BLUE
BADGE
It is a nationally
recognised parking concession, applicable to on-street
parking for people with severe walking difficulties, or
who are registered blind, or who drive but have severe
upper limb disabilities so that they cannot turn a
steering wheel by hand. Check with Social Services if you think you are entitled, as there are
strict qualifications.
Some towns have these
for their own residents. Please note that Blue Badge
holders may not use these reserved places.
BY
AIR
Airports usually have
facilities to help disabled passengers, but they will
need prior notification.
BY
SEA
Some lines have lifts and
toilets suitable for wheelchair users. Check with your
travel agent or ferry company. Some operators offer
reduced fares to members of the Disabled Drivers'
Motor Club or the Disabled Drivers'
Association.
COMMERCIAL COACH HIRE (Lift Equipped Vehicles)
Belle Coaches Tel: 01728 830414
Cambridge Coach Services Tel: 01223 423900
Chambers Coaches Tel: 01787 227233
Felix Taxis/Buses Tel: 01787 310574
Grebe Special Travel Tel: 01502 677437
COMMUNITY BUS SERVICES WITH ACCESSIBLE
BUSES
(lift equipped)
COMMUNITY CAR SERVICES
Volunteer
drivers use their cars to take passengers on essential
journeys.
Aldeburgh, Leiston &
Saxmundham Tel: 01728 831215
Eye Volunteer Centre Tel: 01379 871200
Felixstowe Area Community
Transport (FACTS) Tel: 01394 282857
Forest Heath Tel: 01638 608048
Framlingham Volunteer Centre Tel: 01728 621262
Halesworth Voluntary Centre Tel: 01986 874290
Ipswich & Barbergh WRVS Tel: 01473 216642
Lowestoft & Waveney Area
Community Transport Tel: 01502 589782
Mid-Suffolk Rethink
Transport Service Tel: 01449 614271
St Edmundsbury WRVS
Tel:
01284 787145
Southwold Tel: 01502 724549
Sudbury Volunteer Centre Tel: 01787 880910
Waveney Area Community
Transport Tel: 01502 589782
Woodbridge Area Community
Car Scheme Tel: 01473 738292
CONCESSIONARY BUS FARES
The Suffolk Countywide
scheme provides half fare travel for elderly and disabled
people and free travel for blind or partially sighted
people. Passes can be obtained from District or Borough
Council offices.
DIAL A RIDE SERVICES
Lift equipped and easy
access minibuses provide a door to door service in urban
and some rural areas.
Bury St Edmunds and Village
Service Tel: 01284 724545
Felixstowe Tel: 01394 270339
Haverhill Tel: 01440 712028
Ipswich Tel: 01473 281194
Leiston/Framlingham/Saxmundham/Aldeburgh/Woodbridge Tel:01728 830516
Mid Suffolk Rethink
Transport Service Tel: 01449 614271
Newmarket/Brandon/Mildenhall
and surrounding areas
Tel: 01638 608080
Waveney Area Dial a Ride
Services Tel: 01502 531631
DISABLED DRIVERS'
ASSOCIATION
Ashwellthorpe,
Norwich, Norfolk, NR16 1EX. Tel: 01508 489 449.
Email: ddahq@aol.com. Website: www.dda.org.uk
Representing the needs of
disabled drivers.
DISABLED DRIVERS
MOTOR CLUB LTD Cottingham Way, Thrapston,
Northamptonshire, NN14 4PL. Tel: 01832 734 724. Fax:
01832 733 816.
Email: info@ddmc.org.uk. Website: www.ddmc.org.uk
DRIVING LICENCES
The application form and
explanatory leaflet are available from the Post Office.
Take care answering the health section, or seek advice.
DRIVING
TESTS
Extra time is allowed for
drivers with disabilities.
ESCORT
SERVICES
If a special journey arises
where you need an escort because of your disability, the
British Red Cross, St John Ambulance or the WRVS may be
able to help.
