The UKs Favourite Disability Magazine
motoring
Car Insurance – Sure Thing!
Aug 5th
Hunting for the best deal on car insurance can be difficult at the best of times – repeating your policy details each time you approach a company can be frustrating. Throw specific and possibly highly specialised adaptations into the equation, though….
Comparison websites are all the rage these days; when you’re looking for some insurance, they can save you time by sifting through numerous companies on your behalf in just a few seconds. As with any development, though, you now get certain companies proudly insisting that, because they’re not on – and so don’t pay fees to – comparison websites, they can offer you far better deals when you contact them direct. So what now?
A potential downside of the most popular comparison sites is that they are designed to be useful to as many people as possible, meaning they may have problems coping with the insurance complications arising from the specialist adaptations that many disabled motorists need even just to get into the vehicle.
TED: Aditi Shankardass: A second Opinion on Learning Disorders
Jun 30th
Developmental disorders in children are typically diagnosed by observing behavior, but Aditi Shankardass knew that we should be looking directly at their brains. She explains how a remarkable EEG device has revealed mistaken diagnoses and transformed children’s lives.
Via the wonderful TED
Feature: The First Holocaust
Apr 1st
Disabled people were the first to be targeted in Adolf Hitler’s dream of creating a Master Race. Able magazine looks back at what happened in the 1930s, why it’s still relevant today, and how disabled people are now at the forefront of bringing this hidden history to light.
MEMORIAL DAY
At moments, the contrast seemed almost unbearable: hearing about the inhumanity of the officially-sanctioned sterilisation and murder of disabled children and adults, while outside the sun shone brightly in a near cloudless blue sky, birds sung and a cooling breeze rustled through the surrounding trees.
Early May; Able magazine was among several hundred people invited by the National Holocaust Centre, in the heart of rural Nottinghamshire, to witness the official dedication of a small memorial commemorating the million-plus deaf and disabled people persecuted, sterilised or killed during the German Third Reich. While the Holocaust is rightly remembered for the murder of millions of Jews, the fact that the whole process began with Aktion T4 – the systematic sterilisation, abuse and murder of people with learning and physical impairments – has been largely forgotten. Until now.
At the heart of “Disability and the Holocaust: We Shall Not Forget” was the dedication of a rose and plaque in the Centre’s memorial gardens, paid for by members of the Nottinghamshire Disabled People’s Movement (NDPM). Supporting this was a schedule of talks and discussions on the subject of the disabled holocaust.
Writer and film director Liz Crow discussed her recent research trip to some of the actual sites where Aktion T4’s murderous activities had taken place. Some of the facilities are still operating as mental health institutions today, although Liz seemed more shocked that the plaque marking the site of the program’s long-demolished headquarters is next to a modern bus station – given the program’s increasingly iconic use of dark-windowed buses to transport disabled people to their death. More >
Adapted Vehicles: Access Doesn’t Get Easier Than This!
Apr 1st
Whether you are looking for a single wheelchair accessible vehicle or a multi-purpose people carrier, that can carry several wheelchair passengers, Atlas Vehicle Conversions can help.
With their lowering suspension and automatically deployed, low profile electric ramps, the Atlas range of wheelchair accessible cars and MPVs is one of the easiest to access and a must for anyone looking for stylish wheelchair accessible transport.
Created by Atlas Vehicle Conversions under the vehicle manufacturers’ quality control the vehicles are designed to carry both wheelchair and seated passengers, in style and comfort.
As Managing Director, Joe Cordina says, “30 years experience has given us a good insight into our customers’ needs and desires. Each customer has their own special requirements, but the common denominator is that they all want getting in and out of their vehicle to be as easy as possible and that’s where our range scores every time”.
The thoughtful design and quality finish makes these vehicles stand out from the crowd. Each vehicle comes with a full manufacturer’s warranty, nationwide after sales support and offers a choice of manual or automatic gearboxes. More >
In The Zone
Apr 1st
This year’s new Car Zone at Naidex will show just how suitably adapted vehicles are the key to mobility and independent living! More >
First Drive: Kia Cee’d
Apr 1st
Last year saw the introduction into the UK of the Kia cee’d hatchback. Yes, that’s how its name is spelled – the cee’d. Makers seem to be enjoying giving new models strange names now; perhaps it makes a new model stand out, but I won’t express a judgement on that. More >
First Drive Nissan Micra Hatchback
Apr 1st
I was particularly interested to test the latest Nissan Micra as I owned one of the original examples myself when the model first appeared a couple of decades back. More >
Adapted Vehicles: WAV Evolution
Apr 1st
For over 30 years having a wheelchair accessible vehicle has meant getting in through the back, loosing rear seats and staying in the back where the luggage should go, or, if you are really lucky, sitting in the front but still loosing a lot of the original vehicle’s features. More >
Adapted Vehicles: Sirus Automotive
Apr 1st
Sirus Automotive made a name for itself with the launch of the Renault Kangoo – a unique compact vehicle solution (both drive from and passenger up front) which is market leader in terms of design, quality and price.
Established in 2004 by long time friends Russell Venvil and Simon Pearson, Sirus are based in the Midlands and now have over 40 team members.
There are 3 simple things you need to know about Sirus Automotive…
First and foremost, Sirus offer an outstanding service to all customers, whatever your requirements. More >
First Drive: Jaguar X-Type
Apr 1st
Well, there’s no doubt about it – Jaguars are desirable and lovely cars. I had never tested one, so was delighted when their X-Type came on the Motability scheme. A week with it has confirmed my original impressions.
To begin with, you find you are in a motor car of some substance and one that other road users around you treat with respect. It handles beautifully and has all the urge you should ever need on our busy roads with its 2.2 litre engine. More >
First Drive: Smart Car
Apr 1st
The concept of the Smart car emerged in the early 1990s when the Swiss company Swatch, best known for its funky watches, sought to build an affordable city car that would fit into the smallest of parking spots and go easy on fuel. Not too long after, the company paired up with Mercedes-Benz to make the idea a reality. More >
First Drive: BMW 1 Series
Apr 1st
The BMW 1 series Coupé is a relative of BMW’s three- and five-door hatchbacks. It does seem to be the slightly chunkier cousin, though; its lines having been shortened slightly. It’s not an ugly machine but, as with other members of the family, it can’t quite be called ‘sleek’.
One of the reasons is because, as with other manufacturing sectors, there seems to be a trend for making ‘one size fits all’ – which really translates as ‘one size fits none’. More >
First Drive: VW Polo
Apr 1st
What’s reassuring about this sixth-generation Polo is Volkswagen’s decision to kit it out with big car safety equipment. There’s twin front and side airbags and every car gets ESP as standard along with whiplash resistive head restraints. More >
Get Smart!
Apr 1st
The concept of the Smart car emerged in the early 1990s when the Swiss company Swatch, best known for its kitschy watches, sought to build an affordable city car that would fit into the smallest of parking spots and go easy on fuel. Not too long after, the company paired up with Mercedes-Benz to make the idea a reality. The car was later christened “Smart,” an acronym for Swatch Mercedes Art. More >
First Drive: Kia cee’d Hatchback
Apr 1st
Last year saw the introduction into the UK of the Kia cee’d hatchback. Yes, that’s how its name is spel – the cee’d. More >
