How to Pay For The Motability Scheme
Mobility experts over at Mobility Solutions Direct have provided advice on how to get the most out of the Motability Scheme. The Direct Line Motability (DLM), the new insurer for the Motability Scheme replacing RSA Motability, will receive your payments straight from your allowance provider. How much you pay depends on the mobility allowance you receive: You Need to Make an Advanced Payment For Some Vehicles In addition to your weekly mobility allowance, you may need to pay upfront for some vehicles. Be aware that it’s not a deposit and it’s non-refundable. Upfront costs are required because your allowance might not cover the full cost for more expensive vehicles. The amount you pay is calculated by looking at the cost of the vehicle, its servicing and maintenance, and its expected value at the end of your lease. The DLM will try to negotiate with the vehicle manufacturer every three months to get you the best price. This payment will be made directly to your Motability Scheme dealer either on the day you get the vehicle or before. If you are paying by cheque, you need to send this at least seven days before you receive the vehicle. Alternatively, if you are eligible for the £750 New Vehicle Payment, we can send this directly to your dealer to help towards your Advance Payment. How To Pay Your Advance Payment The Advanced Payment method you will use depends on your vehicle dealer: What You Need When Applying Visit a dealer when looking for a new wheelchair-accessible vehicle, a scooter, or a powered wheelchair. If you’re looking for a WAV or someone to install adaptations to make your vehicle accessible, the supplier will come to your location and assist you in placing the order for the vehicle or adaptations. If you apply at the dealer, you need to bring: If you apply online, you need to bring: How to Receive a New Vehicle Payment If you’re new to the Motability Scheme and you order your first vehicle in 2023, you’ll receive a special payment after you collect your new vehicle. This payment can be used to help with the upfront cost. Alternatively, you can send this payment directly to your dealer to reduce the Advance Payment amount. However, if you order a scooter or a powered wheelchair, you will instead receive a New Product Payment to assist with the cost. It’s important to note that you can only receive this payment once. There Are 5 Vehicle Options Available 1 – Standard Cars Package, which includes: 2 – Electric Cars Package, which includes: 3 – Adaptations, which make your vehicle to use, can include: 4 – Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV), which include: 5 – Scooters and Powered Wheelchairs, which can include: Image credit: Jon Tyson
Empowering deaf individuals through inclusive support
David Ashton-Jones, Chief Executive at care home group Homes Together, discusses the importance of supporting the deaf community during international week for the Deaf and beyond. It is currently International Week of Deaf People, which is a chance to celebrate and highlight the Deaf community across the globe. Deafness is a different way of experiencing the world for many people, and in the UK alone 12 million adults are deaf or have hearing loss. At Homes Together, we care for many service users that live with hearing impairments, so know firsthand some of the challenges that these people face in their day to day lives. One thing we believe is that everyone should be treated as an individual, so we look at ways to support the specific needs of our hearing-impaired service users and ensure we’re putting processes in place that best suit the person. Staff training Training for staff providing care for Deaf people is essential for fostering effective communication, safety, emotional support, advocacy, and access to necessary services. Many of our team members are trained in British Sign Language before they start, but we ensure that all our new starters undergo a six-week British Sign Language course that is led by a Deaf instructor – following this is a four-week face to face course with our in-house activities tutor. It’s important to remain informed about the latest developments in sign language, so we also implement regular refresher sessions so our teams can keep up to date. Supporting Deaf people Deaf individuals, like anyone else, have unique talents, perspectives, and aspirations, but they often face communication barriers that can limit their opportunities and social interactions. As part of our wider goal of integrating each service user as much as possible within the community, we take every available opportunity to make use of local facilities and attend events. We think that everyone, regardless of ability, deserves to experience life to the fullest. That is why we provide a wide range of activities to suit every interest and level of ability. Developing personalised care plans is vital when proving a high level of care. We communicate with our Deaf service users regularly to determine their specific needs, preferences, and ambitions and provide the necessary level of assistance to help them achieve this. For instance, our team will provide support in helping to find a job, encourage practicing a hobby (such as waterskiing) and finding suitable groups in the community for exercise, social interaction or whatever else they may be seeking. Wider society While significant progress has been made in the UK to support deaf people, there are still areas where we believe improvements are needed. Here are some areas where more can be done to support Deaf people in the UK: Supporting deaf people is important not only during special awareness weeks but as an ongoing commitment to inclusivity, equal rights, and the well-being of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. It fosters a more inclusive and diverse society where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential.