IN
LONDON many parts of
the underground service are now accessible and there are
wheelchair carrying bus services in several areas. For
details contact Access & Mobility, Transport for
London, Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London SW1H
0TL. Tel: 0207
222 1234. Minicom: 0207 918
3015
LEARNING TO DRIVE
If you have doubts about
your ability to drive, seek an initial assessment which
will consider your disability and/or any adaptations you
might need. Contact Kilverstone Mobility Assessment
Centre, 2 Napier Place, Thetford, Norfolk,
IP24 3RL. Tel: 01842
753029 or the Mobility Advice
and Information Service (MAVIS), "O" Wing,
Macadam Avenue, Old Wokingham Road, Crowthorne,
Berkshire, RG45 6XD. Tel: 01344 661000. Some
mobile assessment units are also available. Driving
instructors who are qualified to teach disabled drivers
can also help with advice.
MOTABILITY
Motability, Goodman House,
Station Approach, Harlow, Essex, CM20 2ET.
Tel: 01279 635
666
This is a charity which helps
people with disabilities to purchase or lease a new or
second-hand car or powered wheelchair. It is only
available to people receiving the higher rate mobility
component of the Disability Living Allowance for a
minimum of three years or to people receiving War
Pensioners Mobility Supplement. There are some funds
available to help in cases of hardship with vehicle
purchase, adaptations or driving lessons.
MOTORING AND
MOTABILITY FOR DISABLED PEOPLE
This giude is published by RADAR, 12 City Forum, 250 City Road, London, EC1V
8AF. Tel: 0207
250 3222
OUTDOOR POWERED
WHEELCHAIRS AND SCOOTERS
Before purchasing one, seek
advice. DIAL, DAB, or DAS and the Centres for Independent Living can
help (see also Motability).
How to Choose a Powered Vehicle' is also available from
Kilverstone Mobility Centre. Tel: 01842 753029
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
Advice on planning a
journey using public transport covering the whole
country. Open 7 days a week from 8.00am - 8.00pm.
Tel: 0870 608 2 608. Web: www.traveline.org.uk
SHOPMOBILITY
Electrically powered
pavement vehicles and manual wheelchairs are available in
certain towns across East Anglia for use within town
centres. There may be a small charge for this service.
Ipswich Tel: 01473 222225
Lowestoft Tel: 01502 588857
Newmarket Day Care Manager, Newmarket Day
Centre, Fred Archer Way, Newmarket, CB8 8 NT.
Tel:
01638 664262
For free details of
schemes elsewhere send a sae to The National Federation
of Shopmobility UK, 85 High Street, Worcester, WR1 2ET.
Tel: 01905 617
761
TAKING DRIVING LESSONS
Specially adapted cars are
available. Check with local driving schools or the
Disabled Drivers' Association, Ashwellthorpe, Norwich,
NRl6 1EX.
Tel: 01508
489449
TAXIS
Taxis are licensed by local
borough/district councils. Enquire for operators that
have wheelchair-carrying vehicles.
TRAINS/RAILCARDS
Special arrangements can be
made for wheelchair travellers by the Train Operating
Companies, but ideally two days notice is required. The
Disabled Person's Railcard offers reduced fares. Ask at
your nearest staffed station for a leaflet.
TRIPSCOPE
The Vassall Centre, Gill Avenue, Fishponds, Bristol, BS16
2QQ.
Helpline: 08457 585641
A national organisation that can help with transport and
travel information throughout the UK and abroad.
VEHICLE EXCISE DUTY
There are several
exemptions from paying the road fund licence for vehicles
owned and used by people with disabilities. Check with
the Department of Work
and Pensions, or Disablility Advice
Service to see if
you qualify.
WHEELCHAIR LOANS
It is possible to borrow
manual wheelchairs on short-term loan from various
voluntary groups. There may be a small charge for this
service.
Contact your local Disability
Advice Service.
WHEELS WITHIN WHEELS
Door to door rural
transport for those without a car and unable to use
public transport. Cars are driven by volunteers and can
carry 5 passengers plus a passenger travelling in a
wheelchair. Contact details are shown below.
Mid-Suffolk (South) Rethink Diability Transport Service.
Tel: 01449 614271
Rest of Suffolk British Red Cross Tel: 0845 6012291
St Edmondsbury (South) Age Concern Suffolk Tel: 01440
712028
Waveney Waveney Area Community Transport
Tel: 01502 589782
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