Disability Newsfeed for Disabled People, Parents, Carers, Occupational Therapists and AHPs

Mel Richards, 43 from Edinburgh is a remarkable lady. Despite living with an MS-like condition that causes walking difficulties she has been able to continue enjoying a varied lifestyle and is applying to Higher Education thanks to a  Supersport  mobility scooter. Mel, who is originally from Brisbane in Australia and able-bodied, came to the UK on holiday between semesters at the University of Queensland over 20 years ago. Having arrived and almost immediately broken an ankle on the unfamiliarly snowy streets, her stay has extended slightly beyond the original twelve weeks planned. With the injury almost resolved, Mel was offered a one-year office manager contract working in Stockport which subsequently progressed into a journalism career, writing for numerous computing magazines such as MacWorld, Internet Today and Secure Computing. This included another unexpected side trip onto the staff of a paranormal title working with Uri Geller and writing about ghosts, psychics and conspira

The Mobility Roadshow is returning in 2015 (25-27 June, Donington Park, Derby) to provide the most comprehensive lifestyle event of its kind in the UK, presenting mobility solutions for a wider range of consumers with restricted mobility to help achieve greater independence. The Mobility Roadshow is the UK’s premier consumer-focused event, showcasing products and services to help maintain independent mobility.  This unique national show, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2013, is organised by registered charity Mobility Choice.  For 2015 the Mobility Roadshow returns to Donington Park where visitors will have the rare opportunity to test drive adapted and wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) on the historic Donington Circuit, as well as experience the very latest innovations for independence. There is no other event that can offer such a range of vehicles for test-driving or products and services to see and compare – a unique opportunity u

Susan Mallows, 51 from Romford, has  Multiple Sclerosis  (MS) and difficulties walking, however she has been able to continue enjoying shopping and exercising with the assistance of a pioneering new type of TGA mobility scooter. Susan is a lovely lady who was unfortunately diagnosed with MS aged 32. MS is a neurological condition that affects around 100,000 people in the UK and symptoms can include fatigue, vision problems and difficulties with walking. Susan's balance and walking problems meant she had to retire early from her secretarial career at the local council. Nevertheless she continued to support her busy husband Terry who also worked for the council as a public sector architect, hence how they met. Now both retired, the Mallows are making the most out of life with a love for shopping, gardening and holidays. Susan has used a mobility scooter for many years to remain mobile outdoors, however their level and range of freedom has recently increased thanks to a remarka

Hi everyone, Hope you found the last post about the ignition and steering informative and entertaining, this post will continue with my  wheelchair accessible car driving adaptions , focusing on the “gear stick” and hand controls. I drive an automatic  Sirus I-Can VW Caddy   drive-from-wheelchair vehicle because this allows one hand to always be on the steering wheel and one hand to be used for accelerating and braking on the hand control. This means that I don’t have to change up and down the gears manually, the car does this automatically, hence the name!  There are 4 modes my wheelchair accessible vehicle can be put into – Park, which as suggested by the name, is used when parking, Reverse which is used when reversing, Neutral which can be used when stopping for a short time e.g. practising safely pulling over and then immediately driving off, Drive which is used when driving forward and Sport which I have not used yet, but apparently it makes the acceleration more resp

Through the presentation of a varied showcase, TGA Mobility has achieved a significant level of networking and trade enquiries from selective TGA retailers at the first Trade Days exhibition (NEC, Hall 18, 5-6 th October, Stand E10). The TGA team presented several features to retailers at Trade Days that included a new product launch, a discount-related table football competition and two informative seminars. The complete portfolio of TGA scooters were also available to test and trial along with the new 32st capacity wheelchair Powerpack and the TGA puncture sealant.    The TGA team welcomed key TGA retailers onto stand E10 to demonstrate the new Minimo Plus scooter which was unveiled at Trade Days and now offers a foldable model with enhanced drivability. Based on the best-selling, lightweight Minimo, the Plus version still retains a compact chassis but incorporates advanced features that are normally only associated with larger, mid-range scooters. The 4mph Minimo Plus in

