Thousands benefit from extended Blue Badge scheme
Thousands of people with Parkinson’s, dementia, epilepsy and other “invisible” disabilities have gained access to the benefits from Blue Badges under new rules introduced last summer. In the first three months, new figures show, 12,299 new badges – around 130 a day – were granted to people who cannot walk as part of a journey without considerable psychological distress or the risk of serious harm, as well as to people with a non-visible disability. The new rules, introduced by the Transport Secretary, Grant Shapps, in August, widened the eligibility criteria to ensure that people with “invisible” disabilities are not disadvantaged. The badges help people access shops and services, by enabling them to park closer to their destinations. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: “People with hidden conditions like these have to fight not just their disability, but the psychological worry that others may not recognise them as disabled. “I’m proud that our reform is already changing thousands of people’s lives, allowing those in need to carry on their daily lives with more confidence and helping combat loneliness and isolation.” Ahead of the change, the DfT issued new guidance to councils in England on Blue Badge parking permit eligibility, and launched in August a new online eligibility checker to make the scheme clearer for people before they apply. While the new criteria gives clear and consistent guidelines on Blue Badge eligibility for the whole of England, not everyone with non-visible disabilities will qualify for a badge. Local authorities decide if an applicant meets the eligibility criteria, as is currently the case. The Blue Badge scheme had already meant that people with physical disabilities can park closer to their destination than other drivers, as they are less able to take public transport or walk longer distances. Keith Richards, chair of the Disabled Persons Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC), said: “DPTAC has worked hard to bring the issue of non-visible disabilities to the fore. Enabling those with non-visible disabilities to benefit from a Blue badge will bring a critical improvement in the lives of many disabled people and it is right that the criteria was changed. “We have stressed the importance of enforcement of the scheme and we are pleased to see the number of prosecutions increasing.” Abuse of the scheme on-street is something that local authorities have been cracking down on and the Department has given them the powers to seize badges on-street when they are being misused. At the end of 2018, the Local Government Association estimated that the theft of Blue Badges had risen by 45 per cent in 12 months and was up six-fold since 2013. Latest statistics from DfT show prosecutions for blue badge misuse in England have risen 17.9 per cent in 2018/19, with almost all of these being instances where someone used another person’s badge – typically family members or carers. Samantha Tomlin, whose son Henry has autism and has a new Blue Badge, said: “The key thing with the Blue Badge is that is has increased safety and reduced anxiety for the child and their carer. “For a parent or carer of someone with ASD, some of the most challenging times are the most mundane for others. A child with sensory difficulties can be triggered by a car horn or lights – and even road awareness can also be an issue – so going to a new location can be very stressful. “When my son was younger sometimes I didn’t go out because I just couldn’t face trying to find a safe place to park near the shop or doctors. “Having the Blue Badge just makes you feel slightly less anxious about the situation and feel your child is safer. “It will make a huge difference to parents going through the early years and those with older children and adults that suffer with all the challenges autism brings.” Councils may need to review on street parking provision to increase the number of spaces, both in terms of the availability of disabled parking, and the overall number of parking spaces if disabled spaces take up other existing parking spaces. To help councils with the expected increase in applications, the department has agreed with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government to provide £1.7 million to local authorities in England in the first year of the programme.
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal visits specialist autism service
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal has visited Essex to mark the start of a campaign to raise funds towards a specialist autism service. The new service, spearheaded by the national learning disabilities charity, Hft, will provide a specialist environment specifically for young adults with complex needs and on the autistic spectrum, who are moving out of assessment and treatment centres to more independent living in the community. The royal visit on Wednesday 27 November, marked the launch of the fundraising campaign which will be used to part-fund the build for the specialist service. Everything about the development has been carefully designed to meet the sensory needs of people with autism, to keep them safe, and minimise their anxiety. The new service, which has been designed in consultation with people with autism and those who support them, will incorporate a range of personalised technology to support people to live as safely and independently as possible. Staff working at the service will also be given specialist training to support people with complex needs and autism to learn essential life skills that will help them build their independence. The Princess Royal, who is a dedicated Hft Patron, spent time at a reception, attended by more than 90 people, at Sworders Fine Art Auctioneers in Stansted Mountfitchet to find out more about the project. This included being shown a video walk through of the development which would consist of six homes which each have bespoke sensory environments. At the event Hft Chairman Baroness Judith Jolly talked about Hft’s experience in supporting people with complex needs and autism and the local need for this type of specialist service. Keith May, Divisional Director for Hft, provided more information about the development, as well as discussing the future local impact of the project. Her Royal Highness spent time meeting guests, which included Hft trustees, family members, patrons and local dignitaries, as well as the project’s architects and consultants and prospective donors, trusts and foundations. Vanessa Edwards, Hft’s Director of Fundraising said: “We were delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal and share our plans for this essential specialist service. “There are too many young adults living in environments unsuited to their needs. Through this project we are creating purpose-built homes and a supported living service where people can gain some independence and have the freedom to make choices about how they want to live. “Today’s royal visit marks the start of our campaign to raise the remaining funds for the build which will help us open the door for young people with autism to live the life they choose.” For further information about the development or to donate to The Orchard Project appeal please visit www.hft.org.uk/theorchard
Hightown supports resident land their dream job
According to the United Nations, more than one billion people, approximately 15 per cent of the world’s population, live with some form of disability. Care and support staff at Hightown Housing Association are passionate about supporting service users feel confident enough to strive for their personal goals. Mimi’s story Thanks in part to the support of staff at Hightown, a supported housing resident secured a part time job at Heirs and Graces Day Nursery in Tring working as a Teaching Assistant. Mimi has Cerebral Palsy and is a wheelchair user who lives at one of Hightown’s supported housing schemes in Tring for people with physical and learning disabilities, as well as mental health issues. Having only ever lived with her family, she decided to move to the scheme to gain more independence. Mimi has her own self-contained flat with a kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and living room. Each resident has a personalised support plan to help reach their full potential, build confidence and make decisions regarding their life. During her time looking for local volunteering opportunities, Mimi found that some buildings had limited accessibility for wheelchair users. As a result, she was in some cases unable to progress past an initial meeting. Heirs and Graces Nursery is fully accessible. They have recently renovated their entrance, including an access ramp and hand rails. Mimi has qualifications in English, Maths and Children’s Development. Instead of offering Mimi a volunteer role, the staff at Heirs and Graces were so impressed that they offered her a paid position working two days a week. She will be helping children aged 2 – 3 years old. Mimi had support from staff at the scheme when first making contact with local schools and nurseries. Mimi said: “The staff are friendly and chatty and always on hand to help if needed. They supported me in my search for a volunteering role by asking local nurseries and schools and getting contacts for me to meet with. To be offered a paid job out of it was a lovely surprise!” Since starting her Teaching Assistant role in summer, Mimi has flourished. She loves working with the children and is thrilled that she was given the opportunity to join the Heirs and Grace’s staff team. Mimi now makes trips into the town centre independently, which she did not do when she first moved into the scheme. She also volunteers with ‘The Inclusion Project’. The project runs activities to promote a healthy, social and active lifestyle for adults with learning disabilities. The aim is for people with learning disabilities to be immersed into the local community. Find out more
Electric vehicles and disability – what are your options?
