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

Despite living with MS, Caroline Gray from Bromley, Kent, has been able to continue getting out and performing in her acapella singing group thanks to a  TGA Eclipse  known as ‘Scooty’ and its onboard companion ‘Spybear.’  Caroline was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis over 25 years ago. However it has only been in the past year that she has developed mobility problems. Following early medical retirement from a position in local government, Caroline retrained to become an independent Counsellor. Now she runs her own practice and outside of work, Caroline’s ability to access performing arts venues, the coast and countryside has been maintained by a compact mobility scooter nicknamed ‘Scooty’. This orange TGA Eclipse scooter dismantles into four easy-to-lift parts so Caroline can take it in the car. She is dependent on her Eclipse for independence away from the car especially when negotiating busy locations such as  Bluewater shopping complex ,exhibitions and ga...

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...

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 re...

Julie Thomson, 53, who has Multiple Sclerosis, and still enjoys showing off her dog agility prowess on her TGA Breeze 3 mobility scooter. Picture Caption: Julie demonstrates her skills on a TGA Breeze 3 scooter alongside Dodger, her 4-year-old Patterdale Terrier cross.  Julie Thomson is a lovely lady with a fantastic personality who was diagnosed with MS in 1998. Originally from London, she moved from St Albans to Sudbury, Suffolk in 1990. She then settled in Stanstead village in 1995. She trained as a nurse at Guy's Hospital in London, and was latterly the Nurse Practitioner in Urology at the West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds. When MS began to affect her mobility, Julie was able to continue working with outpatients using her walking sticks and a wheelchair, but eventually 'MS fatigue' led to her early retirement in 2004. As her mobility became more restricted, she decided to use a mobility scooter, but it was not until she owned a robust and ...