Disability now. November 1991.

28 Pages·1991·14 MB·English

by  The Spastics Society

NOVEMBER 1991
85p
Councils: you
This month
4-5
PARTY CONFERENCES
can run but
Who cares most?
7
INVESTIGATION
The £99 car
8 you can’t hide
EUROPE
Accessible buses
10
MOTORING
Scottish Mobility Councils are expecting a rise in legal challenges from
Roadshow disabled people disatisfied with their services after a
Hereford man won his legal fight for a full-time carer.
11
PROFILE
The man, in his thirties and He also claimed the author-
Richard MacCormac,
cared for at home by his ity’s actions were in breach of
RIBA president
mother, alleged that Hereford the provision requiring “ade-
13 and Worcester County Council quate staff” set out in the
LIVING
were acting illegally by refusing Local Authority Social Services
A family at war
to provide him with a full-time ActalL OK
14-16 carer on the grounds that the Mr Clements said: “If a
NAIDEX authority could not afford one. council has assessed someone
DN sends in the experts The man, who does not wish and are satisfied they need a
to be named, was granted leave service, it can’t escape its statu-
17
FASHION to mount a High Court chal- tory duties by pleading
Stormy weather style lenge by Mr Justice Brooks in poverty. Hereford and Worces-
September. But the case was ter Council was in breach of its
settled out of court last month duties because it has been mas-
when the council agreed to sively and illegally under-
Pop art, London film
provide the man with the care staffed.”
festival, Toulouse Lautrec
Conservative Peter Smith from Rugby, a strong supporter he needs. Laurie Gregory, the coun-
23-27 of anti-discrimination legislation, met the PM John Major The man’s solicitor, Luke cil’s assistant director of social
CLASSIFIEDS at a Blackpool reception. “We must not forget what Mrs Clements, alleged that the coun- services, said the authority had
Thatcher achieved,” he told DN. See page 5. EVENING STANDARD
cil had failed to meet its statutory agreed to provide the man with
obligations under the Chronically the carer, plus compensation
Barnhill Sick and Disabled Persons Act and costs.
1970 to provide adequate services He said: “We never disputed
" My wife and I go for disabled people. Continued on page 3
loses its
The forgotten people
everywhere fogether -
she’s the most important last fight
person in my life..."
Visually impaired people same time very worrying.”
are Britain’s “forgotten The survey found there are
Parents fighting to save minority”, living in poverty almost a million visually
their children’s integrated and isolation with little impaired people in Britain -
school have lost the last hope of finding a job, says three times more than official
battle to take it out of coun- the first national survey of estimates.
cil control. It will now close their needs. Of these, only a quarter are
in 1993. The Royal National Institute officially registered as visually
Conservative councillors say for the Blind survey, published impaired. Yet, as the survey
there are not enough pupils to by HMSO, was five years in shows, registering is the vital
keep Barnhill Secondary the making and is based on “trigger” for specialist help.
School in Hillingdon open interviews with 595 visually For example, 73 per cent of
(DN, January). Only 340 of its impaired people. registered visually impaired
900 places are filled. It reveals that four out of people have a white cane, but
"that’s why | Parents of the school’s 15 five blind people do not have a only 8 per cent of non-regis-
disabled pupils say there is no job, and more than half of tered people have one.
chose Chairman." other local school to match blind and partially sighted peo- In some instances, visually
Barnhill, which has had over ple without work have not had impaired people fared worse
£500,000 spent on making it -a job for five years or more. than disabled people in general.
Dial 100 Freefone Chairman Cars
accessible. Fifty seven per cent are liv- The 1989 Office of Population
or telephone [phone] After months of campaigning ingerat. thé: vextremesonof Censuses and Surveys report
parents applied to opt out of poverty” with a weekly house- on disability found that 31 per
GOWRINGS MOBILITY council control and become hold income of less than £70. cent of all disabled people
“grant maintained” (DN, July). And 26 per cent of people under pension age were work-
Freepost RG490, Newbury, Berks. RGI3 1BR Under this, the school would who live alone said they were ing. The RNIB has found that
Tel: [phone] get its money direct from the never visited by friends or the same proportion of partially
Government, and its board of neighbours. sighted people are working, but
WeEPeeRPE) MallF SiooA-H EAD governors and the headmaster The RNIB says the findings only 17 per cent of blind peo-
Continued on page 3 are “enlightening, but at the Continued on page 2
i
a RT TIE
Four student firsts. Susan
Knight, Gayle Mason and IN BRIEF
Mark Taylor (sitting) with
(standing, left) Kirsty
White, have just moved
into the only _ hostel Red nose newspaper
designed for disabled stu-
The charity Comic Relief has
dents at Cambridge. Brid-
launched “a major challenge”
get’s, named after the
to young people to produce
daughter of two historians,
their own Red Nose Newspa-
has eight adapted study
bedrooms, a shared lounge, per covering Comic Relief work
bathroom and _ laundry. and issues in the UK and
£600,000 was raised to con- Africa. Deaf people can send a
vert the building and money video entry if they prefer, and
is still needed to buy care visually impaired people entries
services. The hostel is run in braille or on cassette. The
by the Shaftesbury Society.
best will be shown on Going
Applications for next year
Live! next March and featured
to the warden Jenny Fergu-
in the Radio Times.
son, tel: [phone].
More information from Sarah
Pickthall, voice and minicom
071-229 9272.
They’d rather not know
Motability aren’t
Local authorites should provide
services specifically for people
who have multiple disabilities,
says a new report from Action
the only people to approve for Blind People and Sense (the
National Deaf-Blind and
Rubella Association). It was the
first time services had been
our Cars. examined for people with
learning disabilities and sensory
impairment.
The report claims that some
local authorities keep no record
Motability Approval needn’t mean comfort and style @6 YEAR/60,000 MILE STAR COVER POWER-TRAIN
of how many people there are
go out of the window. WARRANTY #6 YEAR STAR COVER BODYWORK
with multiple disabilities so do
Proton cars combine the lot for as little as £6590* WARRANTY @2 YEAR/50,000 MILE MANU-
not know the services they
What Car? magazine obviously agree because Z FACTURER’S WARRANTY #2 YEARS
need. It found some managers
they made a Proton their 1991 Best Value Car of RAC MEMBERSHIP.
feared that if they learnt the
the Year. And for just a little extra, you could enjoy
numbers and needs they would
The qualities that won the award are the top of the range luxury of the 1.5 SE
not be able to meet them.
exactly those that make Proton more than Saloon or Aeroback.
just another Motability Approved car. Driver’s seat height adjuster and fully reclining
A Sense of Worth, from Action
Not surprisingly they feature easy front seats. Electric windows, central locking and
for Blind People, 14-16 Verney
to-reach controls and good all-round electric door mirrors.
Road, London SE16 3DZ.
visibility. Excellent access through four ; Proton have joined forces with. Motability to make
wide-opening doors is also only to be expected, their cars even better value for money.
