Assistance in getting a drive put in for disabled child's access

[zippytiptoes]

Hi,

Our daughter is two, and for all of her life has had congenital hip problems for which she has received surgery and splintage. It is not know when and if this will be resolved.

She is growing rapidly and is becoming more and more difficult to carry up or long shared drive. The problem is, our next door neighbour is a complete A-hole and massively objects to us parking on the drive. It's not possible to park side by side, we have to go one car in front of the other, but it only remains unproblematic if I just unload and then move my car again.

I am getting really fed up of this and finding it physically really demanding as she is in a hip brace and is awkward to carry. We have applied for a disabled space, but the coucil said where we park is too dangerouse to load and unload a disabled child. They were prepared to put one in front of our neighbours house (ha ha) but I was so worried about causing ructions that I declined it. He is seriously nasty work and people in our street have literally had punch ups over parking with him, which I don't want to encourage.

So, the last resort really is to dig up our front garden and get a parking bay put in there, but we're financially really tight as I don't work because I have to care for our daughter. Does anyone know of any assistance that is offered to support disabled children and their carers in circumstances like this?

Thanks a lot for your help.

we had our back garden blocked paved paid for by the OT dept i dont know how much they will fund this now with cutbacks or if even at all have you spoken to them?

Thanks BB63. Does your child have a mobility problem and how old are they if you don't mind me asking?

Thanks

my Ds is ASD (10)but my husband is disabled they did our back garden so DH could access it as our driveway was connected too and you had to go through my garden to get to the house which was clay soil so very muddy and slippery and he was in a wheelchair so they did it for me and ididnt have to pay anything

I would contact your OT (if you have one) or contact your Disabled Children's Team if not. The OT will know the criteria for a Disabled Facilities Grant and will be able to tell you if the work is eligible. However, times are hard and I know our LA is proposing massive cuts to DFG budget next year - so it may be a no go - but worth a try.

We had to get a drop kerb to access our garden to park--and no they wouldn't pay
They would pay for adaptations to access the HOUSE but not the drive

I ended up having to pay myself-got quotes from £2,800 to £650-council were the most expensive.

I asked everywhere and got sent round in circles

You have to get permission from the council to do it

good luck

We have just had access put in with an outside lift.It was paid for with a disabled facilities grant.Took three years to get funding.Have heard that a lot of councils are cutting back but wont do any harm in applying.By the way we have total idiots for neirbours too.

I went to our local council to ask for them to help with garden as it is only place ds can play (cant be out on his own), however as he has pica (eats anything & everything), he was eating grass, muck, slugs etc would have to be rid of grass. I was fortunate, they got on to some charity dont know who, who actually funded me to have whole garden done in soft stuff (dont know what called), same as in play park & apparently costs thousands ie about £10k, but anyway they funded whole thing and my garden is quite big. It is the best thing ever, can now let him out to play in a secure safe place where he wont come to any harm. he plays out for hours on his trampoline or just running up and down. My ds is 10 has severe autism, gdd, low muscle tone, pica. He can walk but doesnt communicate. Would be worth going to council, especially if you are in a council home (which i am, and so glad about it i have to say). If you dont ask, you dont get.

oooh try and find out what the charity was as i have just asked SW to try and sort out our sloping garden for ds's powerchair

Well, people get ramps put in to access the house, so I can't see why you can't get a DFG to be able to park and therefore access your house. Try the social services Occupational Therapists. I don't know if you will be refused on the grounds that your child's condition may be resolved in the future, rather than a definite life-long disability. I imagine the physios, and doctors may be involved in assessing her future mobility

Glittery couldnt manage to find out who they got help from, guy on phone not very helpful. Saw your in my area NL on thread re; respite. I initially asked SW about it same as you and it was them who got onto housing dept who then took it from there and tried through a few different charities they use. Was about 2 years ago so dont know if different now. Good luck, nothings ever easy or straightforward is it.

aww thanks anyway! SW was going to find out if it was something that could be done under the Community Payback scheme!

Hi shazian have you tried ot service contected to your local childrens disability services usually based at social servies but may not be.