Last week, it was the safety of older motorists – this time, it's all about scooter users!

Nottingham Trent University is making a road safety video aimed at new mobility scooter riders.

They would like to hear from anyone within reach of Nottingham who would be prepared to ride along a preplanned route with a camera and eye tracking app, to see the journey from your point of view. The footage will form part of the final video. Both experienced and novice riders are needed.

If you have scooter experiences you would like to share, wherever you're located, they'd like to hear those, as well.

You can read more here

  

Since I wrote last week about Belinda Schwehr's analysis of the lost Care Act appeal against Oxfordshire County Council, I've had a number of people querying one particular aspect of the case. Namely, that the core of Luke Davey's team of paid carers were members of his family.

It is generally not possible to be paid for providing care to a partner or family member that you live with. Carer's Allowance is the only remuneration normally available for full-time family carers. And then, only those who aren't receiving a state pension...

However, there is nothing unlawful about a close family member being paid to provide care if they don't live in the same household, and the disabled person has not been able to find other suitable carers.

Read Belinda's Community Care article

 

 

HIAs (Home Improvement Agencies) are responsible for helping disabled and elderly people to continue living safely in their own homes.

From handyperson services to processing Disabled Facilities Grants, HIAs are one of the cornerstones of independent living.

Their efforts are recognised with annual awards, organised by Foundations, the national body for home improvement agencies.

You can read about the winners here 

 

InstructAbility is well known for their award-winning gym instructor training courses for disabled people.

However, the fitness activity that most of us go for is swimming, and until now, there hasn't been an accessible swimming teacher course.

That is about to change, with the first such course starting in Nottingham, thanks to a collaboration between the local council, the Institute of Swimming and Aspire, the spinal injury charity behind InstructAbility.

Find out more here

 

Most of us head online for initial product research, even if we plan to go and look at our selection in the flesh, so to speak, subsequently.

Long-time Independent Living site subscriber, Theraposture, has just launched a new, user-friendly website. Acting as an information hub, the Theraposture website will continue to expand with both product details and educational material, helping users to make more of an informed decision.

You can read more here

  

If you provide high quality products and services, and you would like to reach our site visitors and newsletter readers, please email derek@independentliving.co.uk

 

BHTA (British Healthcare Trades Association), which is the oldest healthcare body in the country, is raising money this month for Scope.

Steptember is the challenge to members of their stairlift section to walk at least 10,000 steps every day of the month, adding up to about 150 miles in total. Companion Stairlifts is one of the companies taking part – their team of 19 volunteers will walk over 2,850 miles to complete the challenge.

Read more here

 

Don't forget that you can apply to join the Independent Living Facebook group, if you would like to spend more time discussing these themes with other interested people. 

 

There are various ways you can get in touch with us: email me; visit our Facebook page and leave a message there; or if it's short and sweet, Tweet!

Previous newsletters are archived here.

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Until next time, all good wishes,

Frances