My licence has been revoked :( But good news at the end :)

Mupette

Well its the next day, and remarkably i slept well.

So yes Monday plan is to arrange an appointment with Dial, having independent advice will be valuable to me.

Tulip

:hello: Mupette,
So glad you managed to sleep well.Good luck on Monday

Mupette

Slowly trying to get my thoughts together and try and be rational.

I'm a member of the MS Society forums and the support there as well as here has been a HUGE help.

I've sat and poured out my fears to OH, if i speak them, then they are off my chest.

I've recently moved to the other side of Bristol to the outskirts, nice peaceful, quiet purpose built bungalow, i felt happy, new home, new start no longer housebound due to silly council rules.

And now the area will be all wrong... i am miles from anything
i fear i will become a caged animal, cabin fever etc.

the one thing that got me through the day with living with MS was i was very fortunate to have a motability car that was perfect for me.

been looking at hire of scooters, but my dla mobility money is all tied up in the car, so this is something i would need to fund myself, as it is i am frantically saving for a washing machine, mine got damaged when i moved / it was on it's last legs.

I've finally reached the top of the list for a social worker to visit me, but i know this is going to be bad, she rings my mobile late in the working day, for me to call her back, last 3 days i have missed 2 calls, i ring back and she will ring late in the day, bit of a cat and mouse thing. I rang yesterday and lost if for a second and when i was told she was out of the room, i told the caller if the person who was assigned to me would stop playing cat and mouse with me as i really need this assessment now and explained why......... guess what she didn't call back

Ok it's off my chest, time to be positive.

bored_at_home

oh, the dvla again.... ho hum...

on the letter you recieved it will tell you that you have the right to appeal, but if you wish to appeal you must inform them first...

write them a letter stating you will be exercising your right to appeal to the magistrates court as you feel the decision is a wrong one. you will also be going to a regional motability assesment centre for an assesment to prove your case.

the dvla admitted to me it is easier to revoke a licence and then just deal with it further if needbe than it is to fully assess every case. it wont get to court appeal, they will send you another letter saying further investigations can be done without the need for court and will send you for a driving assesment or to see a doctor of their choosing.

they have no thought or consideration for the fact treating people like that is demoralising.. in my case each time a regional assesment centre wasnt of any use as it related to truck entitlement rather than a car.

iv been through this three times with them now, and each time theyv took certain entitlements off me which stopped me doing my job, then iv had to fight and got them reinstated. i accused them of disability descrimination , and got an apology promising after reading my complaint procedures were going to be changed.
my case was used as a test case in front of a dvla panel in london with ref to people with ms and licencing laws.

they are the most unhelpful organisation i have ever had to deal with.

sunnyone

qwertyuiop12345 wrote: »

I'm glad you gave the OP hope, along with some very helpful advice, but I must take issue with the sentence quoted above.

Comments like this really aren't nice for those of us who can no longer drive due to illness or disability. It just isn't true to say that all physically disabled people can drive with aids - some can; some can't - and making such a statement seems to me to be similar to saying things like "all disabled people can work in some job". It suggests that those of us who can't drive are somehow just not trying hard enough. You probably didn't mean it in this way, but hopefully you''ll be able to understand why I felt I had to mention it.

I have been assessed by my regional mobility center a few times (Im back in September to try out WAVs) and the purpose of these centers is to help all physically disabled people who want to drive the means to allow them to drive, the aids available are amazing and it is true that if you have one controlable stump you can physically drive a car today.

There are many disabled people who will never be able to drive due to siezures etc. and that will never change but for purely physical disabilities its possible to learn/relearn to drive albe it very expensive but grants are avaialble to help with the costs.

Im sorry that you found my post offensive, it certainly wasnt meant as such but as support and information to muppette as to how to get her licence back.

Savvy_Sue

Mupette wrote: »

as it is i am frantically saving for a washing machine, mine got damaged when i moved / it was on it's last legs.

Have you looked to see whether SOFA Project have any? Or Emmaus?

Also if you are in the NW bit of Bristol there are disability aid shops near Waitrose in Henleaze and in Westbury Village, don't know names or if they are any good but worth making sure you find them if anywhere near you!

Mupette

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

Have you looked to see whether SOFA Project have any? Or Emmaus?

Also if you are in the NW bit of Bristol there are disability aid shops near Waitrose in Henleaze and in Westbury Village, don't know names or if they are any good but worth making sure you find them if anywhere near you!

I would but..... been there so many times with a second hand machine, lucky if they last 6 months.

Because of an embarrassing problem with waterworks and MS, I need a new machine with guarantees and warranties that will last a few years at least, I hope i don't come across as a snob, believe me my whole house is full of hand me downs and second hand, sofa last year from sofa project. Washing machine really does have to be new.

I don't live near henleaze, but i do know where you mean. I'm in Ashton Vale, 2 long roads in and out that is it, almost like a mini village, beautiful, peaceful, quiet it is perfect, but now the transport is on hold, i'll be kind of trapped.

2 buses, 24/25 will only take me to town center, then i would need to change buses to get to any other part of Bristol. I am fortunate i have free bus pass, but on a bad day the bus is not going to be any help, they use the old ones with steps, if i am in my wheelchair there will be no hope.

if i need to see my neurologist i dread to think how much in taxi fare that would be, maybe £50 return journey.

But i am a member of dial a ride (god send), never used them yet, but looks like i will be when they are available for where i need to go.

so the next 2 days are going to be sorting out what food i have, and what i can buy and freeze, maybe it was a sign but i bought a book the other day about thrift cooking and freezing....

I've also taken steps to try and fill my time whilst i wait for a decision to be made on my driving, i'm going to take up cross-stitch again, haven't done it in a good 15 years or so, and thought this would be good to start up, found a pattern i really like, which once made will be a Christmas pressie for the parents.


Also need to find out if i could have the half price taxi's that i didn't know existed for those with mobility issues, I have BB and as i have said free bus pass.

It takes me ages to decide what i need to go out for and build myself up to get ready and go, now the freedom to do so has been removed again... i fear cabin fever.

Savvy_Sue

Totally understand about the need for a new washing machine! don't think you're snobby at all.

Mupette wrote: »

if i need to see my neurologist i dread to think how much in taxi fare that would be, maybe £50 return journey.

But i am a member of dial a ride (god send), never used them yet, but looks like i will be when they are available for where i need to go.

I don't know exactly how Dial A Ride works, but could you not use them for getting to and from hospital? Or is there a volunteer car service in Bristol?

Mupette wrote: »

Also need to find out if i could have the half price taxi's that i didn't know existed for those with mobility issues, I have BB and as i have said free bus pass.

Definitely worth exploring, but I I thought it was either free bus pass or half price taxis, and not so many taxi journeys either. But if you can't use the bus it may be a better option!

Also have you been in touch with First (I presume it's First!) and asked when the buses will be made accessible on that route?

ash4becks

just thinking if you need to get this new would you be able to get this vat free because you do use this in relation to disability someone else might no about this

Indie_Kid

ash4becks wrote: »

just thinking if you need to get this new would you be able to get this vat free because you do use this in relation to disability someone else might no about this

That's only for adapted products.