Church Action
but there similarities with other Motability Approved As a Mobility recipient you will receive more favourable
Church Action on Disability
cars of this price ends. terms when purchasing through the Proton Motability
(CHAD) became an_ educa-
Smooth five-speed gearbox or optional automatic scheme.
tional trust and charity last
transmission is available. With all 1.5 models having power Allin all you'll discover Proton
month. It will campaign to
steering as standard. cars are nothing like other
make churches more welcom- —
There are remote boot-lid and fuel-flap openers, Blaupunkt Motability Approved vehicles of
ing and accessible to disabled
digital stereo radio/cassette systems and award winning similar price, but then you |
people and _ has _ produced
ergonomics. wouldn't want them to be.
booklets and study packs.
The latest Mitsubishi 1.3 or 1.5 litre multi-valve technology There are some 200 caring
for power, economy and reliability at one end, and a vast luggage Proton dealers nationwide able as
CHAD, Charisma Cottage,
carrying capability at the other. (The four door Saloon has a 20 to offer both help and assistance. Visit your local showroom and
Drewsteignton, Exeter, EX6
cu. ft. boot while the 5 door Aeroback, with low loading sill and ask for the Motability specialist. Alternatively phone the Proton
6OR.
60/40 split rear seat, swallows up to 49 cu. ft. of luggage). hotline: [phone] and advise them that you are interested in
The exterior is built with <& the Proton Motability schemes.
The forgotten people
key body panels.
The interior houses POWER STEERING STANDARD ON ALL 1.5’S, Continued from page 1
fabric upholstery, comfortable
OPTIONAL AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.
seats with head restraints and a ple had a paid job.
whole host of luxury features. Nearly 80 per cent of dis-
Conversions are simple. Zs FROM ONLY abled people were able to go
Easy fitment of readily £6,590 out on their own compared
available hand controls with just over 40 per cent of
and swivel travel seats . visually impaired people.
requiring no vehicle modification. Director general Ian Bruce
Every Proton comes complete *For the well equipped Proton 1.3 GE Saloon. said: “It is unacceptable that in
with the STARODRIVE package of MOTABILITY APPROVED the 20th Century nearly one
customer Care warranties. H.PANDCONTRACTHIRE &®& million blind and__ partially
sighted people in Britain
should be facing such hard-
Prato ships.”
A survey of children’s needs
will be published next year.
Wif TRIPLE-VALVE //f
JAPANESE TECHNOLOGY © MALAYSIAN STYLE Blind and Partially Sighted
Adults in Britain: the RNIB
survey, £19.95, RNIB Produc-
LA eect ie DELIVERY AND NUMBER PLATES. GOVT. FUEL FIGS 1.5 GL SALOON CONSTANT 56 MPH 46.4 MPG (6.1LM00KM). URBAN CYCLE 29.4 MPG (9.6L/100KM). CONSTANT 75 MPH tion and Distribution Centre, PO
0 (8.3L/100KM). G.B. MAINLAND PRICES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF GOING TO PRESS. PROTON CARS (UK) LIMITED, WESTERN HOUSE, MIDDLE LANE, WYTHALL, BIRMINGHAM Box 173, Peterborough PE2
B47 6LA TELEPHONE: [phone]. FULL DETAILS AVAILABLE FROM YOUR DEALER. OWS. Available in braille, tape
or book form. Also available from
HMSO, tel: [phone].
Disability Now November 1991
NEWS 3
Society counters criticism
Princess
Staff and users felt intimidated equipment and a partnership to help
by the management at Dares- with a housing association.
bury Hall in Cheshire, a The report made 27 propos-
Cheshire County Council als, many of which have already
report revealed last month. been carried out. Others are to carers
The centre, run by The be addressed very soon.
Spastics Society, has 47 users Welcoming the report, Peter
who are gradually moving into Slarke, the Society’s Regional Princess Anne set about
the community as part of the General Manager for the North improving carers’ lives last
Society’s Threshold Project. said: “We are pleased to see month with two new schemes.
The report found that the that the serious allegations have The Princess Royal Trust for
management “appears to have been proved to be false. Carers aims to increase public
been directive and pressured in “Changes in management recognition of carers’ work and
terms of meeting specific tar- structure and personnel have raise funds for them.
gets and timescales.” There greatly helped to improve the Princess Anne said carers
was a “failure to communicate situation at Daresbury Hall and problems had been “relatively
effectively to staff and _ resi- we intend to monitor progress invisible” so far. They faced
dents” and to “respond prop- very carefully. “tremendous difficulties and
erly” to complaints by users “We look forward to contin- inconveniences” and _ needed
and the grievances of staff. uing our close working rela- services tailored to their needs.
Registration regulations had tionship with Cheshire County The Trust will work closely
been broken, said the report. Council.” with voluntary groups like
But it rejected as “unjusti- Crossroads Care and the Car-
fied” anonymous allegations of *The Society has announced ers’ National Association. It
an “alarming” number of that, in line with its community starts fund-raising in January.
deaths at the centre and found care programme, Coombe The Person To _ Person
Scheme run by Sense, the
no evidence of professional Farm, Croydon, will close in 6
malpractice or inadequate care. months’ time. National Deaf-Blind and
Pindi Johal won a silver in the 50m at the London Special Rubella Association, will give
It praised “major achieve- Where necessary, suitable
Olympics held in September. Over 1,500 athletes took part advice to carers and parents of
ments” of the Threshold Pro- alternative provision will be
in the Games, watched by nearly 6,000 people. Winner of the deaf-blind people over the tele-
ject. manager in obtaining found for the most dependent
Ron Pickering trophy, a 100 metre race run by six athletes at
phone. People can talk to vol-
quality sites, buildings and residents. the opening ceremony, was Kenny Colaine from Brent.
unteers who have cared for
RADAR/DLF merger: full steam ahead Mountain magic deaf-blind people themselves.
Princess Anne said parents
were “the best people to pro-
Members of The Royal Associ- A steering committee from The new organisation will be The .MENCAP _— Gateway vide a listening ear to other
ation for Disability and Reha- both charities has decided a based temporarily at the DLF’s mountaineers (DN, October) parents who are going through
bilitation (RADAR) will vote in “staff structure” and a new offices in West London, until a made it to the top of Georgia’s similar experiences.”
January or February on a name - the Royal Disability place with better facilities for Mount Elbrus in September. The scheme, launched ini-
merger with the Disabled Livy- Association - -has been sug- disabled people can be found. Disaster struck when John tially in the South, will be
ing Foundation (DLF). gested. Dr Adrian Stokes, chairman Collins split his head open. He extended nationwide in 1992.
Yet job ads for the post of RADAR _ director Bert of RADAR’s executive com- struggled on, but Alan Barnes
director of the new organisa- Massie said he did not expect mittee, hopes the merger will had to drop out after develop- For Person To Person, contact
tion appeared last month. there to be any redundancies. be completed by April 1992. ing balance problems. SENSE, tel: [phone].