Many new cars for sale in the not-too-distant future will be electric vehicles, with a complete ban on conventionally-fuelled new cars being mooted as soon as 2030. But what does this mean for people with a disability, asks UCan2 editor Victoria Galligan… You’ve been there – it’s dark, cold and windy outside and you need to stop for fuel. Not only that, but if you need to get your wheelchair out of the car, or have another walking aid to negotiate, if you have trouble using the pump or if there’s a long walk to the shop to pay for fuel then you’re going to be spending more time than is comfortable outside in the horrendous British weather. Wouldn’t it be easier if you could refuel from the comfort of your own home? Or while you were at work? Well nowadays of course you can – thanks to electric vehicle (EV) charging. But is EV charging going to be easy for disabled drivers? You may not fancy buying a brand new electric car right now – but in the next decade or so you probably won’t have a choice. And thankfully some of the negative aspects of running an electric car – such as a lack of EV charging points throughout the country, the need for accessible EV charging bays and the higher forecourt price of electric-powered cars compared to petrol- or diesel-powered models – are, slowly but surely, being addressed. Here, I hope to answer some of the questions you might have about owning an electric vehicle. Are there savings to be made? The forecourt price of electric cars is clearly higher than the price of a conventional car at the moment – but this shouldn’t put you off. As well as the environmental benefits and the convenience of EV charging at home, there are also savings in running costs to be considered, too. We at UCan2 have often highlighted the high price of having a disability – from loss of earnings to the need for adaptations – so saving a cool grand a year on average would be a huge bonus and would certainly make up for the price difference in models when purchasing a new car. £1,000 is how much Pod Point say you could save when running an electric car – including reduced fuel bills, an exemption from road tax and congestion charges, and savings which can be made on general maintenance compared to conventional cars. Do I have to buy an electric car? Certainly not – at the moment. But electric cars are quieter, cleaner and greener and we’re all going to need one soon when the government’s zero-carbon pledge starts drawing nearer. The government announced last year that two-thirds of cars on the road would need to be electric by 2030 to meet the ambitious CO2 reduction target – although the independent advisory panel, Committee for Climate Change, said that this would not be enough and recommended instead that the government should announce a complete sales ban on conventional vehicles starting from between 2030 and 2035. Can I buy an electric vehicle under the Motability scheme? Yes. There are electric cars which you can buy if you receive the Motability benefit – these include: • Smart ForTwo • Smart ForFour • BMW i3 • Hyundai IONIQ • Renault Zoe What about hybrid cars? For those who find it difficult to use an EV charging point regularly or take particularly long journeys, a hybrid can be a great option. There are many hybrid models on offer under Motability, including: • Suzuki Ignis • Suzuki Swift • Hyundai IONIQ • Hyundai Tucson • Kia Niro • Toyota Prius • Toyota Yaris • Toyota Corolla • Toyota Rav 4 • Mini Countryman • Ford Mondeo • BMW 2 Series • Honda CR-V • Mitsubishi Outlander Is charging at home is cheaper? Where to charge an electric vehicle is another dilemma people face when they first buy an electric vehicle. Amazingly, around 200,000 ultra-low electric cars were on the road at the end of Q4 2018. And in July, England became the first country to plan on insisting that all new-build homes have an EV charging point fitted as standard. It costs around £8.40 for a full charge at home (based on a 60kWh battery, with a 200-mile range). A rapid charging point at a service station, in comparison, would cost around £13 for an hour-long, 200-mile charge. Of course, you’ll need an EV charging point installed at home to power up your electric car. You can get help towards the cost of installing one with a government plug-in grant from the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV): owners of category 1 vehicles, which are classed as “ultra-low emission vehicles” by the government, are eligible for £3,500 in OLEV funding. And the best part? You do not need to do anything if you want to buy one of these vehicles – the dealer will include the value of the grant in the vehicle’s price. If you buy a category 2 or 3 car, you can still get up to £500 towards installing an EV charging point thanks to the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme. Check which models are eligible for which grant at gov.uk. And remember your home electricity now increasingly comes from renewable sources. Fossil fuels are being overtaken by green alternatives when it comes to electricity supply – Carbon Brief reported in October that, for the first time, the UK’s windfarms, solar panels, biomass and hydro plants generated more electricity than the combined output from power stations fired by coal, oil and gas. Where else can I charge up? It’s not just houses which are providing electric vehicles charging points – many fuel stations, workplaces and public facilities are now striving to offer them too. Some workplaces and public sector buildings will offer this for free – some have introduced new electric vehicles charging points with a limited period of free charging – but expect to pay in a
Mo O’Brien to become the first deaf person to row across the Atlantic Ocean
