Ask the Experts

Do they hire battery chargers in Battery Park City?

Q I’m disabled and I’m going to New York for a week in May 2010. Please could you advise me where I can hire a battery charger for my wheelchair, a hoist and a ripple type mattress. Also, if you could give me any other ideas about what I need to think about, that would be great.

Helen Elliott, by email

Agnes Fletcher replies: You’ve chosen a fantastic city to visit and one that you should find relatively accessible.

As far as equipment is concerned, you can hire a charger, hoist and mattress from Rent It Today (www.rentittoday.com). The person to contact there is Jason Glass. His email is jglass@rentittoday.com.

If you want to hire a mobility scooter, wheelchair or powerchair, try Scootaround, which will provide a charger to go with it.

See www.scootaround.com, telephone 00 1 204 982 0657 or (toll-free in the USA) 1888 441 7575.

You might be interested to know about the Big Apple Greeter service, which has an access programme. The service puts you in touch with a volunteer “greeter” to show disabled visitors a favourite section of the city. The programme can also explain accessible travel in the city. Its website is www.bigapplegreeter.org. For visitor inquiries by telephone, call 001 212 669 8159 or email visitrequest@bigapplegreeter.org.

I want to move away, but how?

Q I’m 37 with cerebral palsy, I use an electric wheelchair and I’m employed full-time. I live with my mother, who’s been my sole carer since my father died 14 years ago, and her partner. Our home is no longer suitable for my needs as it isn’t wheelchair-accessible, nor would I be able to have carers as there isn’t the space and they would be entering the same living space as my mum and partner, which none of us wants. I’m looking at independent living, moving closer to my place of work.

I’ve been on the council waiting list for two years. In that time I’ve been offered only one property and it wasn’t suitable for a wheelchair. I understand that the council doesn’t have wheelchair-accessible properties but only “making good” bungalows which are designed for older people and neither suitable for wheelchair-users nor desirable for a 37-year-old! Could someone please give me some advice on the responsibilities of councils to provide suitable housing for wheelchair-users. As an alternative, how do I find wheelchair-accessible properties privately?

Name supplied, by email

Kate Sheehan responds: Your situation is more complicated than most as you are seeking accommodation outside your local area and therefore will not be seen as a priority by the area you’re wanting to move to.

Local authorities should have a strategic housing plan that looks at the type of properties they need to build in their locality to provide for local needs.

This may or may not include accessible accommodation for wheelchair-users.

The strategic plan should be available for you to read and would give you a clear idea on how the local housing department is tackling the shortfall of suitable wheelchair-accessible accommodation.

Within London, requirements are clearly defined and you can expect all new homes to be built to Life­time Home standards and ten per cent to be wheelchair-accessible. This is not the case across all local authorities.

Nonetheless, local authorities have a legal duty to provide help to certain people who are homeless or threatened with homelessness and they may not discriminate against you because of your disability.

With your situation it would be worth looking at various options.

1. The least pleasant is for your mother to say she no longer wished you to live in her property. But that’s an extremely hard thing for a family member to do.

2. Has the local authority got up-to-date and relevant information on your needs? If you feel your case needs updating, ask an occupational therapist to carry out a full housing needs report on your circumstances. This may give you increased waiting list priority.

3. Investigate if there are any local housing associations that accept people directly onto their waiting list. The housing department should be able to help you find out the information and fill in the relevant forms.

4. Ask if there is an accessible housing register, If so, ask how many properties would be suitable for you. This will give you an insight into what the local authority has available.

5. If the housing department has a choice-based letting system, ask for its help to bid for properties.

6. Make an appointment with the department to talk about shared ownership, by which you buy a percentage of the property and rent the other part.

7. Finally, contact local estate agents about the private rental market but be clear about your needs, as few have any training on what constitutes an accessible property.

EXPERTS:

Sexual and Personal
SIMON PARRITT
Psychologist with pyschosexual therapy experience

Legal
DOUGLAS JOY
Senior solicitor at the Disability Law Service

Benefits and Debt
Citizens Advice Bureau
Puts its expertise at our disposal to help you

Technology and Internet
LÉONIE WATSON
Works with digital consultancy Nomensa

Specialist Equipment
JOHN MANDRAK
Disability journalist and DLF helpline adviser

Travel
ANDY WRIGHT
MD of Accessible Travel, specialist tour operator

Money Management
DAVID CLARKE
Senior partner with Clydesdale Bank

Access and Environment
AGNES FLETCHER
Disability trainer and consultant

Property
KATE SHEEHAN
Occupational therapist with interest in housing

Motoring and Transport
HELEN SMITH
Works with Mobilise and specialises in car matters