Help with Mobility. Adult Services. This information can be made available in other languages and other formats on request. Please ask.

Transcription

1 Help with Mobility Adult Services This information can be made available in other languages and other formats on request. Please ask.

2 INTRODUCTION We have prepared this information to answer some of the most commom questions asked by people with a mobility problem. If you have other difficulties that you think we might be able to help with please ring Contact and Assessment Team (for adults) Social Care PO Box 97 Cardiff, CF11 1BP Minicom: Textphone: ascontactteam@cardiff.gov.uk Intake and Assessment Team (for children) Social Care and Health PO Box 97 Cardiff, CF11 1BP csintakeandassessment@cardiff.gov.uk We believe this information is up to date and accurate at the time of publication. Please let us know of any errors or other information you feel would be helpful to include for the next edition. Also if you require a version in another language or other format such as tape please contact Social Care Communications Team, Room 337 County Hall Cardiff, CF10 4UW Phone socialcare@cardiff.gov.uk Page 1

3 ACCESS Shopmobility Cardiff Shopmobility is one of a chain of schemes in the UK to provide electrically powered wheelchairs, scooters and manual wheelchairs, to help people who have limited mobility through permanent or temporary disablement, illness or accident, to shop and use other facilities in the city centre. The Cardiff Shopmobility Centre is based in Bridge Street (but now on the south rather than the north of Bridge Street). A refundable deposit is required. Please book in advance. Theatres, cinemas, restaurants, exhibitions, museums etc We suggest you ring in advance to ensure their access arrangements will meet your needs Unisex WCs The Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation known as Radar operates a nationwide key scheme for accessible toilets. Tel Minicom Please ring to obtain a personal key at a small charge. Lists of where WCs are situated across the UK are available. Radar is a disability network that has a useful website radar@radar.org.uk You may also obtain a radar key from: Cardiff Council Help Centre at Marland House - Tel , Reception at County Hall - Tel , Cord House 2, Finchley Road, Fairwater - Tel , Disability Wales - Tel or , Their website is: Page 2

4 AIDS AND EQUIPMENT Community Occupational Therapy This service works with people who have substantial and permanent disability, addressing everyday activities that the problem makes difficult or impossible. They look into ways of resolving the difficulties by offering information, advice on other ways of doing things, loans of equipment showing you how to use it, and support for minor or major adaptations to your home. For further information Tel Retail outlets Cardiff s Disabled Living Centre at Rookwood Hospital has closed. If you wish to purchase or hire aids or equipment please look in the Yellow Pages under Mobility & Access equipment/vehicles. If you are considering buying pavement scooters, powered wheelchairs or riser/recliner chairs you may be able to hire them for a period to find out what suits your needs best. Walking Aids If you have walking difficulties your GP or Consultant can refer you to a physiotherapist. The physiotherapist may supply you with suitable walking aids but you would have to buy your own walking stick. Wheelchairs You can ask your GP/family doctor to order you a wheelchair. He or she may refer you for an assessment of your specific wheelchair needs to the Artificial Limb and Appliance Service (ALAS) at Rookwood Hospital. Tel: , Page 3

5 Wheelchair Loan Cardiff Shopmobility has manual wheelchairs for short- term hire at a small fee. You can hire for a day, weekend, week or month. The Red Cross has manual wheelchairs that may be hired out on short- term loan. The nearest centres are Newport Tel and Treforest Tel They also loan commodes, backrests, bed cradles and other medical aids subject to availability. Wheelchair Repairs If your wheelchair came from the NHS via your GP or hospital doctor and needs repairing please telephone Serco If your chair has been privately purchased please check the Yellow Pages under Mobility and Access equipment/vehicles. Page 4

6 MOBILITY Disability Living Allowance mobility component If you have had severe difficulties in walking for more than six months and are between the ages 3 and 65 years, you may be entitled to claim Disability Living Allowance (DLA) mobility component (and possibly the care component). Please ring Freephone Tel or Cardiff DWP Tel (minicom number ) for information. For enquiries about claims for DLA and Attendance Allowance (for people 65+) please ring There is a higher and a lower rate of the DLA mobility component. The lower rate is specifically for those who are able to walk but who need guidance or supervision because of a special need. Disabled Persons Car (Blue) Badge This scheme provides national and Europe-wide parking concessions for people with severe walking difficulties who travel either as drivers or passengers, or are registered blind, or have severe upper limb disabilities. It allows the blue badge holder to park nearer to destinations. Badges are issued by Cardiff Council on behalf of the Dept of Transport. Please note not all blue badge parking is free. For application forms ring the direct line to Blue Badge staff on Tel (Mon Fri ). They may be able to help you with queries. Out of these hours you can get a form from Connect to Cardiff C2C Tel or from Page 5

7 If you receive the higher rate mobility component of the DLA your application will be approved without question. For clarification about parking regulations and where you may safely park with a blue badge in Cardiff, contact the Traffic Wardens on For newsletters, guides, road atlas Information Helpline The Forum of Mobility Centres offers a free telephone helpline on all aspects of driver/passenger mobility for people with disabilities including vehicles, wheelchairs, and pavement scooters, DVLA etc. Tel Motability Scheme The Motability Scheme for leasing a car is available if you are awarded the higher rate mobility component of the DLA or a War Pensioners Mobility supplement and have at least 12 months still remaining when you apply. Motability is a charity that helps disabled drivers with the car leasing scheme and can, in some cases, help with the cost of adaptations and deposits that might be required. You can contact Motability at City Gate House, 22 Southwark Bridge Road, London SE1 9HB Tel minicom no or view their website Most car dealers have dedicated advisors but for independent advice you might want to talk through your specific needs with an advisor at the Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service first see below. Page 6

8 Mobilise Mobilise is a charity formerly known as the Disabled Drivers Association and set up to advise and assist drivers, campaign for disabled drivers/passengers rights and is run by people with disabilities. Their national headquarters and registered office is Ashwellthorpe, Norwich NR16 1EX Tel enquiries@mobilise.info or view the website They publish a monthly magazine packed with useful information and articles on driving, adaptations, holidays, equipment and readers experiences. Road Tax Licence (exemption for disabled drivers) Those receiving the higher mobility component of the DLA may be eligible for exemption. To apply for an exemption certificate ring the DLA helpline For advice regarding the certificate ring the DVLA on Wales Mobility and Driving Assessment Service Based in Rookwood Hospital, the centre will advise you on adaptations that are available to enable you to drive/continue driving. It is a charity funded by the Welsh Assembly. It offers driver assessments, passenger/carer assessments, and a wide ranging information service, including advice about wheelchair accessible vehicles. Tel , Sandra@wddac.co.uk or view their website Page 7

9 TRANSPORT Travelling by Rail or Air We advise you ring the railway station or airport in advance for personal help. Guides Radar Tel publishes guides for holidays and travel in the UK. Many other organisations and publishing companies offer a range of guides/road maps for people with special travel needs. Travel in Cardiff Black Hackney Cabs have facilities for wheelchair users so that you can travel safely in your wheelchair Cardiff Bus has low access buses designed to be more accessible for wheelchair users Other taxicabs may have facilities to meet special needs please ring and explain what you require when you book your journey St John Wales Patient Transport Service mob: (0n call 24 hours) This is a voluntary organisation providing professional non-emergency medical transport throughout the UK. Short notice is not a problem and typical journeys are for hospital admissions and discharges, inter-hospital transfers, and care home transfers. Escorts can be provided. A charge is made. Page 8

10 Transcall is a service run by Cardiff Institute for the Blind offering door-todoor volunteer transport for visually impaired people. Two days notice required and a small donation toward expenses. Voluntary Emergency Services Transport (VEST) Runs two services for people who have difficulty using public transport, and register as a member. Ring & Ride - Tel: is for a door-to-door service booked after 11am the day before travel. If you have a medical appointment you may book up to 3 days in advance. Dial a Bus - Tel: is a service available from every area of Cardiff providing adapted transport for wheelchair users travelling into the city centre on a once a week basis. Members are issued with timetables for when the bus will be in their area With special thanks to Kit Lewis for her original work compiling this information and for reading this edition. We are committed to ensuring that services are accessible to all, regardless of racial and ethnic origin, gender, sexuality, disability, age, language or religious beliefs. Last printed: December 2008 Visit us online at... Published by Cardiff Council Social Care Communications Team County Hall, Cardiff. CF10 4UW (029) socialcare@cardiff.gov.uk Page 9