The ReSound dedication to celebrating the accomplishments of people with hearing loss and helping them achieve more will be taking to the high seas in December, supporting an inspirational all-female rowing team: the Oarsome Foursome. The team will not only take on the “world’s toughest row” over 3,000 miles of open water, they also plan to sail into history, as rower Mo O’Brien aims to be the first deaf person to row in a boat across the Atlantic Ocean. The Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge is a daunting challenge for anyone – and an inconceivable idea for many. More people have climbed Mount Everest than rowed across the Atlantic in a boat.[i] It is a unique, serious, stamina-questioning endurance test. Any person who takes on the challenge needs to have their wits about them and their senses working optimally. The stakes are much higher when attempting this challenge with a profound hearing loss, as is the case with the Oarsome Foursome’s Mo O’Brien. Deafness presents many challenges at sea. A person with profound hearing loss will have extreme difficulties hearing sounds in every direction, especially in wind noise, getting a true sense of space and filtering out distracting background noises to hear speech and instructions clearly. Why embrace such a challenge? Overcoming many hurdles in life due to profound hearing loss and suddenly being able to hear better by wearing ReSound hearing aids inspired Mo O’Brien to “do something incredible” and let her confidence and character shine. “My hearing loss has affected my personality in a big way, but I am no longer letting it stop me,” said Mo. “Let’s realise that we don’t need to just exist through this life. You need to live it to the full and fulfil your dreams while you can.” Mo will wear her ReSound high-performance hearing aids during the race to help her achieve her dream. Even in this high-pressure environment, the superlative sound quality will kick into action, enabling Mo to hear 360 degrees of sound even through the wind and rain, crisply, clearly and comfortably as she moves in every direction and talks with her teammates. Mo is free to be fully immersed in the action. “We are proud to sponsor the Oarsome Foursome as they journey over very deep water to achieve a fantastic accomplishment and raise money for charity,” said Christina Molt-Wengel, Senior Vice President, Global Marketing, GN Hearing. “We’ll be with them, especially Mo, every stroke of the way.” The Oarsome Foursome team rowers are Mo O’Brien, Claire Allinson, and Bird Watts, who is Mo’s daughter. Recently, teammate Linda Whittaker sadly had to withdraw from the race due to health issues, but she is still very much part of the crew, albeit land-based. ReSound has granted a sponsorship to the team. The Oarsome Foursome’s other main sponsors are Coldplay, MUTU System, and Crown Records Management. Follow the Oarsome Foursome on Facebook or help them raise funds for charity. Feel their passion and be inspired with their YouTube video. Learn more about ReSound.
Learning disability charity shares insight with Lloyds Bank Foundation
A learning disability charity has shared its research to help upskill a charitable foundation about social care and the issues the sector is currently facing. Billy Davis, who is Public Affairs and Policy Manager at national learning disability charity Hft, spoke to staff members at a training event run by Lloyds Bank Foundation, which funds and supports small and local charities across England and Wales to tackle complex social issues including overcoming problems faced by people with a learning disability. The training encouraged Foundation staff members to grow their knowledge about the learning disability sector and help them to have more informed conversations that ultimately lead to an improved grant-making process. One of the issues discussed by Billy Davis was the funding crisis the social care sector is currently facing. The policy manager drew on Hft’s annual Sector Pulse Check research, which provides a yearly snapshot of the financial health of the sector, to highlight the impact of the financial pressures affecting services that support people with learning disabilities. Last year’s report revealed that more than half (59%) of providers had been forced to close down some parts of their organisation or hand back contracts to local authorities as a means of dealing with cost pressures. Billy Davis, Public Affairs and Policy Manager, said: “Hft has been producing the Sector Pulse Check report, which is the only research to focus exclusively on providers in the learning disability sector, for four years now. In that time, we have gathered a wealth of knowledge about the challenges faced by providers, and the impact this is having on people who receive those services. “I was delighted to be invited to share our research with Lloyds Bank Foundation. I hope that it has helped to shine a light on some of the current issues facing the learning disability sector and the people we support, which in turn will inform Lloyds Bank Foundation when making funding decisions in the work that they do to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities.” Oliver Williams, Head of Grants (South) at Lloyds Bank Foundation for England and Wales, said: “In our current portfolio, we have awarded 50 grants worth £3m to small and local charities across England and Wales which support people with a learning disability. Therefore it’s crucial that our decision-making is informed by experts in the field who work and help those with a learning disability, whether it’s to find work or live with more independence. We’re delighted to hear from Hft’s policy manager, who has really helped us to better understand the social care and learning disability policy landscape in England and Wales.” Hft currently supports more than 2,500 people with learning disabilities across the country to live the best life possible. This includes supporting people with learning disabilities to live independently in their own homes, providing employment services to help people develop skills and experience for work and helping people to pursue hobbies, make new friends and get involved in their local communities. To take part in this year’s Sector Pulse Check survey, visit: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/YDK9NDJ
