DISABLED AND DISABILITY DRIVING
Disability Driving:
Firstly, if you have a physical disability it is highly likely that a car can be adapted to allow you to drive safely and independently.
My name is Fiona Latham and in 1991 I qualified as a Chartered Physiotherapist from Bradford School of Physiotherapy. With my background in physiotherapy and now as a fully qualified driving instructor I am probably the best person in the Portsmouth area to get anyone with a disability safely on to the road.
During my junior rotations as a Physiotherapist, I worked with amputees, stroke patients and a variety of neurological conditions. As a Senior Physiotherapist I predominantly worked within an outpatient department, seeing a variety of patients post surgery, post trauma, with sports injuries and with degenerative conditions.
At the same time, I was the Physiotherapist allocated to the local army barracks, having to cope with physical and psychological traumas from the battalion having just come back from an active frontline abroad. I am very comfortable dealing with military and ex-military personnel.
The Car:
I have a standard set of adaptations fitted to or can be fitted to my car:
Left foot accelerator:
- For pupils that may have lost the use of their right leg
- Have had a right leg amputation
- Have involuntary movements in their right leg making it unsafe to use
Push/pull hand lever for acceleration/braking:
- For pupils who may have no use of their legs
- Bilateral amputees
- Involuntary movements affecting both legs
- Dwarfism
- Paraplegics
Steering ball:
For pupils who may have limited movement in their hand
- Limited movement in the upper body
Secondary hand controls:
- These are fitted on a different steering ball and can be used by pupils who are driving using only their hands
- For pupils who have lost the full or partial use of one side of their body, e.g. after a stroke or spinal injury
Panoramic rear view mirror:
- This can be fitted for pupils with restricted head, neck or upper body movement
The examples above are not exhaustive, but more to give you an idea of their potential uses.
Learning to drive with a disability:
You will follow the same program and at the end of your training will do a driving test to the same standard as any other learner.
There is no exception to this as the requirement to pass a driving test is to be able to drive safely.
However, there are some considerations put in place for disability learners. When you book your test, you must request a double slot. There is no extra charge for this but it allows the examiner some extra time to meet any specific requirements you may need.
If you need extra help with the theory test there are extra measures in place for this too. Please click here for more information.
Previous licence holders learning to use adaptations:
If you fall into this category, you have probably found me through the Queen Elizabeth Foundation (QEF), where your driving will have been assessed or via AAMotability. Lessons for you will consist of familiarising yourself with driving in an adapted way.
As you are most likely to be going back to QEF for re-assessment you will not need to reach the standard required to pass the driving test. However, you need to show you are safe, aware of other road users and your surroundings, and competent with all adaptations needed.
Further information can be gained from:
Disability Driving Instructors
www.disabilitydrivinginstructors.com
email: admin@disabilitydrivinginstructors.com
Queen Elizabeth Foundation
Although based in Surrey, QEF has an assessment team in Southampton
email: mobility@qef.org.uk
Tel. 02087 701151
AA Motability
email: Motability@theaa.com
Tel: 0330 053 0001
To Contact For An Initial Assessment
Fiona Latham
email: info@driving-pro.com
Tel: 07355 044296
Our Driving Courses
We are proud to offer individually personalised driving lessons for beginners and experienced drivers
Our qualified, professional instructors want to get you driving in a relaxed and positive atmosphere where you will enjoy learning to drive properly.
Learner Driver Courses
Our friendly and experienced driving instructors will guide you through all of the stages of passing your driving test.
Refresher Driver Training
Want motorway experience or never driven in the UK? We will help you to become safe and confident on the road again.
Taxi Training
You are much more likely to pass your taxi test if you have some training beforehand. We know what the examiner is looking for.