I use an electric wheelchair everyday, which was funded through the Wheelchair Voucher scheme from my local authority. My chair has travelled with me in Europe and beyond!!
I have an adapted van (driven from my wheelchair) that is my lifeline!! It’s a Mercedes Vito that was funded through the Motability scheme. I’d like to make a special mention to Auto Mobility Concepts in Hemel Hempstead who do an excellent job of servicing it. The van has an electronic steering wheel (about the size of a side plate) just below my shin. Then there’s a lever in my left hand that controls the break and accelerator, which takes cruise control to the max! The dashboard is fitted with extra mirrors (not for vanity purposes) so that visibility at round-abouts and junctions is improved. There’s one switch operated by my left thumb that controls all the primary controls. It took me two attempts to pass my test but then went onto do my Pass Plus and then Advanced driving tests.
I found a mobile hoist (that actually folds down quite small and into a bag) to take on my travels. It’s the Molift Smart hoist and is a great invention.
I get asked quite often how I get on with flying. I take my electric chair (dry cell batteries), which goes into the hold. Where possible I drive my chair to the gate and other times I have to transfer into the airports chair at checkin. Tip #1: Take the control box off the chair and put in your hand luggage so it doesn’t get snapped. I’ve got a transit-sling, which is a canvas seat with four handles that people can use to life me in and out of the aeroplane seat. Remember – you can take medical equipment with you (inc. wheelchair and hoist) at no extra cost.
Despite having SMA I’ve travelled: to Paris and Brussels on the Eurostar (excellent for people in wheelchairs since you travel by 1st class and at the minimum rate approx. £56 each). To Barcelona (ES), Stuttgart, Munich and Blumberg (DE) – great beer holiday! New York and Chicago in the USA and my highlight is skiing in Switzerland. It was at Villars near Geneva with a disabled ski school called Handiconcept. I was strapped into a Ricaro sports seat on skii’s and whizzed down the mountain with a fully trained (and slightly crazy) ski expert!
