Vehicles

This page looks at personal transport: the Motability Scheme, vehicle adaptations and equipment that may be particularly useful for people with a neuromuscular disorder

Motability
This is an independent not-for-profit organisation, which provides mobility solutions for disabled people. To be eligible you must receive the higher rate mobility component of the Disabled Living Allowance.
Motability offers three schemes:

A new car on a three-year contract hire lease.
A new or used car on hire purchase, over a term of two to five years.
A new or used powered wheelchair, or scooter on hire purchase, over a term of one to three years.

For cars, note that the disabled person does not have to be the driver. The vehicle can be adapted if necessary (controls, seat type, wheelchair accessibility etc). Motability may be able to offer a grant to assist with this; The Joseph Patrick Trust may also be able to help.

See www.motability.co.uk for further information.

Equipment and adaptations that may be relevant for those with a muscular dystrophy

Children's Car Seats

Supportive car seats, which swivel through 90 degrees, making it easier for parents or carers to lift the child in and out. Suppliers include:

DCS Joncare
JCM Mobility
Delichon

A child’s car seat should be provided by Social Services if a special seat is required. They would not provide the type of seat that is commonly available on the high street; parents would be expected to buy this themselves.

Difficulty with sit to stand

Seat Raise to Standing Unit, from KC Mobility. A fold-up detachable seat pad that sits along side the existing car seat. It is powered and will easily lift up to 150kg/24 stones up to a height raise of 18". Visit its website for more information: www.kcmobility.co.uk
Thigh Lift, from Hodge. A small powered detachable seat that can be installed on the driver or the passenger side for use on lower seated vehicles to lift the occupant to a standing position. Visit its website for more information: www.hodgemobility.co.uk

Wheelchair accessibility/getting the wheelchair into the vehicle

You can use either:

Hoists
Ramps

For details, visit the Ricability website at www.ricability.org.uk

Assessments, and learning to drive

There is a network of independent Mobility Centres, which aim to help people achieve independent mobility as drivers, passengers and wheelchair users.

They offer professional, high quality information, training and assessment services to enable people to make informed choices about their mobility needs. This includes advice on choice of vehicle, driving tuition, and the fitting of car adaptations.

The Motability website lists mobility centres. Visit its website at www.motability.co.uk

Ricability

Useful information can be obtained from Ricability, which is a national research charity dedicated to providing independent information of value to disabled and older consumers.

Ricability's work covers a range of areas including reports for disabled car drivers and passengers. These reports include advice on: