[Blind-rollers] For anyone in the UK

[Sasha Ayres]

Help protect blind wheelchair users’ right to freedom in the UK.

The Department for Transport is currently consulting on proposed changes to the laws covering powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.  One of the proposed changes is to introduce a fitness to drive test that would include an eyesight test.  Imposing a vision requirement would have appalling consequences for those of us who are blind and need to use a wheelchair; it would rob us of our right to freedom.

With appropriate use of long canes, guide dogs and/or electronic obstacle detectors, blind people can and do safely use powered mobility vehicles.  I support the need to promote the safe use of powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs.  I would support any moves to improve the training available to blind users of powered wheelchairs.  However, the assumption that good eyesight is necessary for the safe use of powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs is prejudice, discriminatory and utterly unacceptable.

I am blind and use a powered wheelchair, a long cane and an ultrasonic obstacle detector.  Most of the time, I detect obstacles (including people) using the ultrasonic obstacle detector and manoeuvre around them without making contact at all.  Sometimes my cane contacts an obstacle (or person) but this is no different than for a blind person who is walking.  Since the initial period of learning to control the chair, which I did entirely on private land, I have never hit an obstacle or person with my wheelchair.  

My powered wheelchair is able to go at speeds up to 4mph.  I find that this speed is safe in quiet uncluttered areas.  In more crowded or difficult areas I slow the speed down.  Personally I would not feel very safe going above 4mph but other blind users using other obstacle-detecting or obstacle-avoiding tools may feel safe at higher speeds.  There may be a case for restricting the maximum speed for blind users to be appropriate for the obstacle-detecting/avoiding tools they are using but any such restrictions should reflect genuine distances at which obstacles can be detected and the space needed to manoeuvre and must not be based on prejudice assumptions.

Using my power chair with a long cane and ultrasonic obstacle detector I am able to independently and safely get out and about.  If the use of powered wheelchairs were restricted to those with good eyesight, blind wheelchair users, such as myself, would be trapped in our homes and robbed of our right to freedom.

Don’t let the Department of Transport imprison blind wheelchair users.  Please respond to the consultation on proposed changes to the laws governing powered mobility scooters and powered wheelchairs (DFT 2010-10) available online at http://www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/open/2010-10/ and oppose the inclusion of an eyesight test in the fitness to drive test.

The mor of us who respond, the better our chance of preventing this change from being enacted.  I do hope that you will act on this and I would appreciate it if you would please let me know what action you have taken.  If you would like to discuss the issue further, please contact me.

Please note that this is a UK only consultation.

Yours sincerely,

Sasha Ayres