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This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Wheelchairs
People whose walking difficulties are permanent or near permanent can get an NHS wheelchair on free loan. Details of local wheelchair services are available from GP’s, local health centres and the physiotherapy or occupational therapy departments of the local hospital.
The NHS can loan more than one wheelchair if it is necessary, for example, one for using at home and the other for use at work. A wheelchair voucher scheme exists in England. Under the scheme, you may be able to get a more expensive chair of your choice by paying the difference between the value of the standard chair and that of the more expensive chair. The more expensive chair will have to be approved by the NHS.
In Wales, if someone is entitled to a wheelchair but wants to 'upgrade', they must negotiate this with the local wheelchair service.
In Scotland, individual health boards operate their own policies.
In Northern Ireland, the Red Cross operates short term wheelchair hire. You can contact the Belfast office on 028 90246400. The service is free, although donations are welcome.
If you need to borrow money to buy a wheelchair you can get a loan in any of the usual ways, for example, from a bank. The Motability hire purchase scheme is available to people on certain benefits. For more information contact Motability. (For the address and telephone number see under heading Organisations which give help and advice).
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Private transport
Driving
A disabled person who wants to get a provisional driving licence will have to provide information about their special needs and may have to undergo a medical examination. If a licence is refused on medical grounds you have the right to appeal to a magistrates’ court (sheriff court in Scotland). In some cases, a young disabled person can get a provisional driving licence at 16 instead of 17 if they are receiving certain benefits.
For more information on driving licences, see Driving licences.
Disabled people should have an assessment made of whether they will actually be able to drive and what sort of controls and equipment would be needed for a vehicle. Lessons may be available from a specially trained instructor and in a suitably adapted car. Information about assessment and instruction can be obtained from a number of organisations (see under heading Organisations which give help and advice).
Buying or hiring a vehicle
A disabled person who wants to buy a vehicle may be able to get a discount. Contact car dealers and ask if they operate any disabled drivers discount schemes.
Motability can sell or hire new or secondhand cars to anyone receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or war pensioners’ mobility supplement. (For the address of Motability, see under heading Organisations which give help and advice).
For more information on Disability Living Allowance, see Benefits for people who are sick or disabled.
Some commercial hire companies offer discounts to disabled people when they hire a car or van. It is worth checking to see if a discount is available.
Adaptations to vehicles
A car may need to be adapted to suit the needs of a disabled person. The Department of Environment Transport and the Regions Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Service (MAVIS) offers advice on car adaptations for drivers and passengers. (For the address of MAVIS, see under heading Organisations which give help and advice).
Exemption from road tax
Any vehicle which is used only for a disabled person (whether they are the driver or the passenger) will be exempt from road tax. To get exemption, the disabled person must be either:-
- receiving the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance; or
- receiving a war pensioners’ mobility supplement.
The vehicle must be registered in the name of the disabled person or in the name of someone authorised to act on their behalf.
Parking concessions
The Blue badge scheme (this scheme used to be called the Orange badge scheme) allows certain groups of disabled people to park in parking restricted areas. For example, the blue badge enables disabled people to park free of charge and without time limit at on-street parking meters. Some London boroughs and other town centres don't operate this scheme. You should check whether the scheme operates before parking with your blue badge. There is an online service called the Blue Badge parking map which can help you find blue badge parking bays in 64 towns and cities across the UK. You can find the map at: www.direct.gov.uk/bluebadgemap.
You may be able to get a blue badge if you are a driver or passenger who:-
- receives the higher rate mobility component of disability living allowance or war pensioners’ mobility supplement, or are registered blind
- has a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or walk only with considerable difficulty
- has very severe upper limb disabilities (drivers only)
- is a child under two who has a medical condition that requires them to be close to a motor vehicle for emergency medical treatment or if they need to have bulky medical equipment transported with them.
To apply for a blue badge in England and Wales, contact your local authority social services department. In Scotland, contact the chief executive or social work department of the local authority, and in Northern Ireland, the Department for Regional Development. There is a small fee.