The truth behind sex and disability
In this day and age, it’s important to remember that sex and relationships do not just extend to traditional male/female relationships. The topics surrounding sex and sexual health should be inclusive of people of all sexualities and body types. Shyam Morjaria, superintendent pharmacist at Nottingham-based UK Meds, is committed to making sexual health more accessible and open to all. Here, he explores and breaks down the myths that surround sex and disability. He said: “Everyone should have equal access to quality sex education, sexual health services and wellbeing support. In 2020, inclusive relationships and sex education becomes a mandatory subject that will be taught schools, but unfortunately, it remains a taboo subject, with there being an even greater stigma when it comes to sex and disabilities. Quite simply, the topic isn’t talked about enough and this means that lots of people are missing out on valuable information and support.” Sex between people with disabilities “More than a billion people across the world live with some sort of disability. This makes up about 15% of the world’s population. Just like the rest of the world, there is no exact formula when it comes down to sexual preference and attraction. Unfortunately, there are a lot of preconceived notions about sexuality and people with disabilities that often put disabled people in a box. “A common misconception is that disabled people prefer to have sex with other disabled people. The problem here lies with assuming a preference. Yes, some disabled people might prefer to have sex with other disabled people, but that does not limit their preference or desire to have sex with anyone they’re attracted to.” Disabled people and relationships “Social attitudes surrounding disability and relationships are often highlighted in terms of capacity, fertility and technique. The topic is usually fixated on and it seems as though we tend to ignore the relational aspects of disability and relationships. But disabled people can have the same happy, healthy relationships as everyone else. As long as all the partners involved are comfortable, safe and consenting, the possibilities of having successful relationships are limitless.” Disabled people and children “It’s reported that between 60-90% of women with disabilities desire to marry and have children. The idea that disabled people can’t have fulfilling family lives is, again, nothing more than a myth. Similarly to desiring relationships, it is a common and normal desire for disabled people to also want to have children. “While the narrative surrounding sexuality and disabilities is changing, there is still work to be done towards normalising the disabled experience for everyone. A fulfilled relationship – as well as the freedom to explore it – should be available to all.” For further sexual health advice, visit UK Meds at ukmeds.co.uk.
WIN tickets for an accessible day out at Biggin Hill Hangar – CLOSED
The Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar is a great accessible day out for those who have a passion for air transport, classic forces vehicles and wartime history. RAF Biggin Hill is the most famous Battle of Britain fighter base – and here you can trace the footsteps of those brave young men who fought from here in 1939-1945. The name ‘Biggin Hill’ is synonymous with the Battle of Britain, when a small band of fighter pilots stood alone against the might of the Luftwaffe, a fighting force greater in number and already proven in combat. From this hallowed ground, young men, with little experience and only basic training, took off to engage this enemy, with the fate of western civilisation resting on their shoulders. Through sheer determination, they prevailed, as pilot Geoffrey Wellum simply put it: “we beat them.” With dedicated tours available, you can learn more about the hangar, its planes and British wartime heritage in a modern, accessible environment. Accessible day out complete with tour of the hangar The Heritage Hangar was founded in early 2011 to house the activities of The Spitfire Company (Biggin Hill) Limited, with the purpose of restoring a single Spitfire. From this, it has grown to the point where it has now a whole squadron’s worth and completed its sixth airworthy example. At any one time, the hangar is a hive of activity with several ongoing restorations. In the past, up-close access to Spitfires has been available to only a lucky few, but now you can take a tour around the facility and see at first hand what goes into putting a Spitfire back in the air, how they are maintained and what is involved in their day-to-day running. There is nowhere else in the world that you can see a squadron’s worth of Spitfires up close all year-round and all the restoration work that supports their continued operation. A facility dedicated to putting aircraft back in the air, Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar has several more projects under restoration. As well as up to 13 Spitfires on-site the hangar has a 1940 Hawker