Driving
Driving is the key to independence for many people with hydrocephalus or spina bifida and the following information is to help you get started.
Driving Licences
You may find that there is some delay in obtaining a provisional licence as the DVLA will often make a medical check with your own doctor before issuing the licence.
If you have a history of seizures you will normally have had to be seizure free for a year before getting a licence (if you only have seizures in your sleep, this may be different). You can also not drive for six months after a shunt revision. Details of all the medical rules for obtaining a driving licence can be found on the DVLA website at www.dvla.gov.uk
Driving Assessments
Anyone with hydrocephalus or spina bifida should have a driving assessment before spending a lot of money on lessons and a car. Hydrocephalus can affect driving ability (for example how to judge speed and distances, co-ordination, concentration etc) and it is important to see if this is likely to be a problem. Driving instructors may say that they can do this assessment for you but it is difficult for them to be truly independent.
An independent driving assessment is also very useful if you need to apply to Motability for a grant for a specially adapted vehicle - most people with spina bifida need power assisted steering and may well need an automatic car with hand controls and possibly special seating, hoist etc.
An assessment could cost anything from £60 to over £100 but is money well spent (it may be cheaper if you just want information on aids and adaptations). It consists of a medical assessment, usually a drive on a private roadway (for which you do not need a provisional licence) and an assessment by a professional such as a physiotherapist or occupational therapist: you will have your vision tested and sometimes be asked to do a few perceptual tests. For details of where your nearest independent mobility centre is contact: Motability's customer services on 01279 635666, or phone MAVIS (Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Centre) on 01344 661000
Driving Lessons
If you have a Motability car, you can apply to Motability for help with the cost of driving lessons; under their Charitable Driving Lessons scheme.
Motability also administer the Young Drivers Scholarship scheme for 16-24 year-olds who receive the higher rate of DLA Mobility Component and have a provisional licence. For this scheme you do not have to have a Motability car.
To apply for either of these schemes write to Motability at Goodman House, Station Approach, Harlow, Essex CM20 2ET, giving your name, national insurance number, age and date of birth and outlining your needs.
Motability will send you an application form to fill in and return. It takes some weeks for the application to be processed and for a decision to be made as to whether you have been successful. Funds are limited.
Details of instructors who have done a special training course for teaching disabled drivers are available from Queen Elizabeth Foundation Mobility Centre, telephone 020 8770 1151, or MAVIS on 01344 661000, along with details of whether their learner vehicles are adapted. Also, BSM has 200 instructors who have undertaken specialised mobility training to teach disabled people to drive - for more details contact them on 08457 276276.
The Association of Wheelchair Children will fund a course of 10 lessons for a wheelchair user of 16 or 17. The client must be sponsored by a professional and AWC must be in receipt of a pro forma invoice from a registered driving school using qualified driving instructors for 10 hours worth of lesson (e.g. 10 one hour lessons or 5 two hour lessons).
Association of Wheelchair Children, 6 Woodman Parade, Woodman Street, North Woolwich, London E16 2II Tel. 0870 121 0050
Financial Help with Adaptations
Motability have long waiting lists for applications to both the funds they administer for help with adaptations, so apply in writing well before you think that you will need the vehicle. Motability's Charitable Grant can provide help towards adaptations such as hand controls, swivel seats or wheelchair hoists. The Specialised Vehicles Fund is for more costly and complex adaptations such as wheelchair accessible vehicles and special controls eg joystick steering.
After the initial contact, they will send you a detailed application form and also advise that you approach voluntary organisations such as ASBAH, for some additional help towards the cost of adaptations. ASBAH can sometimes give limited help towards adaptations such as hand controls but cannot help with car deposits.
Motability will expect you to contribute a certain amount if this is your first application. If you are living at home with your parents, their financial details will be taken into account by Motability. If, after Motability has given you a decision, there is still a shortfall, it is sometimes possible to approach other trusts for help. Let ASBAH know as early as you can if you are likely to need help with this - it often takes a long time and probably will not be successful for deposits but might be possible for items such as hoists.
Theory Exam
This may be difficult for some people, especially those with hydrocephalus, so do ask about any extra help or time which may be available to you. BSM has facilities on its web site for people to practice theory tests, as often as they wish for one month, for a fee of £5.99. Visit BSM's web site at: www.bsm.co.uk
Wheelchairs
If you are a wheelchair user, it is important for you to be able to get your wheelchair in and out of your car without help. This may mean that you need to look at hoists or special chairs, or might just mean buying a really lightweight chair if you can't manage those available from the wheelchair service. You might use the wheelchair service voucher system for this. Again, it is sometimes possible to raise some (but not all) financial help towards this, so contact ASBAH if you think you will need help.
Further Information
The following organisations can be contacted for information:
MAVIS (Mobility Advice and Vehicle Information Centre): 01344 661000 email:mavis@dft.gsi.gov.uk Web site: www.dft.gov.uk (then go to Access and click on MAVIS)
Queen Elizabeth Foundation Mobility Centre: Telephone 020 770 1151
Disabled Drivers Association: Helpline 0870 770 3333 Email: ddahq@aol.com Web site: www.dda.org.uk
Disabled Drivers Motor Club: Helpline 01832 734724 Email: info@ddmc.org.uk Web site: www.ddmc.org.uk
Motability-the leading car scheme for disabled people: Web site: www.motability.co.uk
If you have a problem or query you can ASBAH’s Helpline on 0845 450 7755 Monday – Friday at local call rates or email via helpline@asbah.org.
Back to Medical Advice homepage