Crane Lowndes, 50 from Sutton-on-Sea in Lincolnshire, lives with disability and in between travelling throughout Europe supporting haulage drivers, has been adapting two TGA Breeze mobility scooters into mini lorries. Crane was born with  Cerebral Palsy  (CP), which is a neurological condition that affects the movement and co-ordination of muscles which is thought to affect 1 in 400 people. Crane's CP predominantly affects his legs making walking extremely difficult, therefore a mobility scooter is the only means of retaining freedom outdoors. Despite living with these difficulties, Crane has successfully volunteered as a "driver's mate" for several long distance haulages firms over the last 30 years. He has been responsible for crucial map reading, cooking, loading and lifting. His extensive geographic knowledge and experience in the trucking environment has been invaluable for many drivers and haulage companies, especially before the introduction of moder

If you live with  restricted mobility  and find walking tricky or even painful, a quality and reliable mobility scooter can change your life. Practically, it can give you independence to visit the local shops, friends or even go on holiday. Whereas from a well-being point of view, you can benefit from fresh air, experiencing the outdoors and accessing local amenities. Being able to go out on your own without the need for support from friends or loved ones is a priceless feeling. This is where a scooter makes such a difference. Some people may need to be pushed in a wheelchair or be unsteady when walking, so why risk extra stresses and strains when a battery-powered scooter can take away all the hassle? There is a vast range of mobility scooters out there to choose from these days, however it is important to select the right model for you and your lifestyle. This is where asking a trusted mobility scooter specialist for advice is essential before buying.  TGA are one such name you ca

Cliff Quinn, who lives in Cambridge, is 54 years old and has severe Osteoporosis.  Osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease that is characterised by a decrease in bone mass and density which can lead to an increased risk of fracture. Cliff's Osteoporosis has affected his daily life by severely restricting his walking capabilities and making standing impossible for him. Having such restricted mobility meant that going outdoors was not an option for a while. However, Cliff was determined not to become a prisoner in his own home and began researching the options that would enable him to regain his freedom.  With the aid of Motability Cliff decided that the  TGA Vita 4  mobility scooter would help him recover his independence and give him the opportunity to lead a more social life.... read more

78 year old Sue Raymond has discovered a 'new lease of life' since discovering her  TGA 'Harley Davidson' style mobility scooter. Sue has always been a fan of the outdoors, and before retiring she was a milkmaid in the farming sector in Surrey. However, following the birth of her three children she gradually started to develop mobility issues. Still keen to live the outdoor life Sue joined the  Disabled Ramblers Association , but found that her mobility scooter at that time struggled with the tight manoeuvering and rocky, off-road tracks. Her ability to enjoy the countryside was under threat, until she discovered the  TGA Supersport .... see more

Trish Hale, 64 from Great Cornard in Suffolk, who lives with Fibromyalgia, has been able to recover her independence and the ability to walk her dog thanks to winning a  TGA Eclipse mobility scooter. Trish entered the  East Anglian Daily Times  competition to win the mobility scooter. Trish's condition means she has problems walking and her condition also causes chronic fatigue, pain and joint stiffness - hence the requirement for a scooter to remain mobile. By winning this fantastic prize, Trish now has the ability to join her husband, Tony, for walks with their daughter and Staffordshire Bull Terrier rescue dog, Molly. They are also planning to visit Felixstowe soon so they can all enjoy the scenic Essex coastline together. Trish comments: "I was absolutely thrilled to hear the news I'd won this TGA Eclipse, I'm chuffed to bits with it. I nearly missed out entering this competition, as the first three text messages I tried to send, wouldn't work. See mor

Alan 55, and Joan Preston 77, both from Kinmel Bay near Rhyl, North Wales, have regained their independence thanks to two new TGA Breeze S4 mobility scooters. Their Breeze S4 scooters are the same as the model which won the  BBC Top Gear extreme mobility scooter challenge , and that has recently been accredited with a new  World Record  for: "The Greatest distance covered in 24 hours by a mobility scooter." Completed by Steve Tarrant at Goodwood Motor Circuit in May earlier this year, a TGA Breeze recorded a distance of over 190 miles and delivered 100% reliability whilst running on purposely-punctured tyres to demonstrate the effectiveness of our revolutionary  sealant system . This proven robustness and performance appealed to Alan and Joan who both live with severe Arthritis and mobility issues, and without their trusted mobility scooters, they would not be able to access the outdoors safely and with peace of mind. Alan was a greatly accomplished furniture maker f

