"Driving Assessments for people with a disability"

My Name is Sharon Reynolds. Advice & Information Officer, raising awareness for The Regional Driving Assessment Centres, for Birmingham, Oxford & Cannock & Hull - helping people maintain independence through mobility.

The RDAC specialises in providing assessments for people who want to learn to drive or return to driving with a disability, have suffered a Stroke or following a debilitating illness. The centre is staffed by a team of dedicated and experienced professionals - including specialist driving instructors and occupational therapists – and has a range of adapted vehicles permanently available, which can cater for a wide variety of mobility needs.

Even more now with an ageing population, people are wanting to drive until they are older and this places quite a strain on general practitioners who will be asked by patients about their ability to continue driving or return to driving, or for the general public who themselves have concerns regarding their mobility following an illness or general health.

We feel that this is where we are able to support all organisations who can suggest to their patients/clients that they attend the centre for a practical assessment of their ability to drive providing that they meet the current DVLA regulations of medical fitness to drive.

The fee for a driving assessment is subsidised, currently £80. The fee for a passenger assessment is again subsidised, currently £20 All fees are stated on the Application Form which can be downloaded from our website www.rdac.co.uk The website holds invaluable information that we hope you will find useful.

We would like to do the following:

1) Supply a quantity of our information leaflet for patients/general public to take away with them and a poster for prominent display on Hospital & GP Surgery notice boards, Care Homes, Community Centres and raise awareness for anyone that has mobility difficulties.

2) Organisations to give a short presentation to all Staff, Professionals & Volunteers explaining who we are and what we do. Obviously we fully appreciate the time and availability constraints of all involved and we are more than happy to slot in at the end of a pre-arranged seminar for example. We would be able to tailor this to fit in with any available time that you have.

Should you require any further information on our service please do not hesitate to contact me on 0845 337 1540 or via email either directly sreynolds@rdac.co.uk or info@rdac.co.uk if you would like us to post to you leaflets and a poster for display.

Yours faithfully

Sharon Reynolds

Customer Liaison & Information Officer

Regional Driving Assessment Centre

Unit 11, Network Park

Duddeston MIll Road

Saltley, Birmingham

B8 1AU

Tel: 0845 337 1540

Fax: 0121 333 4468

Registered Charity No. 1122214

Registered Company No 5962393