[Blind-rollers] For anyone in the UK

[qubit]

it's interesting to persons outside the UK as well, even if not directly 
impacted.
As a step toward bridging the gap between 2 opposing opinions, perhaps you 
can come up with mobility training for visually impaired persons using a 
power chair.  I mean, I kind of agree that the walking public is not 
altogether safe when someone is driving full speed in a power chair and hits 
them from behind.  You have your own method of travel with mobility aids 
that prevent collisions.  If they are trying to ban all visually impaired 
persons from having and using power chairs, perhaps the alternative is to 
require training mobility training, and then have ready a description of 
effective cane travel in a power chair and how it is done.
It's just a thought.
Good luck.
--le


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Sasha Ayres" <sashaallears at yahoo.co.uk>
To: <blind-rollers at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, March 15, 2010 8:09 AM
Subject: [Blind-rollers] For anyone in the UK


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





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