5 ways to adapt your home for older people with reduced mobility
You no doubt want to make your home a comfortable, safe, and welcoming environment where all your loved ones can spend time with one another. But if you have older relatives who require some extra help getting around, because of reduced mobility — or have recently moved in due to a decline in their mobility — you may be realising that your home could use some accessible updates. Making a few key changes to your home layout and investing in specialist furniture can make the world of difference when regularly caring for elderly people, and can give them back a sense of independence and dignity that everyone deserves. Below, CLH Healthcare share five ways you can start making your home more accessible to all. Start small If you have reduced mobility and want to start creating a more accessible home environment on a shorter deadline or while sticking to a budget, there are a few small changes you can make that will have a noticeable difference. In case you feel unsure about where to start, your local council will offer a home assessment which you can book through the government website. This can highlight potential hazards you may not have even considered, such as the width of your doorways or the height of kitchen countertops for those using wheelchairs. You may even qualify for council funding or grants to help with the cost of these alterations. The NHS has a handy list of smaller household gadgets that can make home life easier for those with limited mobility, and this can be a great place to start if you’re on a budget or can’t make any larger home improvements quite yet. These gadgets might range from slip mats for the bath or shower (or for any smooth surface like tile and linoleum) to hooks or shoehorns that make getting dressed that bit easier. One of the most cost-effective and easily installed mobility aids, however, are grab rails: placing rails in areas where you notice your relatives struggling or slowing down is a simple yet effective way of preventing falls around the house. The bathroom The bathroom can often be the most hazardous room in the house due to the number of slippery surfaces to deal with on a daily basis. One of the first issues elderly relatives may come across is using the toilet, as just like getting in and out of a chair, this requires joint strength and balance that may be waning. Firstly, installing grab rails around the toilet, bath, and shower areas is a must — as well as this, however, you may want to opt for a taller toilet seat (around 19 inches high) to make this transition from sitting to standing easier. Alongside smaller details like larger, easy-to-turn handles for taps, you may also choose to make more significant alterations like converting a standard shower into a walk-in shower or creating a whole new wet room. This will reduce hazards like tripping over the shower threshold or the action of stepping in and out of a bathtub. As well as being beneficial for older relatives, this will make it easier and safer for anyone who has restricted mobility to go to the bathroom, no matter what age group they are in. This is particularly important as having the right precautions and specialist furniture in place can allow them to go to the bathroom unaided, which can help to preserve their independence and self-confidence. The bedroom Good quality sleep is a pivotal part of anyone’s well-being, but particularly for those dealing with health issues or chronic pain. So, it’s important to not only invest in a high-quality mattress but also consider any other care equipment that your elderly relative may benefit from. Depending on the extent of their mobility, this may include a hoist to assist them from their bed and into a wheelchair, or a commode, which is a chair with a concealed toilet to minimise trips to and from the bathroom during the night. You might also install a stair lift if their bedroom is not on the ground floor. The dining room When it comes to the dining room, investing in sturdy, spacious, and easy-to-clean furniture will help to make mealtimes easier for everyone. Try to opt for designs that have integral arms and skis, padded backs, and wipeable materials such as faux leather vinyl, so that your older relatives can enjoy their meals comfortably and with maximum support for their back. Keeping a supply of dining aids in your kitchen such as bendable cutlery with extra grip can also make mealtimes go more smoothly. The living area As a generous portion of our time is often spent in the living room, supportive, mobility-friendly furniture is a wise investment for anyone caring for the elderly. For instance, getting in and out of chairs can often be difficult for older people as their joints become weaker and their balance becomes less reliable. So, when making your living room more accessible for all, a set of rise-and recline-chairs are a great place to start. These chairs have a remote that allows users to both elevate their legs (which is important for those with poor circulation) and raise the chair up at an incline, meaning they are already in a semi-standing position when they want to get up. Again, this can offer elderly people a valuable sense of independence, while also reducing the chance of falls. “If you are caring for elderly relatives or have them visit regularly, making a few key home improvements will help to prevent any accidents like slips and falls. This is not only important in terms of safety, but having accessible features in place also means that your loved ones with reduced mobility can retain their independence and dignity, helping them feel more like themselves. “These home updates can range from small yet effective gadgets to larger investments like specialist furniture or changing the overall layout of a room.