Hurricane and Battle of Britain veteran Messerschmitt 109 on view. Spitfire Restoration Hangar Tours of the facility are available on regular weekdays and Saturdays for £39, led by a knowledgable guide. You can also sit in a Spitfire for an additional charge of £30 and have the controls explained in detail. Group sizes are deliberately kept small, with typically no more than ten people in each, ensuring that visitors can enjoy close, unhindered access to the iconic Spitfire in an unmatched historical setting. Please be aware that this is a working hangar facility on a live airfield with loud machinery sometimes in operation, so is not suitable for the very young or pets, however wheelchair access is very good, with no steps to negotiate. Situated within the M25 in Kent, Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar has two large hangars – both of which are wheelchair accessible and parking is available right outside the front doors. There is also a ramp providing access between the two hangars and all the tour routes can be negotiated by manual or electric wheelchairs. For more information and to book your accessible day out see the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar website. You can WIN a prize of four tour tickets which Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar is kindly donating to UCan2 readers. The tickets are for the ‘Spitfire Tour’, RRP £39 each. Alternatively, ‘Sit in a Spitfire’ is available as an upgrade on the day for an additional £30 per person. To enter the competition, click on the Rafflecopter link here: a Rafflecopter giveaway *The administrator of this competition is the UCAN2 magazine (“administrator”). 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Should you convert to an automatic car or buy new – 2019
Automatic cars are as popular as ever, and they can often be easier to dive if you’re living with a disability. So, if you currently have a manual and you’re thinking about switching, should you buy a new automatic car or convert your vehicle? Here, Mark Barclay from GSF Car Parts gives his advice to help you decide. The number of automatic cars on Britain’s roads has increased by around 70% since 2007, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (as reported by The Telegraph). But why are they so popular? An automatic vehicle contains something called a torque converter, which transfers the power from the engine to the transmission. It takes the place of the clutch pedal in a manual and, because you don’t need to manually change gear, drivers across the UK are preferring the ease and safety with which they can drive an automatic. And, for people living with a disability, not having to press the clutch pedal or even move the gear stick while driving can make things a whole lot easier. With automatic transmission becoming increasingly more popular in the form of electric and hybrid vehicles, it’s likely that manual cars will disappear from the UK’s roads in a matter of years (RAC). So, if you haven’t already, you should make the switch. But if you currently have a manual, how can you change to an automatic? Buy new Trading your car in for an automatic model would be the easiest choice, and you’ll have the added benefit of some more modern technologies and extra perks that are only available in newer car models. But often automatic cars can be more expensive to buy than a manual vehicle, even if you buy second-hand. And, if you already have modifications made to your car, like a people lift or wheelchair hoist, you’re going to have to reinstall them which could end up costing you even more money. Convert to automatic Converting a manual car to an automatic is quite a common modification for people who have disabilities that can affect their mobility, which could make manual driving a challenge. But a full modification could also prove difficult and could be more expensive than buying a new car.Because automatic cars are controlled through an internal computer, your car’s existing computer will need to be removed, replaced and rewired as part of the conversion process. This is why older cars are often easier to convert to automatic, since they tend to have much fewer computerised parts. A mechanic will also need to replace the gearbox console and engine control unit, remove the manual clutch system and install the automatic transmission, among other things. Opt for a semi-automatic Converting to an automatic can be an extremely complicated and specialist process. That’s why it can often be a better option to convert to a semi-automatic, which uses the same computers as an automatic in the place of a clutch pedal, but all the other manual components can remain. This means that you’ll be able to switch gears manually with the gear stick, without having to use the clutch pedal. Because fewer components need to be removed or replaced, the conversion process to turn your manual into a semi-automatic is often a lot easier and cheaper to carry out than if you were to convert to a fully automatic transmission. However, the movement from one gear to another isn’t as smooth as in a fully automatic or manual vehicle, so you may want to consider a dual-clutch transmission, which uses one clutch to control even-numbered gears and another to control the odd numbers. This allows for a much smoother transition and doesn’t require a clutch pedal, so this may be the best option if you want to keep all your other modifications but remove the clutch. Making the switch to an automatic could be a lifechanging move if you’re driving with a disability. Whether you choose to buy a new car or convert your current one, the tips in this guide will help you decide which option is the best for you.