Disability Now Barnhill loses fight with disabilities currently exist- level, but the staffroom would staff haven’t got the experience
Continued from page | ing in Barnhill School in its stay where it was. to deal with all the children in
proposed new building in Har- Margaret Grindon is search- wheelchairs, and there are no
Published by would decide how the money lington School.” ing for another school for guarantees any of the Barnhill
The Spastics Society, was spent. But, say parents, Harlington Louis, 12. “The Harlington staff will get jobs there.”
12 Park Crescent School will mean a long jour-
But Kenneth Clarke, the
London WAN 4EQ. Secretary of State for Educa- ney for disabled pupils, is built
Tel: [phone]. tion and Science, has said no. on two sites, its sixth form and
Editor Mary Wilkinson He agreed that there were too staffroom are only accessible by
Assistant Editor
many surplus places and that lift, and the teachers are not
Alison Rowat the school should close. trained in disability awareness.
Reporter The letter from the Depart- Conservative council leader
Rebecca Reynolds
Andrew Boff said £10 million
ment of Education and Science
Editorial/Production
said he was: “... satisfied that would be spent joining the two
Assistant
the local education authority sites and making the school
Catherine Frame
would be able to match in accessible to disabled pupils on
Secretary
every respect and nature the one level by 1993. The sixth
Tracy Scollin
Subscriptions level of provision for pupils form would go down to ground
Manager Gayle Mooney
Assistant Karen King Councils can’t hide are very glad to see that this Lift
Tel: [phone] Continued from page 1 man has been given the sup- The DOMESTIC
Advertising port he needs to live in the
Richard Gresham, the man’s need for a carer, it community and hope other dis- - ahead of its time easr seme mes
Kingslea Press Ltd., was just a question of abled people who are not
12 Dock Offices, resources. receiving the services they need v Safest lift on the market
Surrey Quays Road, “We have accepted for sev- will take also legal advice Vv Probably the finest quality
London SE16 2XU. eral years that we don’t have “We also hope this case will lift by far
Tel: [phone]. enough staff but the council make council’s realise that they Carries 230kg (36 stone)
Printed by Cherwell last month agreed to employ an cannot fail to provide a service as standard
Valley Lithographic extra 41 staff in the depart- on the grounds of poverty.” v Whisper quiet operation
Printers, Banbury, Oxon ment.” Rick Lewis, the chairman of Attractively designed
and Challenge Print
He said that the council had the ADSS disability commit-
Management.
also agreed to increase the tee, said more challenges from Superb safety features
Tel: [phone].
ISSN 0958-4676 department’s budget by £2.6 disabled people were @ Spernesvietnitvse turnapdpeirnsgu.r face @ Afluotoor maintfiillc. closing first
million over the next three “inevitable”. @ Only operates when door @ Full half hour fire and
The views expressed in He said:”Directors of social fully closed and smoke seal when lift is in
years to help it cope with the automatically locked. up position.
Disability Now are not new obligations placed on local services department directors B All round sensitive @ Emergency lowering by
necessarily those of The edges. battery from inside Iift.
authorities under community want to provide the best ser-
Spastics Society.
care legislation and the Chil- vices for disabled people but For more details contact
©Co1p9y9ri1g htT he ABC dren Act. are often in a difficult position AX Sotutions Laa@ N1 eRsbeigte ntE vaRonasd , HeCaitlyt,h cLairveer poLotld
Mary Holland, assistant if they do not have the money L3 7BX Tel: [phone]
Spastics Society MBEUMRBO_EFOEF OR RTCA HULEAU TAIUOD NIST director of RADAR, said:”We to provide them.” (A member of the Nesbit Evans Group of Companies)
Disability Now November 1991
4 PARTY CONFERENCES
Parties fight to show they care
legislation; full implementation and enforceable in magistrates Michael Meacher attacked the ple now who leave work to care
CONSERVATIVE of the 1986 Disabled Persons courts which are accessible. record of “nice Mr Major.” for a relative can’t claim unem-
Act; a bill of rights for disabled They won’t get that under a “When he gave up work, ployment benefit once their
people; and the continued pro- Tory government. They will aged 19, to help care for his task is finished - because
Who cares most for disabled
vision of sheltered workshops get it under Neil Kinnock’s father - an admirable thing to they’re told they are “voluntar-
and elderly people was one of
for severely disabled people. Labour government.” do - he signed on afterwards ily unemployed.”
the most hotly contested issues
He urged: “We want to see Mr Meacher was careful to
of the Tory and Labour con-
all these headings in your man- limit spending pledges, promis-
ferences.
ifesto. We want to see you talk- ing only that Labour will
But while the big guns
ing to disabled people and their immediately increase the pen-
fought it out over the NHS, it
groups and representatives to sion by £5 a week for a single
was left to ordinary Labour
ensure that when you come person, £8 a week for a mar-
delegates to push for anti-dis-
into power that we will all ried couple, over and above the
crimination legislation.
share in the ‘new adventure’ inflation increase. There will be
In Brighton, Shadow Health
that Neil spoke about.” no deduction for people on
Secretary Robin Cook fired the
Edith Nicholl from Don- income support, and the link
first salvo by accusing the Con-
caster seconded the motion and with earnings will be restored.
servatives of trying to privatise
set out its second half which Social Security Secretary
the NHS.
included calls for: the official Tony Newton accused Mr
Among his promises were
recognition of British Sign Meacher of promising audi-
the restoration of free eye tests
Language; bi-lingual education ences whatever they wanted to
and giving each council a ring-
for deaf children; support for hear. “Either a lot of people are
fenced community care grant.
families; an end to discrimina- being conned. Or another lot of
In Blackpool, Health Secre-
tion against deaf teachers; a people are going to get clob-
tary William Waldegrave said
state funded national service of bered. In fact it will be both.”
Labour’s privatisation allega-
tions were false: “What they sign language interpreters; the Mr Newton said the Goy-
are doing is setting out quite provision of essential aids and ernment was doing more than
deliberately to frighten some of adaptations; and more subtitles ever to help disabled people
the most vulnerable people in on programmes. and carers. For example,
our society.” He promised Ms Nicholl said there were Home Office Minister Angela Rumbold with RNIB’s Ros 500,000 more people get mobil-
“equal access to free health 50,000 sign language users but Oakley trying out the simulation specs. See “Fringe fizzes.” ity allowance than did so in
care throughout the country, only 101 registered inter- 1979. Overall, he said, social
for everybody, regardless of preters. Both speakers asked No punches were pulled and drew unemployment bene- security for long term ill and
their means.” the signer to stand beside them during the debates on social fit. Twenty four years later as disabled people had risen from
Labour’s debate on rights to get her in the tv picture. But security. Labour’s Shadow Social Security minister he £4.5 billion to almost £12 bil-
and opportunities looked set to although the pictures were seen Social Security Secretary changed the rules so that peo- lion since 1979.
be a damp squib when Shadow in the conference hall, they
Home Secretary Roy Hatters- didn’t get on national tv. Fringe fizzes with new ideas
ley spoke of anti-discrimination The conference voted to
laws to fight racial and sexual accept the motion.
discrimination but left out any Labour MP Jack Ashley,
While the conferences were ballot paper. (Some of them available to all disabled people
mention of disabled people. retiring at the next election,
accused by the media of being voted for the wrong party.) as of right. It says this would
Then Michael Barratt, gen- made his last conference speech
fairly dull, disability groups Home Office Minister take 10 years and require £10
eral secretary of the National a rallying cry for anti-discrimi-
tried to inject fizz into the Angela Rumbold agreed the billion of “new money.”
