As I am sure many people in the UK are aware is the snow we have encountered over the last week. Now this makes things tricky for most people yet alone the elderly and disabled people.

As a wheelchair user I have needed to go out in the snow and brave the elements however the first rule of thumb is not to go our unless you really need to. I had a meeting at a local hotel and before I set off I rang them up to check that the ramp outside the hotel had been gritted before I left.

Transferring from a wheelchair into a car was tricky as the wheelchair was prone to moving in the snow so I needed to make sure that I had a firm grip just incase the wheelchair did slip or move. I also ensured the brakes were on firmly.

The back two main wheels of a wheelchair are fine in the snow it is the two front small wheels that can cause problems and it it is a matter of moving backwards and going in a straight a line as possibble that helped me to combat the snow.

Most people in the UK love the warm weather and the summer. Afterall we are British and we always talk about the weather! However  hot summers can be one the toughest time for disabled and the elderly. I have MS and dread the summer when the temperature gets too hot I stop functioning and start to slow down.

Heat has an effect on the body’s central nervous system and can cause the nerves to fire slower than normal and create that lathargic feeling everybody gets when the temperature rises.

Tips on stayling cool

Stay in the shade – If you are outside always try and stay in the shade. Not only will this stop you getting sun burnt but it will also keep you cooler. The same indoors keeping the curtains closed in rooms that have the sun shining in will keep the house cooler.

Drink plenty of water. In the summer we need to drink more water than we would usually. Keeping bottled water in the fridge can be an excellent way of cooling down quickly. As can eating an ice lolly.

I love to get in a cool bath and use my bath board to assist me in transferring in to the bath to cool down.

Cavity wall insulation will keep your home warm in the winter but it will also keep your house cooler in the hot summer. As the bricks are heated by the sun the heat is not transferred in to you home. Elderly and disabled people qualify for the Warmfron grant and will get insullation free of charge.

Cold water and a flannel are a great way to quickly cool down. Letting the cold water run a little will ensure you are getting colder water and placing the flannel on your forehead and neck will make you feel a lot cooler quickly.

Wearing white will also keep you cooler. People in very hot countries are often seen wearing white trousers and loose white shirts.

Keeping an electric fan on will keep you cool, even on the first setting the breeze and movement in the air  keeps you feeling cooler.

And finally the one good part of the summer is the ability to go out on the road in my heavy duty mobility scooter and feel the wind in my hair even though I am only doing 8mph the breeze is welcoming.

Just like with a car; your mobility scooter will stay in good working order longer if you keep it well maintained and get it serviced regularly. Please look at your manual that comes with the scooter to find out what areas are required for maintenance and servicing.

It is wise to have your scooter serviced by a qualified engineer. Especially if it is used on the road, class 3. Once a year is usual, but your scooter’s manual will tell you how regular a proper service should be for your model.

Every scooter is different so it best important to follow the instructions in your scooter’s manual.
We provide a copy of the manual to dowload before making a purchase so you have all the information you need.

Here are some general maintenance tips for your scooter:

Weather protection

• Covers will not only protect you but also the scooter from bad weather.
• Seats sometimes have fabric covers – if so; don’t forget to keep them dry.

Cleaning

• Wash off any dirt and dust as soon as you can.
• Keep you scooter as dry as possible – this will keep rust at bay for the longest time.
• Have you added any scooter accessories that need cleaning, or can dirt or dust build up?

Battery

• Over time you will find you have to charge your battery more and more often. Your battery’s ability to hold charge will gradually decrease.
• Sometimes you need to charge your battery after every trip, sometimes when the battery indicator tells you that it is time. Your scooter manual will tell you which kind of you have.
• Always make sure you have enough battery power for your trip. Don’t forget that lights and whether you are travelling up any hills will use up battery power too.
• Mobility scooter batteries tend to last 1 or 2 years before you need to replace them. This of course will depend on how much your scooter is used.

Tyres

All tyres will wear and tear, inspect them regularly to check they are still safe.

There are 3 types of mobility scooter tyre:

Pneumatic: These are pumped up with air, and can be punctured. They offer the smoothest ride. If you travel on uneven ground – this could be a very important consideration.

If you are using pneumatic tyres, regularly inspect them for punctures and wear and tear. Punctures can sometimes be repaired without needing a whole new tyre.

Solid: These cannot be punctured, but often mean that you feel the ride is harder. E.g. you may feel more jolts as you go over stones or kerbs. This may not be the best option for you if your condition or disability would suffer if you use solid tyres.