If you have a blue badge you may be able to get parking concessions when travelling in another country that also recognises the badge. However, each country continues to determine its own set of parking concessions for which the badge can be used.
The Blue Badge Helpline can give you more information about using the scheme. The Helpline number is 020 7944 2914 or 0161 367 0009. You can also find more information on the Department for Transport website at: www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk.
There is further information on the Department for Transport website www.mobility-unit.dft.gov.uk. In Northern Ireland, you can find information on the Roads Service website at: www.roadsni.gov.uk/BlueBadge/bbadge.htm.
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Public transport
Public transport operators have the same duties as any other service provider as far as disability discrimination is concerned. This means they mustn't treat you less favourably than they would treat a person who isn't disabled, unless they can show that the treatment is justified. This applies to the vehicle itself as well as to other services provided by the operator, such as timetable information or facilities at a station. Airplanes and ships are not covered by these rules but the other services provided by aircraft and shipping companies are covered.
For more information about access to goods, facilities and services, see Disability discrimination.
Rail services
All station and train operators must have a disabled people’s protection policy which is approved by the Office of Rail Regulation. The policy will set out what provision a station or train operator makes for disabled people using its services. Information on these services and a copy of the protection policy is available from the local train or station operator. Alternatively, most local authorities and Passenger Transport Executives (see under heading Organisations which give help and advice) publish guides for disabled travellers which are a useful source of information on the facilities at railway stations.
If you need assistance when travelling by train, for example, if you are a wheelchair user and need help getting on and off the train, or you are visually impaired and need to be guided to the train, contact the train operator and ask them to arrange assistance. Try to give the operator at least 48 hours notice of when you intend to travel and the type of help you require. Most mainline stations have a staff member who deals with requests for assistance. That person will be able to make any arrangements needed with other operating companies.
In Northern Ireland, the Disability Discrimination Act allows the Northern Ireland Department of the Environment to ensure that all trains brought into use after 31 December 1998 operated by Northern Ireland Railways are accessible to disabled people.
Concessionary fares
If you are disabled you can buy a disabled person’s railcard which entitles you and an accompanying adult to one third off the price of a rail ticket. Application forms are available from main stations, or from the Disabled Persons Railcard Office. Existing railcard users can renew their railcard by telephone (see under heading Organisations which give help and advice for address).
In Northern Ireland, disabled people aged 16-65 can travel for half price on trains (after 65 you can travel for free). You will need to apply to the Concessionary Fare Scheme for a half fare smart-pass – see under heading Organisations which give help and advice for contact details.
Complaints
If you are not satisfied with any arrangements made or any aspect of accessibility complain to the train operator. If the operator has not kept to the terms of its disabled person’s protection policy, a complaint should be made initially to the operator and then to national rail consumer watchdog, Passenger Focus.
For more information on how to complain about train services, see Public transport.
Buses
Outside London, most Passenger Transport Authorities and local authorities with responsibility for public transport publish guides for disabled travellers. In London, a person with an enquiry about disability access to buses should contact Transport for London Access and Mobility (for address see under heading Organisations which give help and advice).
In some areas there are Dial-a-bus schemes providing door to door services for disabled people. You can get information from the local authority social services department or a local organisation for disabled people.
There are regulations covering coaches and buses so that disabled people can get on and off in safety and reasonable comfort. These depend on when a bus was brought into service, but may include the need for ramps, steps and priority seating. A driver or conductor must help you get on or off of the bus if you ask, unless there are health and safety concerns about doing so.
Concessionary fares for disabled people in England, Wales and Scotland
In England, disabled people are entitled to free bus travel at off-peak times on buses anywhere in England. They will also get any additional concessions which a local authority chooses to offer on top of that.
In Wales and Scotland, disabled people and essential companions for disabled people are entitled to a free bus pass.
For more information about concessionary fares for disabled people, see Public transport.
Concessionary fares for disabled people in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland, disabled people aged 16-65 can travel for half price on buses (after 65 you can travel for free). You will need to apply to the Concessionary Fare Scheme for a half fare smart-pass – see under heading Organisations which give help and advice for contact details.