League of Blind and Disabled, nation legislation. “Disabled
fringe with some new ideas. information booklet on proxy Speaking at the DA meeting
who is himself disabled, moved people simply don’t want char-
The RNIB invited delegates voting, Don’t Lose Your Vote, in Brighton, Shadow Social
a motion which included calls ity. They don’t want to be
to a visual impairment training was difficult to read due to its Security Secretary Michael
for: a comprehensive disability patronised. What they want are
session. Its “candidates cam- fancy background of voting Xs. Meacher said he was commit-
income; anti-discrimination human rights enshrined in law
paign pack” detailed why peo- It is now being redesigned to ted to a CDIS but would not
ple have problems voting and make it more legible. commit himself to introducing
how these can be overcome by, Disability Alliance (DA), in it within 10 years of taking
for example, large print. its new document 4 Way out of power, or even say how far
Wearing spectacles to simu- Poverty and Disability, detailed along Labour would be after
late impaired vision, candidates how to move from the present five years.
had to try and read their own disability benefits system At the Conservative Disabil-
party’s literature, complete the towards a comprehensive dis- ity Group meeting, Minister
proxy vote form, and fill out a ability income scheme (CDIS) for Disabled People Nicholas
Phone FREE on |
Scott said accessibility to
0800 378386 Ext 724
houses, offices, and buildings,
If climbing the stairs has become access to information, and
difficult you don’t have to move SUNGIFT PLC ONLY THE BEST enabling people to maintain
house. A simple to install Stannah IS GOOD ENOUGH their independence and earn a
Stairlift will allow you to glide upstairs TEL [phone] living would be among the “key
or down in complete safety at the DO YOU HAVE WALKING PROBLEMS thrusts” of Government policy
WHY BE A PRISONER IN YOUR OWN HOME. in the next ten years.
touch of a button. It can be fitted in a
JUST IMAGINE HAVING THE FREEDOM TO COME GO AS "YOU" In Brighton, the RNID
few hours to straight or curved
PLEASE. joined the GMB _ union to
staircases and folds neatly to leave the
HERE ARE JUST SOME OF THE FEATURES ABOUT launch a campaign to promote
stairway clear when not in use. Our
SUNGIFT THE ULTIMATE 4 WHEEL SCOOTER the safety of deaf workers.
local home adviser will gladly arrange
It has a “2 year total warranty.” Aimed at anyone working with
a free demonstration and will gladly
It will fold into a small hatch back car. a deaf colleague, the Work Sur-
advise you about finance options. It climbs most kerbs at any angle “ without the
problem of tipping." vival Signs booklet showed
It will climb a 1 in 4 hill. BSL signs such as “fire drill”
It will carry a 28 stone person.
It will go through a 25" opening. and “do you need a doctor?”
It has puncture proof tyres. Mg Jack Ashley was also
It can travel at 8 m.p.h, with a 20 mile range.
Please send It has one simple hand control. given a special “farewell and
free colour brochure _] LAST BUT NOT LEAST thank you” reception by the
Free Demonstration (]
NAME: YOU DON'T NEED A LICENCE TO DRIVE GMB (which sponsors him)
ANY OF SUNGIFTS 3 OR 4 WHEEL
ADDRESS: SCOOTER RANGE. and the RNID (of which he is
IF YOU WOULD LIKE MORE INFORMATION ON THE FULL RANGE OF president). Neil Kinnock was
POSTCODE: TELEPHONE: PRODUCTS, JUST FILL IN THE COUPON BELOW. among the guests.
“SEND TO“ BODY THERAPY In Blackpool, the Spastics
Now Dpelpeats.e 5p8o2s1t, (FnoR EsEtPamOpS Tn,ee deAdn)d ovtoe:-r ,S tHaannntash, SStPai1r0l ift3s BLRim.i ted HAWTHORN HOUSE, Society, the National Autistic
Or phone for a Free brochure. 3 HAWTHORN CLOSE Accord and MENCAP chose
Stannah Stairlifts Limited is part of the Stannah Lifts Group pN11/91 ALLER PARK, NEWTON ABBOT special education as the theme
TQ12 4TG Continued on page 5
Disability Now November 1991
PARTY CONFERENCES 5
Disabled
local govermment debate but and Disabled thought facilities who wears a steel corset, had to
couldn’t get up to the platform. at the Labour conference were be searched each morning in
Apparently, the fold-up ramp very good, and the induction case she set the security alarms
delegates couldn’t be set up because the loop was excellent. His wife, off.
tv cameras were in the way. The highlight of the Labour
Mr Popat, a barrister, is not conference for Carmel Lane of
speak out in favour of an anti-discrimina- Stretford was Neil Kinnock’s
tion law. “I don’t think there is speech, “although I wish there
any such thing as discrimina- were more women up there.” extension, where some of the
Disabled people were among tion against disabled people. I Ms Lane, a wheelchair user, exhibition was, because there
the thousands of delegates who have not noticed it and I very tried to see the debates from were three steps down to it.
made the trip to the seaside to much doubt if anybody has any the balcony but was told this Both parties had signers, and
support their parties. experience of discrimination.” was a “fire risk”. Instead, she the Conservative Disability
This was the fourth confer- At the Labour get-together was given a place beside the Group laid on a free,
in the Brighton Conference MPs in the main hall. wheelchair-accessible taxi for
ence for Conservative Peter
Smith from Rugby. While trav- Centre, Michael Barratt of the She also couldn't — get disabled delegates to use
National League of the Blind Michael Barratt of NLBD. through to the Centre’s new throughout their conference.
elling to Blackpool he had to
fight for a seat in the main
train and not the guard’s van.
He is “definitely” in favour of
anti-discrimination _ legislation
and will push for the party to
adopt it. “Without us I don’t
think it would be noticed. But
we are here and our voices will WHEN YOU
be heard.”
He believes the Tories offer
a better deal. “They do tend to
WANT
carry out better services and
they do have - or they are start-
TO GET OUT...
WE'VE GOT
Carmel Lane: a fire risk:
ing to have - a listening ear
towards people with disabilities WAY IN!
instead of bringing out
promises and not actually car-
rying them out.”
