The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Xplore helping Judith regain independence
mobility: Company shows mum of three how to use her electric wheelchair on the buses
A woman has thanked a Dundee bus company for helping her regain independence.
Judith Langlands-scott was forced to use a wheelchair due to a medical condition – degenerative hyper mobile joint syndrome – that causes her joints to dislocate.
She was given a manual wheelchair but was unable to propel herself.
The Forfar mum of three said: “Although I can walk, after years of dislocating things, it hurts a lot.
“I was first prescribed a manual wheelchair but can’t propel one myself.”
In November, Judith received an electric wheelchair but she lacked the skills or confidence to control it.
She said: “I’ve been incredibly lucky to be cared for by the Wheelchair Outreach Project at Ninewells Hospital and am now in possession of a new electric wheelchair.
“Luckily, the people at the project are amazing and give the likes of me lessons and a couple of weeks ago Xplore Dundee brought a double-decker bus to Ninewells especially for me to practise on.
“I can’t tell you what being able to take
“The fact Xplore offers this service is genuinely life-changing and I can’t thank them enough. JUDITH LANGLANDS SCOTT
my wheelchair on a bus will mean to me.
“I had lots of lessons and had to pass a road safety test.”
She continued: “Being able to go on a bus under my own steam opens up lots of opportunities for me in terms of employment.
“I’m 46 years old and am desperate to get out and about.
“The fact Xplore offers this service is genuinely life-changing and I can’t thank them enough.”
Yvonne D’all, technical instructor for the NHS Tayside Wheelchair Outreach Project, said: “We are very grateful for the lovely feedback about the service.
“The NHS Tayside Wheelchair Outreach Project has been set up to help people living in Tayside who have substantial and permanent restrictions with outdoor mobility through illness or disability and do not qualify for an NHS powered wheelchair.
“We offer people advice and demonstrations, assistance and training. We also work closely with Xplore Dundee who provide great support to the service.”
Xplore Dundee managing director Elsie Turbyne said: “We work hard to make our buses accessible for as many customers as possible, and our mobility training is an important part of that.
“Our driving instructors have been offering bespoke training to people with electric scooters and wheelchairs for five years now and it is really fantastic to hear how life-changing this assistance can be for people.
“In fact, this project is so successful it has very recently been shortlisted for the Scottish Transport Awards in the category of Accessibility Project of the Year.”
jathomson@thecourier.co.uk