Duo focused on securing another gold medal ahead of the 2024 Paralympic Games
Despite the World Championships not being too far away, the duo who have won 12 of their last 13 races, are looking to ensure they keep up their impressive form on the streets of Paris. Ellis said: “You’re not looking too far ahead. I know the World Championships is close, but you still want to do your best performance here and learn as much as you can. “Looking too far ahead and thinking we’ve got the worlds to prepare for so this doesn’t matter, is the wrong attitude to have. We’re definitely focusing on this, and we’ve put in a good block of work for it.” That attitude is matched by Pollard. He explained: “Looking too far ahead you lose focus on what is coming up and before you know it half the season is gone, and you haven’t quite got the results you want. “So, I think our approach, taking it race by race, gives us the best opportunity to get the best results.” The race offers the duo, who compete in the PTVI category, the opportunity to experience the same course they will go for gold on at next summer’s Paralympic Games and is providing plenty of new challenges. Ellis said: “It’s quite a different event, with swimming in a river, which we don’t normally do and racing on the cobbles, so to have the opportunity to see how it goes and what we need to change and adapt is really positive for next year to make sure we’re prepared for that.” The duo have been at a training camp in France ahead of the racing with of the British paratriathlon team. The pair have found the opportunity a positive one as part of the group that includes fellow PTVI athlete and guide Oscar Kelly and Charlie Harding, and bronze medallist from Tokyo Claire Cashmore. Pollard explained: “I think with it being a newer squad, it’s nice to share what we’ve learnt and hear the experiences they’ve had. It’s nice to share different stuff.” Ellis added: “Having a positive environment always helps. It’s been good. Just getting over to France and getting some decent training in is positive. “The group all together is quite nice, to have different people to train with and spend a bit of time with.” Ellis and Pollard will race on Saturday 19 July in the PTVI category. They get underway at 7:05 and you can watch their race on Triathlon Live. You can view the full start list for the men’s PTVI race here. Photo credit: Jessica Barratt
Edinburgh disability charity to hold summer holiday camp with help from local school
Edinburgh-based charity SuperTroop, which provides residential breaks for children with learning disabilities, will hold a summer holiday camp on the grounds of Fettes College thanks to the school’s generosity. The event is a community effort, with students, teaching staff and the operational team involved throughout the week, meaning Fettes is much more than just a host for the holiday camp. Around two dozen students will give up the first week of their summer break to volunteer with the holidaymakers and help give them support and friendship. Fettes teaching staff also volunteer to organise and support the holiday, with some taking the lead in activities throughout the week. In just 24 hours, Dalmeny House – a boarding house on the Fettes campus – is transformed into the perfect accessible location for attendees to SuperTroop’s week-long camp. Dalmeny House is a modern, accessible building with dorm bedrooms, shared bathrooms and lots of relaxation space. 16 children and young people with learning disabilities take part in the holiday week, receiving 24/7 one-to-one support. Many of the participants have never had a night away from home before. Student Louisa said: “The relationship between SuperTroop and Fettes has not only provided incredible holidays but also a transformative learning experience for us as Fettesians. We all hold SuperTroop dear to our hearts and hope that future Fettesians can continue to support this beautiful charity in the future.” The holidaymakers stay on campus, sleep in dorm rooms with their peers and 1:1 helpers, and eat meals as a group in the dining hall. Fettes provides a high-quality and accessible residence, catering for the week, and facilities such as outdoor spaces, swimming pool and sports hall. Sue Fletcher-Watson, Founder of SuperTroop said: “We are thrilled with the efforts from the students and staff at Fettes College towards SuperTroop’s residential break. Their generosity will make sure that this residential break is truly special for all involved and make for some very happy campers. “SuperTroop’s goal is to provide extraordinary holidays, creating an environment in which holiday makers feel surrounded by friends. The support we have from Fettes, as fundraisers, hosts and volunteers, is vital to provide the best experience possible.” Mr Rhys Rowlands, Director of Service at Fettes College said: “The work that SuperTroop do to bring a fun break to these young people is truly remarkable. Fettes is proud to be able to support this charity in any way we can and help provide a fun summer for everyone taking part.” £10,000 raised from a log-carrying challenge will allow SuperTroop to provide travel, admission to places such as Edinburgh Zoo, fun activities and art supplies for 16 young people. In March, every Fettes College student took a turn carrying a 100kg metal log up and down the school’s drive for 24 hours, taking it in 15-minute shifts. To find out how you can join the troop or lend your support, go to supertroop.org/ Images: Young people with learning disabilities are helped by Fettes student volunteers to decorate cakes on their SuperTroop holiday Images taken by Chris Watt Photography.