Mr Smith met John Major.
“When I said to him that I was
When the Carchair wheelchair system was
active within the Conservative
created in 1981, its ability to replace a standard
party itself, he was impressed
production car’s front seats revolutionised
and seemed to disregard the
fact that I’m in a wheelchair.” travel for disabled people.
Andrew Popat, prospective
Now, Car Chair Ltd not only offers the unique
Conservative parliamentary
Carchair system, we manufacture and supply
candidate for Bradford South,
came prepared to speak in the the most comprehensive range of rear access
vehicles available in the UK.
Fringe fizzes And even when mobility needs are not matched
Continued from page 4 by the systems on offer, we'll design one for
you. Simply contact us and we'll do the rest —
of their exhibition stand. They
launched a new booklet Special you could, for example, be driving while seated
Children have Special Needs 4 REAR in your own wheelchair.
which shows how the education
system fails to meet the needs Ask for a free no obligation demonstration by contacting our
of children with disabilities.
John Major and Nicholas Scott Mobility Hotline (0323) 440606
visited the stand.
The Disability Manifesto
Group (DN, July) pushed its
Agenda for the 1990s at the
Labour Conference.
The hot issue at both confer-
ences’ RADAR/MENCAP
meetings was anti-discrimina-
tion legislation. The two chari-
ties were publicising — their (4 MOBILITY SPECIALISTS
Equal Voices, Equal Choices: a
charter for disabled citizens (DN,
Quality products
October). MP Jack Ashley and
recognised by
Rachel Hurst of the British
major motor
Council of Organisations of CAR-CHAIR LIMITED, DEPT. DN, FREEPOST (BR1032), manufacturers.
Disabled People (BCODP) HAILSHAM, EAST SUSSEX BN21 1BR. Available through Motability.
spoke at the Labour meeting,
and Stephen Dorrell, Parlia-
mentary Under Secretary for
Health spoke to the Conserva-
tive gathering.
Disability Now November 1991
6 BREAKTHROUGHS
Seeing into tive to encourage banks to easily recognisable, pattern of “The technology exists in pulling this research together
improve facilities for blind and dots which could then be different laboratories and mili- and getting ~=it~—properly
the future visually impaired people, Dr funded.”
Microchip camera on Vibrating pattern is then
Gill said he believed that pow- spectacles images obstacle, “displayed”’ on the wrist
erful VSDs would eventually pattern of obstacle processed Space suit
by computer
Blind and partially sighted supply visually impaired people
people may in future be able to with tactile information about in MS trial
use visual substitution devices their surroundings.
(VSDs) to pick out objects But this would not happen
such as lamp posts, cars and until the 21st century. A space-age cooling jacket and
cashpoint machines. Dr Gill said the “eye” of the cap developed by NASA for
That is the prediction of the device would be a miniature astronauts could soon be used
Royal National Institute for the camera mounted on a person’s to bring relief to people with
Blind’s technical development spectacles (see diagram right). multiple sclerosis (MS).
manager John Gill. “A microchip computer The symptoms of MS, such
Speaking in September at would convert the outline of an vibrated on to a person’s skin,” tary establishments to make as unsteady gait, shaky limb
the launch of an RNIB initia- object into a simplified, but he said. this device. It is a matter of movements and speech difficul-
ties, are at their worst when
conditions are hot. The suit is
said to alleviate symptoms by
lowering the body’s core tem-
perature and improving the
conduction of sensation in
nerve fibres.
Clinical trials on the equip-
PAEDIATRIC POSITIONER ment, which consists of two ice
packs, a battery-powered pump
» Whether sitting, or lying on @ For children, 6 months - 3 years, with and a bag of fluid, will begin
their stomachs or sides, cerebral palsy and motor dysfunction. this month at California Uni-
versity.
» the Tadpole makes B® With colourful modules (and mirror)
™, learning more fun that adapt to prone, sitting and side-lying
for handicapped positions.
children! @ Stimulates curiosity and encourages
the child to take an active role in its
therapy.
@ Shaped for support and ease of PATRICK BAGLEE
movement.
The British charity, Action
H For home or clinical therapy. for Research into Multiple
Sclerosis (ARMS), is also plan-
MEASURING H Comes complete with carrying case.
ning tests at St Mary’s hospital
UP TO THE
in London. ARMS spokesman
NEW FIRE
SAFETY Grasshopper Michael Patmore said: “The
jacket is a very interesting
REGULATIONS
development which we will be
investigating fully.
“The suits were used in the
Gulf War to lower body tem-
The versatile, multi-function mobile positioning system for
peratures and we believe they
day-long use, for children and adults.
could also be useful for people
HM Over 15 different shapes and forms for side-lying, prone, with MS.
supine, long leg sitting, roll sitting and many other adaptive “We have been holding talks
with the jacket’s UK distribu-
positions
tor, Verlink, and will start test-
Mi Padded coaster base maintains adaptive support while
ing the equipment later this
changing a patient’s location.
yearn
M@ Transforms into an active therapeutic treatment system
for vestibular stimulation activities by the simple Eggs to get
addition of the Tumble Forms Log.
screen test
Obviates need for insanitary pillows and foam.
@ For school, home or therapeutic setting.
Scientists are testing a new
method of screening for serious
hereditary conditions, such as
cystic fibrosis and haemophilia.
Soft, washable floor chair for severely The method, called polar
body analysis, lets doctors find
handicapped children.
out whether pre-fertilised eggs
M@ Contour shape for comfort and posture.
carry genetic defects.
@ Small, medium or large. Eggs are analysed before
implantation and only those
M@ Red or blue.
that are free from such condi-
M With separate wedge for upright or reclining
tions are implanted.
positions. So far eight women have
HM Complete with quick-release H-belt and been screened using the
hip positioning strap. method developed by British
and American research teams.
Professor Bob Williamson,
of St Mary’s hospital, London,
Please send me further information on the full Tumble Forms range.
said “The new method has
many scientific advantages. It
Name
PRODUCTS
means we do not have to worry
Send coupon to Camp Limited, about the contamination of the
Product Supply Division Address
Northgate House, sample with sperm, which can
Staple Gardens, make the diagnosis inaccurate.”
Winchester, Hampshire SO23 8ST. He added that the method
Tel: Winchester [phone] was also “ethically preferable”
DN11/91
Fax: [phone] because eggs; not embryos, are
rejected.
