With the Mobility Roadshow 2012 coming up soon, Rosemary Vaux shares an article about what visitors can expect to see this year!
The Mobility Roadshow returns to the East of England Showground, Peterborough, on Thursday 21st, Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd June. Julie Fernandez, the disabled actress and lively campaigner, will declare the event open at 10 am on Thursday.
Other high-profile visitors include former Paralympian and presenter Ade Adepitan, that afternoon and motorsport marshal – Steve Tarrant – who begins his quest to achieve a 24-hour mobility scooter record at 2pm on the same day. Steve famously survived a near-fatal crash at Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2000.
As always at the heart of this popular event is the opportunity to test-drive a wide range of adapted vehicles and specialist conversions, including Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) and drive-from-wheelchair options. You can register for test drives now at www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk. Don’t forget your driving licence on the day.
In Cyclone Technologies’ new Focus on Fitness Zone, you can try all the latest kit to keep you fit and healthy, from gentle activity to full cardiovascular workouts and including the latest innovations in functional electrical stimulation technology. Here you will also see in action, the ReWalk ‘bionic’ walking system that famously enabled paraplegic Claire Lomas to walk the Marathon.
The Design Zone proved hugely popular last year and has now become a permanent feature, with support from the Helen Hamlyn Centre at the Royal College of Art. This is your chance to meet designers and innovators in the new Café area to have your say and vote on looks and functionality of current and future independent living products.
For those seeking to expand their skills and knowledge, whether for leisure or career, there will be a wealth of information and advice at the Open University Access Bus, and AskJules helps young disabled adults through the transition from living with their families studying at college or sixth form into university.
The Roadshow Meet the Experts sessions return – check out www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk for subjects being covered.
Interactive Crafting is another new feature – taking place on Saturday 23rd. You’ll find out how therapeutic it can be and learn new skills when Julie Fernandez returns to share her passion. The Mouth and Foot Painting Artists (MFPA) are running Painting Workshops – two sessions each day.
Celebrating the 2012 London Olympics, visitors of all ages and sporting prowess can take part in a daily programme of mini-tournaments and events at the ‘Mobility Roadshow Olympics’ in the Sports Arena/Activity Zone, hosted by RGK Wheelchairs.
Cruise through the clouds in the Aerobility Flight Simulator, back by popular demand; get wheeling with Cyclefest all-ability cycling; test your reaction time on the roads at Autoadapt’s Driver Test Station rigs, and young disabled visitors can hone their wheelchair skills with Whizz Kidz.
As always, the Mobility Roadshow is a lively interactive event for disabled people of all ages, so be prepared for a busy day exploring vehicles, adaptations and conversions, motoring accessories, scooters and bikes, products for the home and children, clothing, gadgets and gizmos. Plus charities, information services, and organisations offering advice and products that include insurance, accessible holidays and accommodation, fitness and therapies.
Register for your free tickets now at www.mobilityroadshow.co.uk or call 0845 241 0390 and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
By Rosemary Vaux
Co-editors Martyn and Srin will also be visiting Mobility Roadshow on Saturday 23rd June!
Check out…
• Our Technology section.
• The ReWalk Exoskeleton.
Our contact details: email us at editor@disabilityhorizons.com, tweet us at @DHorizons or message us on Facebook.
This is the first time I have been tempted to attend the Road SHow. I have booked tickets and then went to try to book the vehicles I wanted to test drive and check if they could manage a hoist for my large mobility scooter. I was disappointed to find that Ford are not offering a Galaxy to test drive. I have already tried the c MAX in all it’s variations and the S Max and although I love both cars, specially the Cmax, they are not high enough at the back to accommodate my scooter even folded down. This seems very odd to me when this is supposed to be THE place to go to find out about vehicles which are good for people using wheelchairs and scooters. Be very interested to hear the logic behind this decision?