Mobility
Schemes designed to improve the mobility of Community Care clients include:
- Disabled Drivers Scheme
- Blue Badge Scheme
Disabled Drivers Scheme
The Disabled Drivers Scheme provides assistance to people who are disabled in obtaining a specially adapted vehicle to suit their disability and needs. Professional advice is available on suitable vehicles, vehicle adaptations, or specialist equipment. Financial assistance may be available either towards a deposit to purchase or rent a suitable vehicle under the Motability Scheme subject to Occupational Therapy assessment, towards annual running costs or for specialist adaptations.
People in receipt of the higher rate of Mobility Allowance or the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disabled Living Allowance, who after assessment by an occupational therapist, require a particular vehicle or adaptation, may apply.
Financial assistance may be available to those who are not eligible for the Motability Scheme because of age, or if the allowance is time limited.
The applicant's financial situation and that of the family will be taken into consideration.
For more details and information about how to apply, call Social Care on 01595 744400.
The Blue Badge Scheme
The Blue Badge Scheme operates throughout the UK and is for people with severe mobility problems, enabling badge holders to park close to where they need to go. The scheme is administered by local authorities who deal with applications and issue badges. It is designed to help people who are unable to walk, or who are virtually unable to walk, to travel independently, as either a driver or as a passenger, by allowing them to park close to their destination.
Registered blind people and people with very severe upper limb disabilities who drive a vehicle but cannot turn a steering wheel by hand are also covered by the scheme.
As an individual you may be eligible for a badge if you fulfil one of the following criteria:
- you receive the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance
- you receive a War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement
- you receive an award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS)
- you have a severe disability in both upper limbs, regularly drive a motor vehicle but cannot turn the steering wheel of a motor vehicle by hand
- you have a permanent and substantial disability which means you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk. In this case, you may be asked some questions to help your Local Authority decide if you are entitled to a badge
- you are registered blind
- you are unable to walk or virtually unable to walk because of a temporary but substantial disability which is likely to last for a period of at least 12 months but less than 3 years
- children under 3 whose medical needs require that he or she is accompanied by bulky medical equipment which includes, in particular, any of the following:
i) ventilators
ii) suction machines
iii) feed pumps
iv) parenteral equipment
v) syringe drivers
vi) oxygen administration equipment
vii) continual oxygen saturation equipment
viii) casts and associated medical equipment for the correct of hip dysplasia
People with a psychological disorder will not normally qualify unless their impairment causes very considerable, and not intermittent, difficulty in walking.
The Blue Badge is only for the benefit of the person it is issued to and not to friends, relatives or other users of the car.
The purpose of the scheme is to allow badge holders to park close to amenities and other places. The badge belongs to the badge holder and not to the vehicle the badge holder is travelling in. The badge holder will therefore only be issued with one badge. Allowing someone else to use a badge is a criminal offence. To reduce the risk of this happening accidentally, badge holders should remove the badge from the vehicle whenever they are not using the parking concessions.
Further information is available on the Transport Scotland website.
Shetland Islands Council provide reserved parking places for badge holders.
If you think you may be entitled, contact Transport Services at:
20 Commercial Road, Lerwick, Shetland or
Tel. 01595 744868