Disability Now November 1991
INVESTIGATION 7
Tim Russell £99 car: too good to be true
reports on an offer
that went wrong
Magna Marketing's managing Coventry posted a £99 cheque she was a priority customer ecute Mr Howell over the
A firm which promised cars for director, Eric Howell, to expect to Magna Marketing last because of her disability and Magna affair. It cannot be
£99 a year but failed to deliver a new car by March. November and was told in that they would supply her shown that he was deliberately
them after cashing people’s “When the car did not arrive February to expect his hire car with a car within 13 weeks. defrauding people nor that he
cheques has been accused of I wrote to them and rang them soon. But Mrs Supple, who has was commiting a criminal
preying on disabled people and up several times. I was “When I still had not heard osteo-arthritis in her right leg, offence.
its deal denounced as a con. promised a letter of explana- anything by July, I wrote to was still waiting in March. “It was more of a business
Surrey Trading Standards Magna asking them if their "First Magna claimed I had adventure which, in Mr How-
Office has received 280 com- offer was still on, but never got not posted my cheque, and ell’s view, went wrong.”
plaints from motorists - some a reply. then Mr Howell told me that Mr Howell went bankrupt
of them disabled people - about “If it was a genuine offer [ the firm might have to tem- in Scotland in May and his
Magna Marketing, which is not would not mind waiting, but as porarily close in April because assets are now in the hands of
listed as a limited company at they have not kept me posted I of lack of advertising. But I was receivers.
Companies House. am beginning to think I have assured that if this happened I “The deal has been put on
Magna, a division of Green- would get my money back. hold.because of finanacial prob-
lake Management Ltd, “I can only assume the “I last heard from them in lems," he said. “We were
launched its “Drive Away 90” affected by the recession and
whole exercise was a
last summer. The offer was bad publicity.
mentioned by national newspa- con. It is disgusting "I have already refunded 100
pers, Auto Express and DN that they should prey people but have no more
(October 1990) and on BBC Doris Hyland: “to money. How can anyone call it
on disabled people.”
radio. The £99 cars would throw something at Magna? a con when I've lost my house
carry advertising and be taxed and a fortune?
and serviced by Magna, while tion, but nothing arrived.” been ripped off.” He said the contracts hirers
customers paid for insurance. In June Mrs Hyland decided Kim Hedges and her fiance, signed had made it clear the
DN reader Doris Hyland, to take Magna to court for David Dalton, from London money was to be spent on
from Langport, Somerset, breach of contract and obtained applied for the offer last administrative costs and was
thought the offer was too good a summons from Kingston November and told Magna not refundable unless the deal
to miss and paid £99 last Magistrates Court. But bailiffs they needed the car by March Kim Hedges: no car for her was cancelled within a week
November. could find no one to present so they could go on holiday. spring holiday. "I am sorry these people are
“The offer appeared perfect the summons to as the firm’s When the car did not arrive, worried about their money but
for me,” said Mrs Hyland, an registered office in Church Mr Howell of Magna Market- May, when they wrote to say I have been talking to some
international athlete. “I badly Street, Weybridge, was empty. ing blamed the recession. “He they hoped to have the first interested firms and am confi-
need a car because I have to “We’ve heard nothing from told me the delay had been due batch of cars out before the end dent we can re-finance the deal
regularly train in Birmingham Magna since,” said Mrs to an adyertising slump. I was of the month.” and provide everyone with cars
and travel all over Britain for Hyland. “I can only assume the asked to be patient but I never Magna Marketing has been soon.
competitions. I also thought the whole exercise was a con. It is heard from them again, despite investigated by the police and- “I have tried to keep hirers
advertised car would help to disgusting that they should writing many letters.” Trading Standards officials. informed but it costs a lot of
get me some sponsorship.” prey on disabled people.” Magna told Mrs Enza Sup- Divisional officer, Nick money to post letters to so
Mrs Hyland was told by Thomas Aubertin from ple, from Milton Keynes, that Heirons, said:“We cannot pros- many people.”
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STEREO/RADIO CASSETTE
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* DIESEL WITH 4 SPEAKERS
together with two wheelchair-bound
£9495
3 YEAR WARRANTY
passengers. Alternatively, up to five able-
3 YEAR FULL R.A.C. COVER
bodied passengers may be seated with a
single wheelchair-bound passenger. PRICES INCLUDE DELIVERY, NUMBER PLATES AND £795
ASSUMES EXEMPTION FROM ROAD FUND LICENCE ELECTRIC WINCH
UNIQUE TO All conversions subject to Appendix B of Relief Form £300
VAT and Car Tax as amended in the 1983 Acts.
ELECTRIC TAIL LIFT
CONTACT HOWARD SAMUELS
£1200
OR JOHN LEACH
ALL ASPECTS OF MOTABILITY
CAR CENTRE &To.
CATERED FOR WITH PLEASURE
TEL: [phone]
Disability Now November 1991
8 EUROPE
Accessible buses: when?
At an important meeting in December organised by the London Dial-a-
Ride Users’ Association, Transport Minister Roger Freeman, MPs,
representatives of disability organisations, London Transport and the
Department of Transport will discuss the introduction of accessible
buses. In the first of two articles, Richard Armitage explains what is
happening in Europe. Next month he looks at the UK.
entrance down to about (uniform provisions concerning (Document title: COM (90)
250mm), with an average kerb the construction of small 588 Final).
height of 100mm. A_ built-in capacity public service vehicles) The Social Affairs Direc-
hydraulic ramp at the front and Regulation ECE 36 (uni- torate (DG V), headed by
entrance can then tackle the form provisions concerning the Commissioner Vasso_ Papan-
remaining 150mm for construction of public service dreou, is concerned’ with
wheelchair users, who can vehicles). The Working Party is employment, industrial rela-
board and alight unaided. looking at vehicle accessibility. tions and social affairs, includ-
Belgium’s Van Hool A300 low-floor bus, launched in June. Detailed consideration is being 2. The European Conference ing health and safety at work -
given to raising bus_ stop of Ministers of Transport hence the new proposal.
Ten years ago, if you had asked gleaned from large-scale opera- heights. (ECMT), comprising ministers
the man on the Clapham tional trials. From an operational view, from 19 countries, plus associ- Lobby now
omnibus when it would become In fact, proposals for new the Bremen experience chal- ates like the USA and Japan, It is strange that the draft
wheelchair accessible, _ the European legislation would not lenges the traditional bus oper- approved a Resolution on Directive did not come from
answer would have been: “It’s have surfaced in their current ator’s concern: that wheelchair “Transport for People with the Transport Directorate. Per-
not our problem. We’re not the form if the new European bus users and other slow movers Mobility Handicaps: Access to haps the EC thought a blanket
social services, dear!” Sadly, designs - low-floor, highly (eg a parent with a child in a Buses, Trains and Coaches” in demand for all public transport
too many of today’s UK bus accessible - had not been on the buggy) clog up the system. November last year. to be made fully wheelchair
operators still behave as though streets already. The improvements in access The Resolution called on the accessible would be opposed
the idea is a joke. mean that most ambulant pas- UN/ECE Working Party to point blank as very expensive
However, when you _ look Breakthrough in Bremen sengers take a lot less time to “take full account of the needs and therefore impractical.