Complaints
If you are dissatisfied with access to a bus service, complain to the bus operator. You may also want to draw the problem to the attention of the director of your local authority. The local authority may take up the complaint but will have no formal powers to make the operator respond.
For more information on how to complain about bus services, see Public transport.
Coaches
There are similar provisions for disability access to coaches as for buses (see above). If you plan to travel by coach you may want to contact the operator when arranging the journey to let the operator know what arrangements you need and to see whether the facilities exist to meet them.
Underground services
There are similar provisions for disability access to underground services as for coaches and buses - see above. To check provisions for disabled people on the underground service in your area, contact the Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) for travel outside London, or Transport for London's Access and Mobility for travel in London (see under heading Organisations which give help and advice for addresses).
Disabled people may be entitled to concessionary fares on the underground.
For more information on how to complain about underground services, for the addresses of Passenger Transport Executives and for more information about concessionary fares, see Public transport.
Taxis and minicabs
Drivers of licensed taxis and minicabs are required to carry a guide dog and hearing dog, or an assistance dog accompanying a person with epilepsy or a physical disability, free of charge.
Under the Disability Discrimination Act, the government has the power to make regulations requiring all licensed taxis to be accessible to disabled people, including those who use wheelchairs and to allow them to be carried in safety and reasonable comfort. Drivers of taxis which have been made accessible for disabled people will be obliged to help them in and out of their taxis and help with luggage.
In London, all newly-licensed taxis must be able to carry a wheelchair and all taxis must be wheelchair accessible by 1 January 2012.
In London, a scheme called the Taxicard scheme subsidizes the cost of taxis for people with serious mobility problems who can't use public transport. For more information, go to the Transport for London website at www.tfl.gov.uk.
Apart from the provision about dogs, mentioned earlier, there is no provision for disability access to minicabs.
Northern Ireland operates a public and private hire taxi service. Public hire (black) taxis display a yellow plate issued by the Department of the Environment and operate from ranks. They are required to carry guide and hearing dogs or assistance dogs as in Great Britain. They must also be wheelchair accessible. This is not the case with private hire taxis.
Aircraft
If you plan to travel by air you should inform your travel agent or the airline of your special needs and what kind of assistance you will need both in the airport and on the aircraft.
For example, wheelchairs may be available at large airports and it may be possible to arrange special seating on the aircraft. The airline can arrange for a porter to help with baggage and for someone to help you through immigration and customs controls.
Airlines and travel companies are not allowed by law to refuse to accept bookings from disabled passengers. This applies to all flights leaving an airport in the European Union (EU) and to any flight arriving in an EU country on an EU airline. This law covers people who wouldn't normally be covered by disability discrimination legislation, such as those with a temporary injury.
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Help with using transport
Red Cross Escort service
The Red Cross provides an escort service to enable disabled people make short or long journeys that they would otherwise find difficult. Escort services include providing a companion for a journey on public transport, a private car with a driver or a Red Cross ambulance. A charge is made.
St John Patient Transport Service in Wales
St John Cymru Wales can provide non-emergency medical transport for people who have difficulty in using public transport or normal cars. They can provide specially adapted wheelchair accessible vehicles and fully equipped ambulances. They also provide a hospital car service for able-bodied patients, driven by drivers trained in emergency aid and manual handling. A charge is made for all these services. For more information, visit the St John Cymru Wales website at: www.stjohnwales.co.uk.
Thistle Travel card Scheme (Scotland only)
The Thistle Travel Card scheme, in Scotland, helps people with a disability to use public transport. The card indicates to transport staff that its holder has a learning or other disability and may need support during their journey. The scheme applies to buses, trains (including underground trains) and taxis. The card does not give the holder a travel discount or concession. You can get the card in transport booking offices, local authority concessionary travel offices, day centres and carers' centres. The scheme is administered by Enable Scotland. For the address of Enable Scotland, see under heading Organisations which give help and advice.
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Organisations which give help and advice
The Forum of Mobility Centres
The Forum of Mobility Centres
C/O Providence Chapel
Warehorne
Ashford
Kent
TN26 2JX
Email: mobility@rcht.cornwall.nhs.uk
Website: www.mobility-centres.org.uk
The Forum of Mobility Centres comprises 17 centres in the UK that offer advice and information to the older and disabled motorist.
