Disability

So I thought I'd start a thread for any that about disability/being disabled or just wanting to chat about something related to it....


So has anyone had a driving assessment with the RDAC and how it went? Did they suggest certain adaptations would suit? Plus if they suggested adaptations to be able to drive how did you get those done on a car? Did you privately fund or go a motorbility route? Any idea on costs?

Despite the fact I became disabled 10years ago I still haven't claimed PIP and I'm now worried with what people are saying and honestly it would be nice to have a place to chat about everything.

FeelingPrawny said:

So I thought I'd start a thread for any that about disability/being disabled or just wanting to chat about something related to it....


So has anyone had a driving assessment with the RDAC and how it went? Did they suggest certain adaptations would suit? Plus if they suggested adaptations to be able to drive how did you get those done on a car? Did you privately fund or go a motorbility route? Any idea on costs?

Despite the fact I became disabled 10years ago I still haven't claimed PIP and I'm now worried with what people are saying and honestly it would be nice to have a place to chat about everything.

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I don't live in the U.K. so no idea about car stuff but I'm happy to have a place to chat.
I get abdominal pain from previous surgeries coupled with debilitating nausea.

There's a pain management clinic I've recently started attending, I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experience with holistic pain management?

I'm disabled. I get enhanced rate PIP for both mobility and daily living. Not going to lie - it was fucking tough (and I was previously on a lifetime award for DLA - high rate mobility, low rate care as it was called then) and I'm worried about what will happen when my current award ends. This is NOT why I voted Labour!

I do have a motability car - no adaptations though.

Happy to discuss whatever takes your fancy

MaineCoonMama said:

I don't live in the U.K. so no idea about car stuff but I'm happy to have a place to chat.
I get abdominal pain from previous surgeries coupled with debilitating nausea.

There's a pain management clinic I've recently started attending, I'd be interested to hear if anyone else has experience with holistic pain management?

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I did wonder if you'd pop in, you're so insightful with your posts in other groups .

I'm not sure about pain management clinic, the one I went to was horrendous. Is holistic pain management a more natural route? As that's something that definitely sounds a good route. How are you?

Be More Pacific said:

I'm disabled. I get enhanced rate PIP for both mobility and daily living. Not going to lie - it was fucking tough (and I was previously on a lifetime award for DLA - high rate mobility, low rate care as it was called then) and I'm worried about what will happen when my current award ends. This is NOT why I voted Labour!

I do have a motability car - no adaptations though.

Happy to discuss whatever takes your fancy

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Thank you. I've honestly put it off for so long and I'm now at a point where I know it would really help. I've heard that they've changed the points system? Did you ring up to apply? As talking on the phone is something that's a struggle because my words don't always come out right or just repeat the same word over .

What type of motobility car do you have? I know I'd need something slightly higher due to my right side.
How are you?

FeelingPrawny said:

I did wonder if you'd pop in, you're so insightful with your posts in other groups .

I'm not sure about pain management clinic, the one I went to was horrendous. Is holistic pain management a more natural route? As that's something that definitely sounds a good route. How are you?

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I'm ok today, thank you! The clinic I've started covers everything from Attention Training which is focusing your mind on other things (counting what you can see, smell and hear when pain is happening) to physiotherapy. It goes for about 6 months to a year.

It's a full mental and physical way to help minimise the way pain affects you. I get angry when I'm having a bad episode so I'm hoping to address that as I don't like feeling that way, it's not helpful at all.
I have a Teams session once a week (I've just started it) and the others in the group have said how much the clinic has helped them so I'm feeling positive about it.

MaineCoonMama said:

I'm ok today, thank you! The clinic I've started covers everything from Attention Training which is focusing your mind on other things (counting what you can see, smell and hear when pain is happening) to physiotherapy. It goes for about 6 months to a year.

It's a full mental and physical way to help minimise the way pain affects you. I get angry when I'm having a bad episode so I'm hoping to address that as I don't like feeling that way, it's not helpful at all.
I have a Teams session once a week (I've just started it) and the others in the group have said how much the clinic has helped them so I'm feeling positive about it.