across Europe, the picture has Fully-accessible, low-floor get on and off the bus. Any of people with mobility handi- Article 1 of the proposal
changed. It is now established buses were introduced in Bre- extra time taken by the small caps”. It said that “interna- seeks only the “minimum”
that people with mobility diffi- men, Germany, in 1988. minority of “slow” passengers tional regulations should be accessible transport required to
culties form an important part An independent study of the is thus easily compensated for. drawn up as rapidly as possible “to facilitate the safe travel of
of the market for passenger service, commissioned by the to ensure that new buses are workers with reduced mobility
transport services, especially Bremen Tram and Bus Com- Time for legislation designed with low floors, level in order to assist them in gain-
passengers who are disabled or pany between 1989 and 1990, Three key initiatives now going access and no steps inside the ing access to the place of
elderly. There are now working found that the investment in on will, if taken together, bring vehicle”. It wanted the bus employment.”
examples of accessible passen- greater accessibility produced big and permanent changes to industry to takes steps towards The draft Directive is being
ger transport all over Europe, more customers, especially dis-_ all forms of passenger transport improving accessibility “in debated in the European Parlia-
in Germany, Holland, Den- abled people, while the costs of in Europe. advance of regulation”. ment over the next month or
mark - and Britain. “special transport services for The package amounts to a It called for all new rail two, so now is the time to
In Europe the debate is the disabled” decreased, vote of no confidence by politi- rolling stock to be designed and lobby your local MEP.
steadily shifting from whether because they were used less. cians and planners, backed by built to be accessible to dis- When all this will take effect
public transport should be The result: the transport ser- consumers, in the ability of the abled people, and for common is unclear. Proposals put for-
made accessible to how the task vice as a whole was cheaper. public transport industry to international standards to be ward by Labour MEP Tom
will be achieved and when. In Bremen, low floor means create accessible passenger drawn up. High-floor coaches Megahy to implement the
The case for accessible pas- 320mm above street level at the transport services without should have lifts fitted. Directive by 31 December 1994
senger transport has _ been front entrance, air suspension external pressure and regula- This is the first time that a (for new vehicles and informa-
strengthened by the experience “kneeling” technology (front tion. large group of countries has tion and training) and 31
|V isithte biatnhrogom | 1. The United Nations’ Eco- moved towards an interna- December 1999 (for existing
nomic and Social Council’s tional benchmark of public vehicles) have been accepted by
is now a lot easier. Economic Commission for transport accessibility. the Commission, but there are
Europe (UN/ECE), based in 3. In February this year, the still many hoops to go through.
Geneva, has a Working Party European Commission (EC)
There has never been a better range of products available for people on the Gorecaean of Vehicles published a Social Affairs Richard Armitage has worked in
who need more than just an ordinary bathroom, yet choosing it can which aims to harmonise regu- Directorate draft Directive on voluntary and non-profit passen-
still be a headache. Thankfully, Dolphin Special Needs AY: lations for motor vehicle con- “Minimum requirements to ger transport for over 13 years,
Bathrooms can provide all the help, advice and
struction and use in Europe. improve the mobility and the and was general secretary of the
assistance you may need. Our local home advisor will
discuss all your requirements; from a support bar to an The Working Party will be safe transport to work of work- Community Transport Assocta-
adjustable basin. That’s the Dolphin service, taking altering Regulation ECE 52 ers with reduced mobility” tion 1984-1990.
everything, including installation, into account and
making life a lot easier for you.
DUA)LR EALSYE VEL BEANT TH TUC supports employment rights
FC AND SEY XIETN.T RY
The European Commission want to cut costs, cut our stan- He predicted some Gover-
must make greater efforts to dard of living, our safety pro- ments might also weaken their
ASSIST BALANCE. protect disabled = workers’ tection, even our jobs.” employment protection legisla-
employment rights before the He called for measures that tion “so that employees who
European Single Market starts, would give disabled people are injured at work would face
argued Michael Barrett, ener training and access to useful lower pay, or even redundan-
secretary of the National work, at good wages in safe cies. Measures of this sort
LEVER TAPS FOR League of the Blind and Dis- condicions! might extend to abolishing
EASE OF USE.
Fill in the coupon or telephone abled, at a Trade Union Dick Pickering, of the TUC equal pay provision which ben-
Gees conference last month General Council argued that efits people with disabilities.”
Margaret Evans on 0905 748 791 on Disability and Work after “the social, economic and polit- To counter this danger, he
1992. ical exclusion of people with called on the European trade
oe DOLPHIN BATHROOMS, FREEPOST, WORCESTER WR2 4BR He said:“‘Although the single disabilities challenges all Euro- union movement to work with
: market is drawing closer, little peans and should be taken up people with disabilities to gain
I would like more information on Dolphin Special Needs Bathrooms. []
a or no attention has been are to as a challenge by the European maximum benefit from the
no
the effect of the 1992 process trade union movement.” Social Action Programme.
NAME
on the working lives of disabled He also talked of employers “General standards of acces-
ADDRESS workers.” who might be encouraged to sibility for all workplaces must
He warned that disabled cut costs and reduce social be introduced and employers
SPECIAL NEEDS people will be vulnerable to the insurance contributions, bene- should be encouraged to adopt
POSTCODE TEL BATHROOMS plans of unscrupulous employs fits, health care, ca eey stan- a positive attitude towards peo-
POST TO: DOLPHIN BATHROOMS, FREEPOST, WORCESTER WR2 4BR ers and governments “who dards and Socauantl training. ple with disabilities,” he said..
DisailiiNyoaw voNoWvNeomvbeeru b1e9n9g1O O422=2=2=«*”~*~*~*~“‘
If you need help
simply flag down the RAC
Response is a different kind of service from the RAC continue your journey, we can arrange overnight
designed to meet the very special needs of motorists with a accommodation in a hotel with suitable facilities.
disability. Because Response automatically includes RAC Rescue,
The attention-getting flag is only one of the extras you Recovery and ‘At Home’, you can be sure that whatever
get. There are many others including a pad which you can your motoring problem the RAC will provide a solution to
use to report the details of your breakdown if you cannot meet your individual needs.
contact us yourself. There is also a free copy of ‘On the Membership of Response is available to anyone
Move’, the RAC guide for disabled travellers. holding a local authority issued parking badge. Parents or
Our first priority is always to get you going again. Guardians may apply on behalf of anyone under 18 years of
When your car cannot be repaired or you have special age. To join, or for more information, call the free linkline
‘needs, you will be put in touch with a Personal Incident number below.
Manager, who will provide a solution tailored to your Or write to RAC Response, RAC Motoring Services Ltd,
individual circumstances. Your Personal Incident Manager PO Box 700, Spectrum, Bond Street, Bristol BS99 1RB.
will also pass on messages to worried relatives or friends.
Ghx )
So, while your car is being recovered to the destination RAG
RESPENSE
of your choice you will be able to agree with your Personal
Incident Manager the most suitable means of onward
transport to meet your specific requirements.