Stairlifts for disabled children
As Stairlift Experts, we hear from people every day looking for a solution to assist them in climbing stairs, something we all take for granted. Whilst it’s true that most of us may not need a stairlift until later in life, there are many people who, unfortunately, will. From post-op recovery and stroke victims to those with bariatric conditions, chronic breathing issues and a whole host of other debilitating mobility problems. Stairlifts are not new technology, they’ve been around for decades and for most adults they’re a great solution. But what if you have a child with a disability? Will a regular stairlift be a viable solution? Perhaps. Assuming they’re tall enough for their feet to reach the footplate, big enough for the lap belt to secure them adequately, and able-bodied enough to sit upright, unaided, for the duration of the stairlift’s journey. For most young disabled children, this isn’t the case. Thankfully, there is a solution. Stairlift manufacturers have partnered with a world-leading developer of innovative assistive devices and patient-handling equipment to produce a specialist stairlift complete with a seat designed to hold the child securely and change shape as the child develops. It’s highly configurable and provides tailored support to fit individual needs. It can be adjusted in seat width and depth, and back width and height to ensure a tailored fit with a high level of comfort. Of course, there are other solutions such as a through-floor-lift (TFL) which is the most convenient solution if your child is a wheelchair/powerchair user but this comes at a huge cost and assumes your home has the space to install a vertical TFL. It is crucial to recognise that every child’s needs are unique and comprehensive assessments and consultations with healthcare professionals or occupational therapists are highly recommended when making modifications to the home. By working together, caregivers, families, and professionals can ensure that the home environment becomes a supportive and nurturing space where disabled children can thrive, explore, and grow with confidence. If you are a parent of a disabled child looking for a safe and comfortable solution to assist with stairs or considering a stairlift for yourself or your loved one, get in touch today, we are here to help. We provide impartial advice and can arrange free home surveys to obtain highly competitive quotes. Images courtesy of Stairlift Experts
2023 FA Disability Cup Finals
The FA Disability Cup in association with EE, returns for the seventh edition of the tournament, over 24th and 25th June at St. George’s Park. The finals, which are the largest competition of its kind, ensure players within impairment-specific football have a national FA competition to call their own with a total of six disciplines competing: Partially Sighted, Amputee, Blind, Cerebral Palsy, Powerchair and Deaf. Fans attended the finals and cheer the players on from St. George’s Park and also had the opportunity to visit the Experience Area, where there will be equipment and adaptions to simulate some of the formats of disability football showcased throughout the finals weekend. The Experience Area encourages attendees, and more specifically disabled individuals, to engage and participate in football. The taster sessions are linked to Football Your Way, a ground-breaking plan for Disability Football. Part of the three-year plan aims to grow participation, increase the number and quality of coaches, develop an inclusive and diverse talent pathway, build support for elite players, and raise the profile of disability football at every level. 2023 FA DISABILITY CUP FINAL RESULTS: Partially Sighted Cup Final: Merseyside Blind & V.I FC 1 – 2 Scorpions FC Amputee Cup Final: Everton 4 – 2 Portsmouth Blind Cup Final: Brighton & Hove Albion 1 -0 The Royal National College for the Blind Cerebral Palsy Cup Final: North East and Yorkshire CP 4-0 Norwich City CSF Powerchair Cup Final: Aspire 2-0 Newcastle United Foundation Deaf Cup Final: Farsley Celtic 0-3 St. John’s Full Match Reports can be found from each day: Saturday, 24th & Sunday, 25th All matches were streamed live on BT Sport over the weekend, with highlights being shown on Channel4 and available on 4oD. SATURDAY, 24TH JUNE: DAY ONE REPORT Partially Sighted Cup Final Merseyside Blind & V.I FC 1-2 Scorpions FC It was Scorpions Futsal Club who lifted the first trophy of the FA Disability Cup weekend after an enthralling 2-1 win over Merseyside Blind & V.I FC. Scorpions took the lead after five minutes when an impressive set-piece move and through ball from England international Adam Lione allowed Daniel Angus to score with an exquisite back-hell flick. Captain Tom Lamb, who has been capped more than 40 times by England, said: “It is unbelievable. It is what you have worked for. “Having opportunities like this as a disabled athlete, it is unbelievable. To get this opportunity on this stage, in front of the BT Sport cameras and all the other promotion that comes with it, it is unbelievable for our game and the other disability games.” EE Player of the Match: Tom Lamb Amputee Cup Final Everton 4 – 2 Portsmouth Everton edged a thrilling Amputee Cup Final 4-2 at St. George’s Park’s 3G pitch after a frantic second half. Everton took the lead on 23 minutes with a moment of magic, as Rhyce Ramsden flicked the ball over the defender’s head, Liam Burbridge back-heeled the ball back into his path and Ramsden applied the finish. Portsmouth