Filled: These tyres are puncture-proof. In terms of the ride they produce they are in between pneumatic and solid. The ride will be smoother than solid and harder than pneumatic.

Ask yourself questions like:  Do you use a lightweight mobility scooter or a  heavy duty mobility scooter ?

Do you travel on the road, pavement or in shopping precincts?

Find out which tyre is most suitable for the journeys you most often do on your scooter, and which is best for the model you own.

This article is written by a carer and is a lesson for us all.

When you suffer from an illness or condition, be it Parkinsons, arthritis, MS, a stroke – to name but a few, or you are just getting older and less able, it is everyone around you that has to make adjustments in their life as well.

A partner’s role changes, so does that of a parent, sibling, or child. Sometimes the carer gets forgotten amongst all the things that are happening to their loved one. Your husband or wife may find they are doing more and more for you, likewise anyone else whom you live with. Children can be confused or frightened at what is happening to their mum or dad. Just as life has changed for you, everyone around you is making adjustments and changes too.

Remember disability does not just affect you but everybody around you that loves and cares for you.

Sometimes you can make things easier for your carer, and in turn help yourself too.

Think about how life has changed for your carer. They probably just do things without ever thinking about it. They love you so they just get on with it.
But are they?

• Taking you to more visits to the doctor, physio or hospital?
• Helping you more with your personal care
• Spending more time lifting and fetching things for you?

If they are, there is no need at all for you to feel guilty about this. They love you and would do anything to help you,  just as you would if the tables were turned. My husband needs much more help than he did 5 years ago, much of my time is spent helping him get the quality of life he deserves, and I don’t mind at all. He does as much for himself as he can, which helps him mentally, as it helps me physically.

There are things you can do to make their lives as easy as possible though.

There are some things that become impossible, or just too difficult or painful. Other things can be achieved with a little helping hand. Have a look at our mobility aids, they can take some pressure off your carer and help you keep as much of your independence as possible.

• If you can’t reach the floor, a grabber can mean you can get something you have dropped yourself.
• If you can’t get into the bath on your own, a bath seat might mean your carer is not lifting you as much,
  so placing less strain on their back.
• If you want to visit the doctor and not ask someone else to drive you, a mobility scooter might solve your problems.

The more you do the more in control of your illness or disability you become.

I have had MS for 8 years now. Looking back I was very scared when I first got diagnosed. I didn’t really know what would happen to me in the future, I felt like I couldn’t plan anything and started living day to day. Life changed forever.

My eyes saw double. My legs would stumble and I looked like I was drunk wherever I went. My hands didn’t do what I told them to do. I felt like I couldn’t cope with one more thing going wrong with my body.

Then I looked around me. Things could be a lot worse. I still had my friends and family. I saw people with MS that were in wheelchairs and using scooters. I saw this as a bad thing then. It was a sign that they had lost their mobility. I didn’t see that they were actually doing the best thing for them, and by using wheelchairs and scooters they were reversing what the MS was doing to them. They were mobile again.

My MS got slowly worse and my mobility really began to suffer. I was still one of the lucky ones; I just had to readjust to what my body was telling me. I needed to slow down and take stock of my life. I let go of preconceptions that I had about disability. I found that just by using simple mobility equipment helped me do the things that I used to take for granted.

Journeys to the shops were no longer a chore by using my mobility scooter.  My walking was made easier by using a walking stick.  Thanks to my bathboard I no longer dreaded getting in and out of the bath.

In the UK, VAT is currently set at 17.5% and consumers pay it on goods and services that they buy.

A few things are VAT exempt, like children’s clothes and mobility products when purchased for a person with a disability.

VAT relief and disabled people.

Disabled people don’t pay VAT on equipment that has been designed solely for disabled people.
The product is described as being ‘zero rated’.

This doesn’t mean that anyone can be exempt from paying VAT if they buy a product that is designed for disabled people. For example if a fully able bodied person buys a walking stick for themselves – they need to pay VAT. However if a person who is ‘chronically sick or disabled’ buys the same walking stick, they can qualify for VAT relief, and not pay the 17.5% on the item.

Who qualifies for VAT relief?
The law says that there are 3 ways to be eligible for VAT relief:

• You have a long term mental or physical impairment that hinders you in carrying out everyday activities.
• You have a condition that doctors treat as a chronic illness. For example, this could be diabetes or Multiple Sclerosis.
• You are terminally ill

Using the same example of a walking stick, if you have broken your leg, and want to buy a stick to help you, you would not qualify. This is because your situation is temporary and not long term.