Disabled Persons Railcard Office
PO Box 163
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE12 9WX
Tel: 0191 218 8103
Textphone: 0191 269 0304
Website: www.disabledpersons-railcard.co.uk
Concessionary Fare Scheme (Northern Ireland)
Translink
Milewater Road
Belfast
BT3 9BG
Tel: 0845 600 0049
Banstead Mobility Centre
Damson Way
Fountain Drive
Carshalton
Surrey SM5 4NR
Tel: 020 8770 1151
The centre offers a free information service on all aspects of outdoor mobility. It provides assessment of driving capabilities, advice on appropriate types of vehicles and on conversions and adaptations. A fee is charged for the assessment. The centre can also advise on financial schemes and concessions to help purchase or hire a vehicle.
Disability Action (NI)
Portside Business Park
189 Airport Road West
Belfast
BT3 9ED
Tel: 028 9029 7800
Textphone: 028 9029 7881
Fax: 028 9029 7881
E-mail: hq@disabilityaction.org
Website: www.disabilityaction.org
Disability Action (NI) provides information on all aspects of disability. It also provides an assessment service, advice on adaptations to vehicles and driving lessons in specially adapted cars.
Mobilise
Ashwellthorpe
Norwich
NR16 1EX
Tel: 01508 489449
Fax: 01508 488173
E-mail hq@mobilise.info
Website: www.justwebs.co.uk/mobilise
This charity is the result of a merger between the Disabled Drivers' Association and the Disabled Drivers' Motor Club. It aims to protect the interests of disabled drivers and to encourage and help disabled people to achieve greater mobility.
Blue Badge Helpline
The Blue Badge Helpline can give you more information about using the Blue Badge Scheme. The Helpline is open from 9am to 5pm and you can leave a message after hours. The Helpline number is 020 7944 2914 or 0161 367 0009.
Motability
Motability supplies cars, scooters and wheelchairs to disabled people.
Motability Car Scheme
City Gate House
22 Southwark Bridge Road
London
SE1 9HB
Telephone: 0845 456 4566
Minicom: 0845 675 0009
Website: www.motability.co.uk
Motability Wheelchair and Scooter Scheme
route2mobility
Newbury Road
Enham Alamein
Andover
Hampshire
SP11 6JS
Telephone: 0845 60 762 60
Fax: 01264 384482
Website: www.motability.co.uk
Passenger Transport Executive
For addresses of regional Passenger Transport Executives, see Public Transport
Passenger Focus
Passenger Focus is the independent national rail consumer watchdog.
To find out how to contact Passenger Focus, see Public Transport.
Transport for London Access and Mobility
Windsor House
42/50 Victoria Street
London SW1H 0TL
Tel: 020 7222 1234
Fax: 020 7941 4605
Website: www.tfl.gov.uk
Scottish Driving Assessment Service
Astley Ainslie Centre
133 Grange Loan
Edinburgh EH9 2HL
Tel: 0131 537 9192
Fax: 0131 537 9193
The Scottish Driving Assessment Service offers advice to disabled people who wish to drive. It also offers assessment on fitness to drive.
Mobility and Access Committee for Scotland (MACS)
Chevron Suite
Innove Campus
Rosyth Europarc
Rosyth KY11 2UU
Tel: 01383 428 031
Fax:01383 428 001
Email: macs@ednet.co.uk
Website: www.macs-mobility.org
MACS is an advisory committee to the Scottish Government and represents the transport needs of disabled people in Scotland. Although it cannot take up individual complaints, it can pass on information about problems with public transport experienced by people with disabilities.
Enable (Scotland)
Enable National Office (Scotland)
6th Floor
7 Buchanan Street
Glasgow G1 3HL
Tel: 0141 226 4541
Fax: 0141 204 4398
Email: enable@enable.org.uk
Website: www.enable.org.uk
Enable is the contact point for the Thistle Travel scheme in Scotland. For information about the scheme, see under heading Escort services and other help.
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