reduced the deficit moments later when TJ Yates scored following a smart turn but Everton went straight down the other end and made it 3-1 through Dave Tweed. Speaking to BT Sport after the game, Tweed said: “It has been a big week, especially for the England Amputee lads who came back from the Nations League as champions. That winning mentality has come through in today’s performance.” He continued: “We know Pompey and their quality. We came in really relaxed and we have been building towards a performance like this for 18 months now, it hasn’t been a turn-up and take each game as it comes – we deliberately have been playing to create an ethos and a style of play and it is really working.” EE Player of the Match: Rhyce Ramsden Blind Cup Final Brighton & Hove Albion 1 -0 The Royal National College for the Blind Brighton & Hove Albion ensured there would be a new name on the trophy as they beat Royal National College for the Blind 1-0 at St. George’s Park. It was a first half which was largely dominated by two players: Brighton’s Hamad Ebrahim and RNC’s Rainbow Mbunagi. Ebrahim said: “I am happy with my goal. For the defence, it is difficult to secure a victory when you only have one goal, so I am really happy we won. “This is the first time I have attended the FA Disability Cup and the opposition was difficult, so it was tough to score. EE Player of the Match: Hamad Ebrahim All the action from day one can be seen here. SUNDAY, 25TH JUNE: DAY TWO REPORT After an action-packed first day, Sunday saw the return of the 2023 FA Disability Cup with another three finals at St. George Park. Cerebral Palsy Cup Final North East and Yorkshire CP 4-0 Norwich City CSF North East and Yorkshire CP made it three consecutive FA Disability Cup titles with an impressive 4-0 win over league champions Norwich City. Captain Dan Dalby said: “When we were younger, there was nothing like this to push us into CP football. “I hope there will be a lot of young lads watching today who will see this and aim to push themselves through the pathway. “We have North East & Yorkshire level but then you have the England level and you can get paid for playing cerebral palsy football now.” EE Player of the Match: Jack Fox Hockney Powerchair Cup Final Aspire 2-0 Newcastle United Foundation An emotional Jon Bolding dedicated Aspire’s fourth FA Disability Cup title to his deceased father John Snr after he scored both goals during the 2-0 victory over Newcastle United. Newcastle defended resolutely for the opening half an hour as Aspire struggled to find a way through some impressive defending. Bolding, who was wearing a vest with a picture of his father on it, said: “I lost my dad last year and he followed me everywhere, so this is for him and the whole season was for him. “Also the
The social care system is on its knees – a new vision that puts disabled people at its heart is a watershed moment
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive of Sense, said: “For generations, the social care system has been treated as the Cinderella service to the NHS. Barely a week passes without a media headline or report on the crisis in social care, and despite years of empty promises of reform, it’s a crying shame that we still have a social care system that is on its knees – underfunded, understaffed and underresourced. Proposals by the Fabian Society to deliver a new social care service could be a watershed moment for millions, and finally see a shift in how social care is funded, akin to the NHS. “Disabled households up and down the country rely on social care support to get by, with disabled adults of working age making up a third of adult social care users. But for far too long disabled people have been forgotten and left out of the conversation about the care they receive. That’s why it’s so heartening to see the new proposals recognise the struggles that disabled families face, and emphasise how crucial it is that the needs of disabled people are met and that disabled people have a say on all aspects of their social care.” Image courtesy of Adobe Stock
Food price hikes ‘yet another blow’ for disabled people who need to fork out on specialist food
Richard Kramer, Chief Executive at Sense, said: “Further food price hikes are yet another blow to disabled households, who may need specialist food and are already struggling to make ends meet after being hit by a barrage of untenable extra costs in recent years. “Disabled people are particularly impacted by spiralling costs, as many need to spend more on specialist food and are dependent on energy-intensive equipment such as feeding machines. Increased costs have already pushed almost three-quarters of disabled households into debt, and with food prices only rising there is no end in sight. “More than half of disabled families that we supported with our cost of living fund told us they needed this money to pay for food. No-one should be struggling to put food on the table, but that is the grim reality for disabled families up and down the country. It is a total injustice. “Before the cost of living crisis hit, seven in ten people with complex disabilities had less than £1,500 in savings to weather the storm. Now the crisis is worsening, debts are rising and the government isn’t doing enough to help. We are urging the government to recognise the full impact of rising costs on disabled people and bring in a long-term plan of targeted support which addresses the additional expenses disabled people face.” Image courtesy of Adobe Stock Photos