bathroom.

These very stylish, singlestorey converted barns certainly add a dash of luxury to your trip. The cottage includes a modern wet room, accessible wardrobes and lots of space. Travellers have also commented on the warm welcome from the owner who provides plenty of suggestions for accessible places to visit in the area.

From the bedroom, wheelchair users can access the garden and terraces, which also lead to a large private pool, complete with hoist. www.casapeguche.nl/eng

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www.premiercottages.co.uk/cottages /kernock-cottages/heather-barn.aspx

3. George Barn at Cotswolds Charm, The Cotswolds, ENGLAND Visitor’s can’t help but be entranced with the quintessential beauty of the Cotswolds. This four-star cottage offers a fully accessible stay in vibrant surroundings.

Boasting private parking, roll-in shower with chair and a lowered kitchen, George Barn truly is a home from home.

4. CanalAbility, Essex, England With the tagline “boating without boundaries”, the award-winning CanalAbility offers three purposebuilt boats for a variety of day trips and extended holidays. The largest boat in the fleet comes in at 67ft long and 11ft 6in wide and boasts features such as a bow lift, portable hoist and an accessible bathroom.

Alongside a trainer skipper, budding boaters can take the helm and steer their way through the canal.

www.cotswoldcharm.com/george-barn

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www.canalability.org.uk

6. P&O Cruises, Various Locations For disabled travellers, the thought of a cramped cabin is not only off-putting but also impractical.

However, cruise companies offer accessible cabins, providing more space.

P&O, for example, offers wet rooms, with a pull down or fixed shower seat and ample grab handles throughout the bathroom. If you opt for a balcony view, ramped access means you can enjoy the fresh ocean air.

Allocated wheelchair spaces are available for theatre/entertainment performances and assistance dogs are welcome aboard too. www.pocruises.com

9. Lovat Lodge, Nairn, Scotland Take a trip to the North of Scotland and experience fresh highland air with a visit to the Lovat Lodge.

There are three specially adapted rooms on offer, each containing an adjustable bed. The fully accessible bathrooms come fitted with hand rails and a wet room. As the rooms are located on the ground floor, an accessible patio is right outside your bedroom door. The hotel also has a complementary motorised buggy on site. www.lovatlodgehotel.co.uk

10. Tudor Lodges, Cornwall, England Awarded National Accessibility Scheme Level 3 by Visit Britain, the lodges have been specifically designed with accessibility in mind. Low ramps throughout, electric hoists and chairs and large accessible showers make visits stress-free.

Nearby attractions include Looe Beach (sand wheelchairs are available) and the fabulously eco-friendly Eden Project. www.tudorlodges.co.uk

0800 587 9640

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Aaron'S Adaptations Access All Areas catches up with Aaron Morgan and how his BMW Compact Cup races differ from his fellow competitors.

For Allied Mobility sponsored racing driver, Aaron Morgan, being a wheelchair user means he faces an additional challenge to allow him to race against his able-bodied opponents. Both on and off the track Aaron has hand controls fitted to his vehicles.

Volkswagen to Vehvac Day to day, in his Volkswagen Golf, Aaron uses push/pull hand controls – a lever which he pulls to accelerate and pushes to brake. Originally, he used these adaptations in his BMW e30 race car, coupled with an automatic gearbox. However, he quickly realised this wasn’t competitive due to its random gear changes and inability to accelerate and brake concurrently.

A solution to this was provided by the Autoclutch system from Vehvac. This allowed Aaron to change gears like an able-bodied person by using a button on the gear-stick. Unfortunately, however this option didn’t allow revs to be kept up, which really impacted his starts.

Thinking Outside the (Gear) Box In his current race car, Aaron uses a rather inventive solution involving a motorbike clutch lever. This is attached to a pulley which operates a clutch cylinder mounted in the passenger footwell. This solution was designed by an engineer who races in the championship alongside Aaron.

This current system has allowed Aaron to improve his starts and ultimately gain improved positions in his 2018 races, so far.

You can keep up to speed with all of Aaron’s exciting races on our Facebook and Twitter pages. You’ll see Aaron at our Allied Mobility Days too – he’s certainly not shy so come over and have a chat!

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\\\ Festival Fun at Mersea Island

Entering its 38th year, The Mersea Island Festival brings together young people and adults - both with and without physical and learning difficulties - for over a week of fun-filled activities.

What’s On Offer?

Running from 19th to 27th August the festival promotes inclusion, with a jampacked timetable that allows visitors of all abilities to “have a go.” With a wide range of high-energy activities on offer, guests can try their hand at assisted climbing, race down the zip wire or tackle the adventure course. For those wishing to showcase their artistic flair, dance, band and circus workshops are also popular.

In the evenings, the fun doesn’t stop there. Live music, discos and the festival’s own talent show mean visitors can party into the small hours.

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Happy Campers The highly successful festival receives nothing but praise from participants and their families. One mum recently commented: "Was the programme appropriate? Abso-blooming-lutely! I wasn't sure what to expect but both

my boys (one special-needs and one not) have had an excellent time here."

Whether you’re interested in coming along for a day or for seven days, Mersea Island has a space for you.

For those who are looking to stay for a week or over the weekend, accommodation and meals are provided. And, of course, the site and its facilities are wheelchair accessible.

Chair of Mersea Island Festival Trust, Tom Brennan, sums up the impact of the festival: “Whatever your interests, even those you didn’t know you had, you can be one of our many guests each year who say, ‘I’d never get to do this if I didn’t come to Mersea Island Festival'.”

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For more information visit www.merseafestival.org.uk

Cracking the Code at Bletchley Park With Helen Dolphin Allied Mobility’s special reporter, Helen Dolphin, MBE, takes a trip to the once top-secret Bletchley Park.

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During World War II, Bletchley Park was home to 10,000 men and women tasked with deciphering coded messages sent by the enemy.

First Impressions Bletchley Park was originally chosen as the base for Britain’s codebreakers as it was close to London and the “Varsity Line”, which linked the University cities of Oxford and Cambridge.

I decided to drive to the Park and found there was plenty of disabled parking on a surface car park

near to the entrance. The only issue for me was that the surface was quite gravelly, which meant it was tough to push my wheelchair over. However, there are a small number of disabled spaces on tarmac.

Tickets and Tours Once you’ve parked, you’re directed into the visitor centre to buy your tickets.

Adult entry is £18.50, concessions are £16.50, with carers going free of charge upon request. After a long drive, my first stop was the accessible toilet.

Unfortunately, there aren’t any changing places on site.

If you need to borrow a manual wheelchair, some are available on request. Assistance dogs are welcome, and a water bowl can be provided. My first impressions for accessibility were positive.

Guided tours around the grounds are offered. The park is quite easy to navigate in a wheelchair but I was glad to have someone pushing me as there are some slopes and uneven surfaces.

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I was fascinated to find out that the codebreakers first arrived here in August 1938, when a small group of people moved into the main mansion house on site under the guise that they were ‘Captain Ridley’s Shooting Party’.

However, this small group of people were actually members of MI6 and the Government Code and Cypher School.

Magnificent Machine After the guided tour, I decided to look around the mansion and some of the huts – all of which were step free.

With no automatic doors and some big thresholds to get over, it would be quite a struggle on your own.

Initially the codebreakers worked inside the mansion but as more and more people arrived to join the operation, the various sections began to move into the huts set up on the lawns of the park.

Many of the huts remain as they were in war time, with old fashioned telephones and typewriters, making the experience quite immersive.

During the war, the German army and air force used Enigma code machines to produce complex coded messages.

The Enigma machine most commonly used had three rotors, selected from a choice of five and a plugboard with 10 cables. This meant there were 103,325,660,891,587,134,000,000 (that’s

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a heck of a lot!) possibilities for each Enigma key – making the code almost impossible to decipher. That was, until Alan Turin - one of the most famous codebreakers to work at Bletchley Park - devised an electromechanical machine that could decipher settings for the Enigma machine.

It has been estimated that Turin’s work shortened the war in Europe by more than two years and saved over fourteen million lives. The Enigma machine looks much like a typewriter but with more wires and both it and a replica of Turin’s codebreaking machine are on display. You also get to have a go at solving some codes yourself. This makes you realise quite how amazing the codebreakers were!

There was so much to see and do at Bletchley Park, it was impossible to fit it all into just one day. The site is completely accessible and nowhere is out of bounds for wheelchair users.

Film Fact Find out more about Alan Turin in The Imitation Game, starring Benedict Cumberbatch.

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www.bletchleypark.org.uk To pre-book with a wheelchair call 01908 640 404

Accessible parking Attraction accessibilit y Attraction interest Accessible toilets Value for money

Key: Great -

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Wedding Bells Ringing for Rentals Love was truly in the air recently for Allied Mobility as we provided a wheelchair accessible vehicle hire for Mr & Mrs Hurst on their wedding day!

Triumphant Transport Organising a wedding is stressful enough, so we were glad we could help ease the transport worries the couple had for the day.

Laurence says: "We were delighted with how easy it was to arrange wheelchair accessible vehicle hire with Allied Mobility. Without the vehicle, my wife wouldn't have been able to use her powerchair and would've been robbed of her independence on our wedding day."

The happy couple even decorated the wedding car with a traditional ribbon to make it that extra bit special.

Laurence continued: "Allied Mobility was excellent from start to finish.

Our advisor, Liz, went above and 20

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We were delighted with how easy it was to arrange wheelchair accessible vehicle hire with Allied Mobility.

beyond to make sure the vehicle was perfect for one of the most important days of our lives."

