Your Letters - June 2009

(June 2009) 'Your views'

Your views

The cycle of change
I liked Alan Sutherland’s article about cycling for disabled people (Disability Now, April 2009).

May I add that a new forum has started up, to get disabled people’s voices heard: the London Disability Cycling Forum (LDCF), a network for disabled cyclists and providers of cycling services such as cycle training providers and groups that run cycle sessions.

The voices of Deaf and disabled cyclists, cyclists with mental health issues and cyclists with learning disabilities are still too rarely represented. That’s why we’re working to ensure that anyone with an interest in cycling includes disabled cyclists in all aspects of their work.

In addition to cyclists who are disabled, our members include organisations such as the RNIB, the London Sports Forum for Disabled People, the London Cycling Campaign and Transport for London (TfL). We’re also trying to influence TfL to include cycling in its next Disability Equality Scheme, after it was excluded from TfL’s 2006-2009 scheme.

For many of us, cycling can change lives: it can be a safe way to stay fit, solve the problem of panic attacks in the tube, and make working a possibility. It can also be the easiest way to get around when walking any distance isn’t an option.

Some people can find out about cycling options quite easily and can afford their own kit, but others can’t, so we run “try it out” projects to give disabled people opportunities to build confidence and stamina at various off-street locations.

In my own case, I’m not likely to take up commuter cycling myself; keeping up with my son in the park and sharing in his fun wouldn’t have been possible without the hand-cycling attachment to my wheelchair. I’ve also realised that hand-cycling provides me with the only non-damaging form of fitness exercise I can find, and what better fun it is than sweating at the gym!

You can find more about the LDCF at http://www.wheelsforwellbeing.org.uk/wfw/index.php/ldcf
Isabelle Clement Chair, Wheels for Wellbeing

Paying the price of change?
I was disappointed to note that you haven’t mentioned the fact that all disabled people on Income Support or severe disability allowance will shortly be robbed of a week’s money when the system changes to fortnightly in arrears instead of seven days in arrears. To rob disabled people in this climate is diabolical and I hope this Goverment will hang its head in shame.
Bob Brown, by email

Editor’s note
We made several requests to the Department for Work and Pensions for a response to this letter and allegation. At the time of going to press they had not given us one. Mr Brown’s query is clearly a matter of concern to us and our readers. We’ll keep up our efforts to find and tell the full story.

View from the forecourt
Motability would like to respond to comments made by Frances Leckie in “Your Views” (Disability Now, May 2009). We maintain a range of highly affordable motoring options for all drivers. The scheme has indeed seen exceptional growth in recent years, in tandem with record levels of customer satisfaction, and this is across the range, on all types of cars.

For more than four years we have consistently provided more than 200 cars at no advance payment, including family cars such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Astra, plus a range of automatics.

Ms Leckie mentions the VW Touran. For clarification, both the 1.9 diesel and 1.6 petrol models are currently available at £799 advance payment.

As well as standard cars, we aim to meet the needs of disabled drivers who require adaptations, with a range of driving controls, including hand controls, at no extra charge. Last year more than 12,000 customers ordered cars with adaptations through the scheme.

We also supply a range of wheelchair-accessible vehicles at less than £500 advance payment and now have more than 10,000 customers who have therefore been able to access the mobility that a WAV provides at the most affordable levels.

Clearly, Motability is not immune from the economic climate and car prices have risen from many suppliers in line with reduced levels of production and the fall in value of the pound against the Euro. However, we are committed to providing a full choice of affordable cars for all our customers for the long term.
Delia Ray Head of Marketing, Motability

The ‘the’ word
I agree with Bonnie Salmon, who wrote in the May issue of Disability Now (Letters: “Saying ‘the disabled’ isn’t acceptable”) that she objects to being referred to as “the disabled”. I find it offensive that national and local government, and press, TV and radio use the term both verbally and in writing. We are people, and the difference between “the disabled” and “disabled people” is just one syllable and three characters. I find it disgusting that they begrudge us even that!
Sally Dixon, by email

Problem? What problem?
I read with interest about the person who wants the local council to have its own toilet-key system (“Ask The Experts”, Disability Now, May 2009) and would ask where disabled visitors would go to collect the key when they go to a new area? And if other councils followed suit, surely this would create a system whereby, wherever you went, you’d need to apply for keys, and then you’d have more keys and more extra weight to carry, as you’d often or not forget which key belongs to which set of toilets. So I say: leave well alone and keep with the RADAR key system. It works for all.
Charles Rickets (a very appreciative RADAR key user), by email

Manual labour
Why is it impossible to get a workshop manual for a mobility scooter? I want to be able to repair my scooter myself or at least have an idea of what’s wrong with it, but I can’t get the information. I can get manuals for other cars and bikes but not mobility scooters. Discrimination or what?
Janet Fleming, by email

Editor’s note
We checked online and found downloadable manuals for Invacare, Pride, Shoprider, Sunrise and Electric Mobility scooters on the website of DiscountScooters.co.uk. Click on Download Manuals on the sidebar menu on the left, under the heading “More Information”.