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That sounds great and so different to what we have here. I completely get what you mean with being angry when in a bad episode 🫂.
I've had therapy and then got referred to neuropsychology, except the sessions were inaccessible for me to go to. Which is ridiculous as I'd waited so long and had also has had phone chats with the person I'd of been working with. (So even when I made no sense, she understood). Does your clinic do things like acupuncture and acupressure? I think sometimes we're hardest on ourselves in a bad patch, which makes us feel worse. I've been thinking whether or not to ask about going back on antidepressants but part of me doesn't want to. I struggle with medication, mentally and emotionally if that makes sense.
I'm glad it's made you more positive, you're like a sunflower on bad day and so you should feel good about you, even when it's hard

FeelingPrawny said:

That sounds great and so different to what we have here. I completely get what you mean with being angry when in a bad episode 🫂.
I've had therapy and then got referred to neuropsychology, except the sessions were inaccessible for me to go to. Which is ridiculous as I'd waited so long and had also has had phone chats with the person I'd of been working with. (So even when I made no sense, she understood). Does your clinic do things like acupuncture and acupressure? I think sometimes we're hardest on ourselves in a bad patch, which makes us feel worse. I've been thinking whether or not to ask about going back on antidepressants but part of me doesn't want to. I struggle with medication, mentally and emotionally if that makes sense.
I'm glad it's made you more positive, you're like a sunflower on bad day and so you should feel good about you, even when it's hard

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I'm not sure about the acupuncture, Prawny. The best thing about the clinic is that it's located in Ferntree Gully which is one of the most beautiful metro areas in Victoria. Full of gorgeous trees and Art Deco buildings.

MaineCoonMama said:

I'm not sure about the acupuncture, Prawny. The best thing about the clinic is that it's located in Ferntree Gully which is one of the most beautiful metro areas in Victoria. Full of gorgeous trees and Art Deco buildings.

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Oh wow, I bet that is beautiful to see. More so if it's been a hard clinic session too as you're able to look at other things to be able to mentally get over it. If that makes sense. Nature really can be a powerful thing when you have a disability. I've just been watching the birds, there's a fat baby/juvenile bird who keeps squawking like a guinea pig and it makes me giggle so much.

FeelingPrawny said:

Oh wow, I bet that is beautiful to see. More so if it's been a hard clinic session too as you're able to look at other things to be able to mentally get over it. If that makes sense. Nature really can be a powerful thing when you have a disability. I've just been watching the birds, there's a fat baby/juvenile bird who keeps squawking like a guinea pig and it makes me giggle so much.

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Animals and nature certainly help! There's a lake near me I often go to just to look at the ducks and look at the dogs being exercised.
I have two happy, cuddly cats who help as well.

FeelingPrawny said:

Thank you. I've honestly put it off for so long and I'm now at a point where I know it would really help. I've heard that they've changed the points system? Did you ring up to apply? As talking on the phone is something that's a struggle because my words don't always come out right or just repeat the same word over .

What type of motobility car do you have? I know I'd need something slightly higher due to my right side.
How are you?

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They're talking about changing it. There's a consultation online about this. (I'll post a link when I have time and am not so tired!)

FeelingPrawny said:

Thank you. I've honestly put it off for so long and I'm now at a point where I know it would really help. I've heard that they've changed the points system? Did you ring up to apply? As talking on the phone is something that's a struggle because my words don't always come out right or just repeat the same word over .

What type of motobility car do you have? I know I'd need something slightly higher due to my right side.
How are you?

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It's been so long, I honestly can't remember I think I did call and they sent out the forms - this was for DLA back in the day (2001) - then I got a letter, when the time came in 2019, "inviting" me to apply for PIP. If you do apply, please, please seek out help in completing the forms, read everything you can on the internet, because they are designed to trip you up. I only got standard rate, for both mobility and daily living for three years, at first and I'd used a disability advisory centre to help me (looking back, they were useless to be honest) so I appealed - I wrote all that myself - and we were going to tribunal when the DWP, out of the blue, had a change of heart! Bastards, honestly. PIP is the only benefit I claim.

I just have a Golf - nothing special Every single car I've had on the scheme has been a VW actually. But my lease is up this year (I extended it for two years so I've had this car for five years) and the advance payments are really high now for anything decent. Sigh.

I started a new drug earlier this year - self injecting once a month. That's going ok. I'm also trying to get some pain, that now seems to be permanent, in my foot under control. But overall, I'm feeling very thankful to be where I am today. And still positive.

How are you?

Has anyone undergone genetics testing? I'm shitting myself over this if I'm honest. I don't have problems with blood tests. (Aside from being able to hear the blood come out) But it's the possible outcome and impact this may have

(My consultant has no idea what my diagnosis could be which is where a lot of my anxiety is coming from)

I do have friends whose children have had it done. They had a vague idea with one and just wanted confirmation. The other, like me, they had no idea at all. I do remember his mother's shock. She thought he just had a squint. He has part of one of his chromosomes missing