My Motability Vehicle Journey by Kate Stanforth

If you’re new to my Allied Mobility blogs, I just wanted to re-introduce myself now I’m into my second year of working with the team! I’m Kate, I’m 28 years old and I live in Northumberland. I have a gorgeous assistance dog called Spence who is a black Labrador retriever and I’m an ambulatory wheelchair user which means I can walk short distances on some days. I’m self-employed as a model and dancer but after finding getting into work difficult with my health, I can say I love what I do.

Watch Here: Teaching Inclusive Dance In Lockdown | My True Story

Getting a Mobility Car

Why am I telling you my life story? Well, it is kind of important here. I became unwell at 14 and I didn’t accept my disability in the slightest. When I eventually realised that I just wasn’t getting any better, I finally got the benefits I was entitled to (which is a whole other story) and chose a Motability vehicle. She was called Flo, a small Ford Fiesta.

Firstly, I understand what a privileged position I was and still am in to get these benefits, despite having to go through a gruelling tribunal process. I just want to highlight that and send solidarity to anyone who is currently going through that or who has had to go through that previously.

I knew getting a car was the right move for me because public transport just wasn’t an option with my disability and I was desperate for some form of independence even if it meant I could drive for a short period of time. I chose my car because it helped me blend in. It was an incredible car, but for me, not very practical. It was low down so I struggled to get in and out, I only just fitted my collapsible wheelchair in the boot and when I started needing more equipment, the little Fiesta just couldn’t manage.

Looking back, if I had accepted my disability more at that stage, which is hard as a teenager, I would have had an easier ride (quite literally). But I was too scared to look at what the future of my health might be and prepare for that so we got the wrong vehicle – and that’s okay! In the end, Flo was a big part of my journey to acceptance.

Choosing What’s Right for You!

I have a totally different vehicle now and I haven’t looked back. I have a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV), which is a beast of a van and is exactly what I need! Now that I’ve got the correct vehicle, I can confidently travel with my carers and equipment while riding with comfort. Yes, sometimes I’d love to have a little car that can zoom (all at a legal speed of course) around the country roads but my van benefits completely outweigh this and honestly, my advice is to do what’s right for you.

Again, I didn’t go about selecting it in the easiest way because there is no guidebook to being disabled. I went around lots of garages trying out which wheelchair accessible vehicle would fit me best and didn’t know what adaption options were available to me. I could have saved a lot of time, energy and worry if I had a driving assessment and spoken to someone about grant options afterwards.

So, in short, here’s what I’ve learnt so far:

Five Steps On How To Choose A Motability Vehicle

• Check you are eligible.
• Write down ALL equipment you may need with you (wheelchair/assistance dog/oxygen/etc) and could need in the future for the next five years (that’s the average length of a lease with Motability). Be as honest and realistic with your health as you can – even though it’s difficult!
• Ask for a driving assessment to see what adaptations and vehicles are recommended.
• Look into grants/funding available to you. For instance, take a look at the Motability Car Scheme.
• Get your supplier to bring the vehicle options to you if they can. Allied Mobility offer free home demonstrations and it’s so useful!

Say Hello to New Adventures

So this blog is basically to say it is an overwhelming process and I get it. It’s not just a car you are choosing – it’s so much more. It’s a celebration of independence and the excitement of new adventures. But it’s also often the end (or pause) of a fight for benefits. It’s having to look at the next five years and not knowing what your health will bring. It’s uncertainty. It’s acceptance. All on four wheels. That’s why choosing the best vehicle and provider is so important.  Because your wheelchair accessible vehicle supplier is there with you for the ride. You’re not doing it alone.

 

You can book a dance class with Kate, or follow her on Instagram or Facebook.