What products are ‘zero rated’?
The product has to be supplied to a ‘chronically sick or disabled’ person and be for personal or domestic use.
The product could be:

• A wheelchair,
• An adjustable bed,
• A stair lift,
• Computer software that is designed specifically for disabled people.
• Gadgets and devices that are designed solely to make everyday tasks easier for disabled people. These are usually called mobility aids  or mobility equipment.
• Vehicles that have been permanently adapted for use by a wheelchair user.

Services provided to disabled people can also be included. For example; adaptations to buildings. However, the rules can be complicated, so it is best to take advice on whether the work is eligible for VAT relief before commencing any work. Also included in this category would be the servicing, maintenance and installation of disability equipment, or it’s adaptation so a disabled person can use it.

When buying a piece of Mobility Equipment or service, either online or in a shop, you need to complete a declaration before the zero rated product can have VAT relief applied. This generally means you need to supply your name, address and whether the item is for you or you are purchasing it for an eligible person. You also need to declare the reason that you (or the person you are buying the item for) are chronically sick or disabled.

As the law stands at the moment, you do not legally have to have insurance for your mobility scooter. There are good reasons to have insurance though:

• In case your scooter is damaged, or stolen.
• In case you cause an accident in your scooter, either to a pedestrian or property.
• We all think we are good drivers, but sometimes accidents do happen.

Mobility scooters can be expensive to buy and they are your link to mobility and independence. Insurance can mean you keep your independence in the event of something happening to your scooter.

Here is some information on mobility scooter insurance.

Types of insurance

• Third Party insurance – covers repairs and damage you have caused to other property/people.
• Insurance to cover repairs/damage to your scooter.

Typical Insurance Benefits – what does all the jargon mean?

• Any Driver – are YOU insured or is it your SCOOTER that is insured? With any driver policies, you can let other people drive your scooter with your permission and they are covered by your insurance.
• Accidental Damage – for example – are you covered if you back your car into your scooter and it is damaged, or if you drop paint all over your scooter?
• Fire Damage – are you covered if your scooter is damaged or destroyed by fire?
• Flood Damage – are you covered if your scooter is damaged or destroyed by flooding?
• Loss or damage caused by theft or attempted theft – what happens if someone steals your scooter either when it is parked at home, or while you are out?
• New for old replacement -  will you get a replacement with the same specification and value of the one you have insured?
• Public liability – if you have injured a member of the public, they may sue you for damages. Does your policy cover the cost of this? Some policies will cover you up to £2million for public liability.
• Get you home expenses – does your policy cover the cost of getting you home after an accident – remember you won’t be able to use your scooter if it is damaged.
• Excess - are you expected to pay the 1st part of any claim?
• No claims bonus - do you get a discount each year if you haven’t made a claim?
• World-wide cover – is your scooter covered for trips abroad?
• Temporary cover – this covers mobility equipment you have on loan while your scooter is being repaired or a new one delivered to you.
• Temporary hire cover – this covers equipment that you need to hire while your scooter is being repaired or a new one delivered to you.
• Storm Damage - does your policy cover any damage caused by storms?
• Personal Injury Benefit – what would be paid out if you are seriously injured or killed? Find out what injuries are covered.
• Personal effects cover – if any of your possessions are damaged or stolen in an accident or incident – are they covered?

Hopefully this list is helpful in understanding what your scooter insurance can cover, remember to always shop around to find the best deal for you.

As a young person with a disability it annoys me when I see businesses, especially online that do not offer services to disabled people. Life is hard enough with a disability without the need to look at complicated websites.  I spend most of my money shopping online as it is a lot easier for me than going to the shops. I am sure I am not alone! – However there are only a few websites that are easy to use and cater for disabled people.

Here is some food for thought…………..

• 1 in 3 people in the UK are disabled or close to somebody who has a disability.
  [Source: Office of National Statistics Census 2001]
• 10 million disabled people live in the UK with a combined annual spending power of over £80 billion
  [Source: DWP 2004]
• UK’s 50 to 70 year-olds currently runs at £300 billion a year, and this group buy more designer fashion, premium cars, and other expensive goods than any other group.
  [Source: The Guardian]
• 33% of people in the UK aged 50 – 65 have a disability; 42% of people over 65 have a disability.
  [Source: Labour Force Survey, Autumn 2005]
• 67% of disabled people choose businesses which are good at serving disabled customers
  [Source: Employers' Forum on Disability customer survey, 2006]

So to conclude…….

It makes sense for business to fully include disabled people like myself – a wheelchair user. They have a spending power of over £80 billion and taking a person’s disability into account is not only important it is essential!