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Laurence Hurst, of Oldbury, got in touch with our hire advisors to discuss renting a Ford Independence™ for the big day so his wife-to-be could use her powered wheelchair.

Dedicated Delivery

Laurence adds: "The delivery driver was very prompt and polite. I was also shown how to use all the equipment on the vehicle to safely secure the chair."

We would like to wish a huge congratulation to the newlyweds from everyone at Allied Mobility!

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For hire info call our knowledgable team on 0800 587 9640 or visit website www.alliedmobility/hire

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Special Sporting Partnership

Allied Mobility is delighted to announce its exciting new partnership with Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy (CWBA).

Academy Action Better known as the Coventry Crusaders, the academy has teams competing in the premier, first, second and women’s divisions. They are also dedicated to enhancing the skills of players at grassroots level and participate in the junior league.

With players across each division regularly scouted for the national team, it’s clear the quality and competitiveness of the Crusaders plays a crucial part in its success. However, it’s not all about the winning for the team. The club is keen to give back to the community and holds development training sessions every Thursday. The sessions are open to players of all ages and abilities with the focus on fun, fitness and skill development.

Crusaders Club Life We caught up with coach Paul Claridge who gave us an insight into the club’s philosophy. He enthused: “The ethos

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of the academy is to encourage personal development and social interaction, leading to improved self-confidence in our players.”

On what sets the club apart from others, Paul continued: “We engage entire families in the sport. This means for example that a family with a disabled child will all get into wheelchairs and play alongside each other. Families are able to play, have fun and develop together.”

The Crusaders are a self-managing and self-financing club, with a committee comprising fully of volunteers. It’s clear the love of the sport and the development of its members, both on a sporting and personal level, is the driving force for Coventry Wheelchair Basketball.

Would you like to give wheelchair basketball a try? Head over to the Crusaders website for more information www.cwba.info

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Keep your eyes peeled for all things Crusaders on our Facebook and Twitter pages. @alliedmobility.com

0800 587 9640 www.alliedmobility.com

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Before, we struggled to get out and about with Logan.

\\\ A new lease of Stacey Briggs lives in West Yorkshire and is mum to son, Logan, who is a wheelchair user. Logan has severe learning difficulties, is autistic and has talipes – more commonly known as clubfoot – meaning he uses a wheelchair to get about.

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The Briggs family weren’t always aware that they would need a wheelchair accessible vehicle, as they’d coped well when Logan was little. However, as he grew, Stacey and her husband Michael realised that they’d be needing an accessible car at some point.

The thought of driving a large vehicle terrified Stacey as she had passed her test a few years ago and has always driven smaller cars.

More Independence Stacey ultimately decided to go for the Ford Independence™. She was surprised by the car-like handling of the vehicle – stating that it didn’t feel like a van and was cosy and comfortable for her family.

Logan loves the family’s new car and gets excited going on car journeys – even if it’s just for half an hour! He enjoys how high up he’s seated so that he can look out of the window and see everything.

To the Briggs family, their new Independence™ isn’t just a car. It’s made a huge difference to their lives and mum Stacey still can’t believe how much easier life is now.

Stacey says: “Before, we struggled to get out and about with Logan as Michael and I both have health conditions. But now it’s so simple and easy – Michael feels more like a dad to Logan as he can now help taking him out because of the ramp and easy-to-use winch.”

life for logan Using the vehicle for the first couple of times brought tears to Stacey’s eyes as she knew this was the beginning of better times. She’s delighted with how much difference it’s making to Logan’s life.

Top Class Service The Briggs were over the moon with the service from Allied Mobility, from start to finish. Stacey has dyslexia and didn’t feel like a bother to the advisors, who explained everything clearly.

Local mobility advisor, Jemma, knew that the family needed their new wheelchair accessible car as soon as possible and was able to speed up the process by finding a model that was available quickly.

Jemma even offered to help write a letter for the Briggs family asking for off-road parking, due to the dangerous busy road the family lives on.

Stacey comments: “Jemma didn’t have to bother about our parking space but she saw how dangerous it was and wanted to help us as she thought of Logan getting safely in and out of the car.”

Ford Independence™ is based on the superb Tourneo Custom and is the most popular wheelchair accessible people carrier on the Motability Scheme.

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0800 587 9640 info@alliedmobility.com www.alliedmobility.com/ independence

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Mobility Solutions Life made easier

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Fun in the Sun at our Mobility Days \\\ Allied Mobility has been very busy this summer with our events season now in full swing! We've reviewed three of the UK's top attractions we visited for our mobility days.

Wales We kicked off the event season in the glorious sunshine for our Wales Mobility Day. Nestled in the Cardiff countryside and one of Europe’s top open-air museums is St Fagans National Museum of History.

Hundreds of guests joined us for a relaxed day enjoying warm sunshine, viewing our showcase of accessible vehicles and shopping in our sister brand Mobility Solutions’ pop-up shop.

We were thrilled to read the kind comments

left by attendees who mentioned our “friendly staff ”, “no pressure environment” and “great atmosphere”.

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Midlands Our second event of the season was held at Twycross Zoo and was by far the busiest and wildest (get it?) event we’ve ever had!

Over 700 people turned up to the award-winning zoo near Tamworth. Twycross is known for its conservation and research efforts, as well as being renowned for being a specialist primate zoo. It’s the only zoo in the UK where visitors can see all types of great ape!

We were joined by many of our partners and sponsors including Coventry Wheelchair Basketball

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Team. They brought their game to the show and had a basketball display, ready for guests to have a go! This proved popular, with many visitors being unable to resist a chance at shooting some hoops.

Our mobility consultants were swept off their feet all day and that’s just how we like it! Our vehicle display was applauded by many, with some guests citing that this was the first time they’d been able to view a wheelchair accessible vehicle in person.

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South East Our most recent event took place at the Historic Dockyards in Chatham, Kent. The South East Mobility Day again proved popular, with several visitors even stating that they’d previously been employed there when it was a working dockyard!

The location for the event was chosen due to its large open spaces and mainly flat ground. The site contains over 100 historical buildings and structures and three historic warships. It’s the most complete dockyard for the age of sail in the world, allowing visitors to see maritime heritage in all its glory.

Our accessible car hire display was particularly successful as many guests were planning their summer holidays and wanted to make their trips as comfortable and easy as possible.

A huge thank you to all our guests and partners for helping make 2018 such a great events season so far.

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Keep an eye out on our Facebook, Twitter and at www.alliedmobility.com for more information on our 2018 events!

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SPORTS UPDATE

2019 SPECIAL OLYMPICS SQUAD ANNOUNCED

The GB Team for the 2019 World Summer Games in Abu Dhabi has been released. 129 athletes across 17 disciplines have booked their place at the prestigious sporting event.

Around 7,000 athletes with learning difficulties will be competing for the coveted medal or ribbon finish. With positions secured in categories including athletics, rhythmic gymnastics, sailing and ten pin bowling; Britain will field one of the largest teams and is looking to better its haul of medals from the 2015 Games in Los Angeles.

Re-classification Regret Champion Paralympic swimmer, Matt Wylie, has made the difficult decision to retire from the sport after a reclassification shake up. Matt, who won gold at the Rio Paralympics in 2016, originally competed in S9 category and was re-classified to S10, meaning he would face less-impaired swimmers.

Matt commented: “The process of going through a change in classification has drained me of my passion for the sport that I held so close to me. I feel I cannot compete to the high standard I put upon myself.�

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Grassroots Gripes Disability sport has come under criticism recently with some arguing there’s not enough support at grassroots level. Josh Reeves, of Cardiff, has cerebral palsy and laments the limited facilities on offer at his local gym. Josh, who enjoys wheelchair karate, says there are only four fitness machines suitable for him to use. With inadequate gym equipment and no fitness classes on offer, Josh labels the situation “shocking”.

like everybody else.”

Dan, who formed a tandem cycling club, is frustrated at the lack of support and funding the group receives.

Reliant on volunteers, the group currently has four bikes but in order to get more blind and particularly-sighted people involved in the sport, Dan said they would need at least 15.

Cyclist Dan Williams backs up Josh’s claims. Registered blind, Dan proclaims: “I don’t want to be the next paralympian, I just want to ride a bike

Earlier in the year, Sport Wales highlighted findings that showed; “Access to sport by disabled children and adults is perceived to be very patchy

in some areas and across many sports.

Accessible changing rooms and direct access to the sporting facility [is] often lacking.”

FOOTBALL, BUT NOT AS WE KNOW IT With American Football becoming more popular this side of the Atlantic, the sport recently made an advance for the disabled community.

Shaquem Griffin, of the Seattle Seahawks, became the first one-handed player to be selected in NFL history.

Shaquem’s left hand was amputated at the age of four as he was born with amniotic band syndrome.

Speaking of his amputation, Shaquem explained: “My big thing to is prove somebody wrong when they say I can’t do something because I only have one hand. I use it as motivation, go out and play as hard as I can to show others you can do anything you want.”

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Allied Mobility is 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.

“With Jessica often requiring her wheelchair and in-house chair, both easily fit in the Independence” FORD INDEPENDENCE

The Needham Family, Newtownards

“With the pull-out ramp I can be in and out in 30 seconds.”

PEUGEOT HORIZON

Paul DiGiacamo, Glasgow

VOLKSWAGEN VISTA

The Dean Family, Lancashire

"It might sound ridiculous but, from a carer's point of view, it's so much easier.”

0800 0800587 5879640 9640

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