Your Mobility

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems who have difficulty using public transport. The passes are issued so that people who need them can park close to where they need to go.

The scheme is managed by each local council and operates throughout the UK. The government provides guidance and information on how to run and enforce the scheme, which can be found on the government website or on the East Riding council website.

You can visit the following websites to find out more about the Blue Badge scheme:

• www.gov.uk for government information
  or
• www.eastriding.gov.uk for local information

Scooters are ideal for people who may have difficulty walking long distances but can walk for short periods. Due to their size, many are not suitable for use inside. Smaller scooters are suitable in very smooth, flat areas (sometimes weight limits are 14 stone or less). As the scooter size grows so does the weight limit, their ability to negotiate hills and cope with rougher surfaces and the distance they can travel between charges. Please bear in mind that distances quoted on leaflets are for the flat so if you use your scooter in a hilly area you may achieve only half the maximum distance between charges.

There are three wheel and four wheel versions. The four wheel versions are more stable than the three wheelers but a little less manoeuvrable. There are also 4 mph and 8 mph versions. Scooters that go faster than 4 mph are called class 3 scooters and have to be registered with the DVLA (your scooter supplier will give you a form).

The registration is currently free of charge.

Some of the smaller scooters can be dismantled to fit into car boots. You need to make sure you have somewhere you can keep and charge your scooter, and that it will go round any tricky corners you usually come across.

Prices range between £500 and £3000. Generally batteries will need to be replaced every 1-2 years (they cost about £40 - £80 each).

It's very important you buy a scooter from a supplier who can show you how to use it safely and let you try it in your local area. 4 mph scooters are not designed to be used on roads and all scooters should be used at slow speeds on pavements to respect other pavement users.

Accessories such as powered wheels and attendant motors are available to help users who may find pushing difficult.

Manual wheelchairs are available for a variety of uses and the range of prices reflects this (from approx. £150 to £3000). There are models ideal for occasional use such as day trips, ones that are designed for everyday use and others which are custom built for the active user for everyday use or for specific sports.

It's important to make sure you get the right sized wheelchair both for the user and for its environment (will it fit through doorways,or in the car?) and also that it's light enough for the user and/or the attendant. Trained staff can help you find the right wheelchair and it's strongly recommended to try before you buy.

If you usually have a wheelchair provided by 'NHS Wheelchair Services', you can choose the 'independent option' to receive a voucher instead and put it towards the purchase of a wheelchair of your choice from one of the wheelchair service's approved suppliers.

Most people with disabilities do not have to pay VAT if they are buying a wheelchair for their personal use. The wheelchair supplier will provide a form to be completed to allow the VAT exemption.

Power wheelchairs are ideal for people who need the support a wheelchair can provide and the mobility the power offers. Not all power wheelchairs are suitable for outdoor use, so make sure the one you have will cope outdoors. It's possible to get many options such as kerb climbers, different tyre types (to cope with rougher ground) or with trays, bags and so on.

Some powerchairs can be dismantled to fit into cars, but bear in mind some parts such as the batteries and the motors are heavy. Other powerchairs can not be dismantled, and to transport them, you will need to use ramps and cars or vans with a flat bed boot.

A lot of powerchairs now offer options such as tilt in space, powered standing and recline facilities and also seat height raisers to allow the user to reach high cupboards.

Other powerchairs are extremely sophisticated pieces of equipment and can be set up to aid communication and control the user's local environment (computers, lights).

It's essential that powerchairs are tried out both by the user and any attendants in the area where they will be used. Suppliers will be happy to give free demonstrations at home and make sure trained staff are there both to make an assessment and also ensure everyone knows how to use the powerchair safely.
Prices range from £2000 - £20,000. Most people with disabilities do not have to pay VAT if they are buying a wheelchair for their personal use. The wheelchair supplier will provide a form to be completed to allow the VAT exemption.

Accessories such as powered wheels and attendant motors are available to help users who may find pushing difficult.