Robin Kettle, 54 who lives near Harwich in Essex, is a successful entrepreneur, retired motorcyclist, website promoter and disabled access auditor. As an active wheelchair user he enjoys greater outdoor freedom thanks to the smoother ride offered by his newly acquired TGA Vita 4 mobility scooter. Robin has been a full time wheelchair user as a result of a spinal injury he sustained after a motorcycle accident which occurred in 1976. He lives with his wife and three Jack Russell's who join him for journeys outdoors on his  new eye-catching,  TGA Vita Midi . Despite living with frequent back pain Robin is able to enjoy new found freedom with his mobility scooter, as even driving out and about on uneven countryside tracks does not cause discomfort when riding his Vita Midi. This stability and smoothness is..... read the full story here.

Wow, well that headline was a bit of a mouthful.... but here's the proof for you...the Whitt family and their four folding mobility scooters. Oh, and not forgetting Toby the sheepdog, who is the fifth user! ;-) Colin Whitt, 52 from Heanor Derbyshire, and three other members of his close family have all recently become owners of the latest folding model of lightweight mobility scooter, the TGA  Minimo , allowing them to enjoy independence outdoors together once more as a family. Colin, who has Cerebral Palsy, and his wife Linda (43), who has severe Arthritis, along with parents Jessie and John Whitt, aged 76 and 80 respectively all  have difficulty walking which means their ability to get out-and-about is extremely limited - hence the need for their scooters to assess the local amenities. Read the full story about how these folding mobility scooters have made to the Whitt's quality of life  here

We all have a passion in life and mobility scooter owner, Dean Johnson, has been an avid Formula One fan for many years. He decided to take his love of the sport to another level by customising his TGA Breeze mobility scooter with the official Ferrari Testarossa paintwork and black alloy wheels. Dean, 50, from East Sussex is a positive and lively individual, who has heart disease and type-1 diabetes, and used to be a successful Contracts Manager responsible for 90 staff until he had to take early retirement.  Inheriting his father-in-law's  TGA Breeze S4 mobility scooter  gave Dean a new lease of life, plus a new outlet for his creativity and interest in motorsport. To read Dean's full story about how he has dealt with his considerable mobility issues following a severe heart attack and how his mobility scooter has given him back his independence click the link.  http://www.tgamobility.co.uk/2014/07/25/formula-one-fan-customises-... - See more at: http://www.bespo

Following the hugely successful launch of its smaller predecessor  at Naidex 2013, TGA is to unveil the 4-wheel 8mph Maximo mobility scooter at Naidex National 2014.  We are delighted to unveil the larger 4-wheel version of the pioneering 'Minimo', with the new folding 8mph 'Maximo', at Naidex National 2014 (29th April - 1st May, NEC, Stand B70). For 30 years we have driven innovation in the mobility scooter sector and this latest launch once again provides a new concept in personal independence. The new Maximo promises to deliver even higher levels of consumer interest than those associated with its smaller predecessor, the Minimo, which was launched at Naidex National 2013. Introduction of the  Minimo  represented the beginning of a new genre of compact, folding car boot scooter that provides greater levels of transportability and flexibility. Its optional lightweight lithium battery (only 2.65kgs) is a true groundbreaking development that can be lifted

Dog owner Steven Cable, 58 from King’s Lynn, is a dedicated Norfolk citizen with many disabilities who continues to clean his local park and campaign for improved facilities thanks to his new, rugged TGA Vita X mobility scooter with off-road capabilities. Steven was born in King’s Lynn and before having to take early retirement due to major spinal problems, he was a heavy-duty construction machinery operator and international long distance lorry driver. During a period of 30 years, Steven worked on numerous building projects that included construction of the M25, A14 and even the airport on the Falkland Islands. Steven now lives with restricted mobility and multiple conditions that include crushed spinal discs, IBS, Asthma and Basilar Artery Insufficiency. Despite his difficulties, Steven has spent the last few years dedicating every morning to cleaning and maintaining Pepper Green Park. Read more….