HOW MOTABIILITY HELPS DISABLED DRIVERS

The Motability Scheme has helped thousands of disabled people get mobile, improving the lives of both people with disabilities and their family and friends in the process.

In Northern Ireland, the Scheme has helped over 35,000 people get around, providing cars or where necessary providing specially adapted vehicles.

With dealers now firmly re-opened, the scheme is fully functional although with special measures in place including social distancing and special sanitisation measures (see below).

In addition, Motability has put in a special scheme to help people in special financial need due to the pandemic, and also has made some alterations to lease time lengths to accommodate people further. There are full details on www. motability.co.uk

The good news is that dealers are open again, and everyone has put social distancing in place to keep users safe.

You might want to call ahead and make an appointment just in case dealerships are busy and might struggle to accommodate unannounced visitors.

Many dealers have produced their own videos showing the safe-distancing measures that will keep you safe.

In general, actions taken this will include PPE equipment, hand sanitisation stations, and measures like that.

Each car will be strictly wiped down inside and out before test drives, handovers, etc. Don’t be surprised if the car keys are wiped down in front of you as an extra precaution!

The great thing about the Motability charity in general is the sheer breadth of the scheme, and how many people it helps.

Indeed, many people don’t realise they quality for the programme, which is the UK’S largest motor scheme for disabled people.

It’s not just motor cars that quality for assistance under the scheme – Motability can also finance powered wheelchairs and scooters.

Motability is open to anyone who receives either the Higher Rate Mobility

Component of the Disability Living Allowance or War Pensioners’ Mobility Supplement and has at least 12 months’ award length remaining when they apply.

You don’t have to drive to be a Motability customer; in fact, many prefer not to drive or are unable to. In all cases, whether the customer drives or not, they can nominate two people to drive the car on their behalf. They may be relatives, friends or carers.

There are around 3,000 different cars available, including many models with no advance payment although if you go for a more expensive model, you’ll need to make up the shortfall between your allowance and the car’s cost out of your own pocket. VEHICLE CONVERSION

Motability also covers the cost of converting and adapting vehicles so they can properly accommodate people with mobility challenges, for example a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle.

Motability will advise on how you can get in and out of the vehicle, the conversion features you will require, and even describe the experience of travelling in WAVS.