Returning to driving .

[HelenBaker]

Hi , I am trying to get back to driving after a break of 7 years . I have been out for an accessment and need to. Have lessons with an instructor with a car with hand control's as my feet are both affected by my CMT and parkinsons . My problem is finding an instructor in my area I have tried BSM and the A A Also tried QEF . If anyone could advise on any other places to try I would be grateful. Thanks . Helen .

[Amanita]

Hi Helen,

Can you try contacting the driving assessment people and asking them about instructors in your area ? The assessor in Edinburgh was very helpful, and gave me the contact details of the ONLY instructor with an automatic ( with the option of hand controls) based 40 miles from me, and covering a huge area of Scotland. It was two months before he had a vacancy for me.

In my case, my hands are too weak to operate standard hand controls and I had to learn to use my right foot on the accelerator (=normal) and my left on the brake (=anything but), as my feet have a very poor sense of position.

Apparently if you live around Inverness, there is no driving instructor at all with an automatic car (let alone hand controls ).

I am sorry that you are having to cope with the added problems of Parkinsons, and do hope that you will find an instructor reasonably near to you.

[Exhausted101]

If you're in Scotland the Astley Ainsley centre in Edinburgh might be able to provide a list (they do assessments) ; alternatively have you tried contacting Motability - they might be worth a go?

I'm in Glasgow and I had lessons with BSM.

[HelenBaker in reply to Exhausted101]

Hi , I have finally found a driving instructor after a few more phone calls thanks for your replys .

[Amanita]

Glad you've found an instructor, Helen - hope it's someone good, and that you'll not find it too hard to learn to use hand controls.

Good luck ! Driving will give you a tremendous sense of freedom, and as you are returning to it rather than starting from scratch, you won't be facing a test.

[chicodex]

I was dragged in just B4 easter for an 'assessment' by the newly appointed 'Maximus'.

Because I drive a manual car (all I could afford to buy) I was demerited and lost my ESA - what a nightmare it has been since - I am being taken to a court hearing to defend the fact that I have CMT type 2 axonal ... nobody knows what it is!!!!

14 years to get a proper diagnosis - I have been lucky enough to be seen by one the country's top Neurologists at Queen Square (a 5 minute consultation, once a year).

blahblahblah... Aargh, don't get me started

WEIRD!!