Alternatively, if it is not convenient for you to
TO JOIN, OR FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MEMBERSHIP OF RESPONSE CALL FREE 0800 400 432
Disability Now November 1991
10 MOTORING
Nice try, shame about the timing
David Griffiths, DN's
motoring
correspondent, takes
the high road to the did, including one woman from for many years. Their latest for DN, review soon.) equipment, especially for those
the far north-east who extolled Stow-a-lift 300 will now fit Problems getting attention? who live in areas where Ser-
Scottish Mobility
DN as “the finest magazine for the side door of Ford Transits, Maybe the Megavox from vice Call is not so popular.
Roadshow all disabled people”), the spa- which is particularly good news Autovox UK Ltd will help? It works via a loudspeaker
cious hall let you see and try for those who need maximum Anyone with a disability who under the bonnet which is
out vehicle lifts, the new Inva- floor space. The 300 protrudes drives alone knows the feeling: operated by a simple on/off
As with all things, the first travel Caravelle, Alfred just 12 inches into the vehicle there you are, sitting in the switch located inside the vehi-
attempt points the way for bet- Bekker’s Dodge Grand Car- when stowed. The lift is garage forecourt and nothing cle. When pressed, this broad-
ter things to come. This is not avan Voyager, plus a range of claimed to be rattle free too. stirs. The traffic drowns your casts the message loud and
to say that Scotland’s first clear. Autovox stress its useful-
Mobility Roadshow in Septem- ness in breakdown situations
ber was a disaster - far from it. too. £142.
There was much to see, cars to Back in Shrewsbury, Mobil-
try, eager volunteers to help ity Information Service has just
and a pleasant atmosphere. received a new version of the
But who decided to hold it Disabled Drivers Ford Escort
so soon after THE Mobility to replace the previous model,
Roadshow? Exhibitors need courtesy of the Ford Motor
time to recharge their batteries, Company and Furrows
recoup outlays and generally (Telford Ltd).
get their houses in order before Fitted with a variety of adap-
they can consider launching tations from the Bekker range
into another event. Unfortu- and incorporating power-
nately it showed, particularly assisted steering, it will give
on the track where the choice hundreds of disabled people
of vehicles was disappointing. first-time driver experience.
The Highland Exhibition MIS has also installed a new
Centre appears to suffer from wheelchair track incorporating
David gets the keys to a new Disabled Drivers Ford Escort from Furrows’ Alex Owen.
both aircraft noise and parking graded ramps, rails and kerbs.
facilities. Disabled visitors were The specially commissioned
faced with a stiff, lengthy climb minibuses and wheelchairs. Basic model, £1,500. horn (why do we have such unit was designed and built by
from a gravelled car park. And A unique opportunity to Carmobility were showing feeble strangled beeps attached Ralph Sparrow of Rolac, Stock-
a paucity of sign posting on the have your tyres puncture- the Carmobility 90 degree to our cars these days? - they port and will be used in train-
approach roads must have proofed whilst you sat in your travelseat. It provides superb wouldn’t startle a nervous ing, assessment and testing. It
caused some headaches. The wheelchair was provided by access, will fit two door and wasp, some of them). It is is thought to be the only indoor
busy Edinburgh by-pass/A8 Basicright Ltd. OKO is avail- four door cars, and leaves the painfully obvious that gesticu- one at an assessment centre,
roundabout mélée at Gogar had able both in small handy con- area behind the seat free, mak- lating wildly through the screen and was paid for by a personal
no directions whatsoever, tainers for self-application or in ing it very attractive to is going to be of no avail since gift from Hetty Overeem, one
whilst the sign nearest the large dispenser form which wheelchair users who self-load. the sole occupant of the kiosk is of Switzerland's few female
showground could only be seen would particularly suit £379. head-buried in Cosmopolitan, priests.
AFTER’ you had left the wheelchair sales points and The Bat from Scamtec is a Bella, page 3 or whatever.
appropriate exit! Memo _ to repair centres. It costs about £4 computerised reversing aid Suddenly, above the roar of Basicright Ltd, tel: (0788)
Scottish RAC - try harder next to treat a standard wheelchair. which should make crushed exhausts a mighty “voice” bel- 573331. Ross and Bonnyman,
time. Ross & Bonnyman have bumpers and shattered back lows forth: “DISABLED tel: (0307) 66262. Carmobility,
For those who braved the been in the business of provid- lights a thing of the past. DRIVER REQUIRES HELP. tel: (0395) 68830. Scamtec, tel:
atrocious weather (and many ing self-operated vehicle lifts £129. (I am now testing this PLEASE “ASSIST. 2 Noel (0383) 739766. Autovox, tel:
don’t know the decibels or fre- (0455) 550556. Mobility Infor-
quency but it sounds as though mation Service, tel: (0743)
it might be a useful piece of 761889.
For ALL who
NEED TO WALK
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Positioning
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Now you can enjoy real Clio gives the motorist a real sense of
independence in the ‘Car of the Year freedom. Freedom
1991’, the new Renault Clio.
In fact, most models in the Renault
Our years of experience refining range can be adapted to make the
and adapting cars for the disabled disabled motorist’s life easier and
driver have made the Renault Clio more enjoyable with modifications
our best yet. by specialists including hand * Stimulates
controls, swivel seats and flip-over
The Clio gives you big car comfort accelerator.
in a small car that’s pleasant to drive. Movement
Power steering is available as an option on Renault is an approved manufacturer
the RL 1.9 litre diesel and both the RT 1.4 on the Motability Car Purchase Scheme so
and 18 litre petrol versions, and a four if you receive a mobility allowance you're
speed automatic gear box is optional on eligible to choose from most of the
the RT 1.4 litre. Renault range and purchase at the special
Motability rate.
The five door Clio can also be fitted with Ask your local Renault dealer for
a Kempf rear sliding door conversion and CAR OF THE YEAR details of the Renault Disabled Motorists
electric hoist to make stowing a wheel- 1991 Programme, special
chair behind your seat a simple, push Award sponsored by: Auto Pista (E) finance terms and any
bhauntdtloinn g, ospepraactiioouns.n essC ouanpdl edq uietwnietshs tihtes utD?e rV Siteer (nN L(D)) AS .uMn.d( a1y )L Equipe (F) rreetquurinr edt hem odciofuipcoatni onbse,l owo.r CiLRifton FRONT-LEANING
PMloetaosrei stsse ndP rmoeg rdaemtamiel s aonfd thsep ecRieanla uflitn anDciisaalb lteedr ms Send tWo:e sRteenranu ltA veUnKu eL,t d.L,o nSpdeocni alW 3S alOeRsZ, GAIT TRAINER
FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
NAME: HOME TEL:
Full colour brochure:
RIFTON, Dept. DN, ROBERTSBRIDGE, E. SUSSEX TN32 5DR. Tel: [phone]
Disability Now November 1991