Disability charity Queen Elizabeth’s Foundation for Disabled People (QEF) is celebrating 40 years since opening the UK’s first mobility centre in 1982. Since that date they have supported over 200,000 people with mobility advice and provided 35,000 assessments and more than 30,000 hours of tuition.
On 24 March QEF Mobility Services in Carshalton, South London, is holding an open day offering free mobility assessments for adults and children to help people increase their independence.
QEF MERU Bugzi and toys
The day will be packed with helpful information, specialist exhibitors demonstrating the latest mobility equipment and QEF’s experts offering a range of FREE mini assessments for children and adults, including:
– driving an adapted car on QEF’s private track, no licence needed (for 15 year olds+)
– Tryb4uFly assessment in a mock aircraft cabin, for those thinking of flying as or with a disabled passenger
– wheelchair and scooter assessments
– transfer and seating solutions
– children’s assessments including car seats and Bugzi – a mini powered wheelchair provided free from QEF’s partner charity MERU.
As part of this event there will also be the first chance to see QEF’s and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s new series of films around Flying with a Hidden Disability, providing practical advice and information on how to fly with confidence if you have, or are travelling with someone who has, dementia, aphasia, a stoma or autism. James Fremantle, Manager for Consumer Policy and Enforcement at the UK Civil Aviation Authority will be officially opening QEF’s Mobility Open Day at 10am.
These unique films have been developed with the support of specialist charities including Livability, Alzheimer’s Society, Colostomy UK and Dyscover.
Each film features the story of individuals with these specific hidden disabilities and their experiences of how to travel by air, as well as useful information on what you need to prepare in advance, arrival at the airport and going through security. They are a continuation of QEF’s and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s ground-breaking first film ‘How to fly as a Powered Wheelchair User’ which is available to watch at www.qef.org.uk/flight_video_guides.
Mobility Open Day event details:
Date: Thursday 24 March 2022
Time: 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Price: Free entrance and free introductory assessments which need to be pre-booked.
To book assessment: Call 020 8770 1151 or email mobility@qef.org.uk and quote ‘March Open Day’
Location: QEF Mobility Services, 1 Metcalfe Avenue, Carshalton SM5 4AN
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