Here is a list of things you need to know when using a scooter on the road.

• Scooters that can be used on the road are known as a Class 3 ‘invalid carriage’.
• On the road scooters  can travel at a maximum speed of 8mph.
• If used on footpaths, the maximum speed is 4mph.
• A class 3 vehicle must be registered with the DVLA.
• For a class 3 vehicle you need to have a tax disc, but this is free of charge.
• You have to be at least 14 years old to drive a Class 3 mobility scooter.
• If you are using the road, follow the rules that other road users follow. This means road signs and traffic lights. Use your scooter’s lights, indicators, and horn.
  Take other road users and pedestrians into account.
• Never drive your scooter on the motorway.
• Insurance is not required for mobility scooters, but it is recommended.
• You do not need to pass a driving test to use a mobility scooter on the road or pavement.
• Keep your scooter roadworthy and well maintained.
• If you have a Class 3 scooter, use the pavement if possible.
• If you are using the pavement, follow the rules that other pedestrians follow (or should follow).
• Pedestrians have priority. Remember not all pedestirans will see you. People with a sight or hearing impairment, or other elderly or disabled people might not be aware you are there, and they may not move out of your way.

We hope that this list provides some useful points for on road users of mobility scooters.

Anyone is allowed to ride a mobility scooter, and most people drive with courtesy to other people, and drive safely. However do you always drive with safety (yours and other peoples) in mind?

Here are some tips for driving safely in your mobility scooter.

The right scooter.
Is your scooter ideal for your needs? You don’t want one that is too big or too small for you. Get professional advice before you buy your scooter – your doctor or occupational therapist will give you sensible, impartial advice on what you need.

Do you know exactly how to drive your mobility scooter?
It may sound obvious, but make sure you learn about all the controls on your scooter, before you set off for the first time. The controls are simple, but you need to know how to stop, start, change speed, and turn properly.

Maintenance
Is your scooter in top condition?

The battery needs to be charged in advance of using your scooter.

Keeping your scooter clean and dry will help keep it free of rust and grime.

Always get it serviced by a reputable engineer. Many maintenance engineers will service your scooter in your home, so you don’t need to be without it.

Insurance and your scooter.
At the moment, you do not need to have insurance for your mobility scooter. However it is a good idea to get it insured. Whilst most of us drive carefully, accidents do happen.

3rd party insurance will cover you if you injure someone else while on your scooter, or will cover other property if you cause an accident. Comprehensive insurance will cover you if your scooter needs repairing if you cause an accident.

Fire theft and damage insurance would also be useful – you don’t want to be left out of pocket and unable to get out and about if something happens to your scooter.

Planning your journey.
Carefully think about where it is you are going. A route you use by car or on foot may not be the safest or best route on your scooter. Think about whether there are any obstacles or hills on your journey. Sometimes a different way might be better.

Drinking and driving.
You can be arrested for being drunk in charge of a carriage.

To be safe on your mobility scooter; it makes sense that you have not used drink or drugs before hand. Remember about your prescription drugs too. Some of these may inhibit your judgement, and make driving unsafe. Do not use your scooter if you have taken medication that may make you drowsy.

Your mobility scooter may not go as fast as a car, but you can still cause serious damage to other road users and pedestrians.

Bags and clothing.
Don’t overload or hang bags from your scooter. Likewise with your clothes. Don’t wear anything that is loose or could get caught on something. Wear bright clothing, reflective or florescent clothing is best. Be visible at all times. (Use the lights on your scooter – this will help other road users see you.)

Passengers.
Don’t carry any passengers on your scooter. Not even a child.
Even well behaved pets can be a danger. Don’t carry them on your scooter or have them on a lead off your scooter.

Driving on the pavement.
Some scooters are designed to be used on the pavement – but remember - pedestrians have the right of way.

Always make sure your scooter is set to a maximum speed of 4mph when you are on the pavement. Drive slower if there are pedestrians about, you are in a shopping area or a shop.

Driving on the road.
Scooters that can drive at 6 or 8mph are allowed to drive on the road. However you must also have lights at the front and back, indicators and a horn.

You must be extra vigilant when using the road on your scooter. Other traffic will be going faster than you, and may not have much patience with a slow vehicle like yours. Always make sure you have enough space and time for any manoeuvre you need to perform.

Take care when crossing roads or going up and down curbs. Try to cross roads where there is a dropped curb, or a pedestrian crossing. Always approach curbs at a right-angle, this will keep your scooter more stable.

Remember you are not allowed to use bus or taxi lanes, motorways or cycle tracks.