I have started a petition on the government website to try to get the motability to extend to the purchase of camper vans mobile homes, as i am a carer myself for my husband who has multiple sclerosis, at the moment we have a trailer tent coz this is the only affordable option to us, since i had to give up work to look after him.. and at 33 def need some holidays which cant really afford or dont know how long the trailer tent will be a viable option for..
I think you will be lucky to get many signatures on your petition, I have been a carer and would not expect motability to stretch as far as a motorhome. I think people have a good enough deal when purchasing a car! why should they be entitled to a major financial assistance when purchasing a motorhome, after all it is the taxpayers money. I thought motability was to provide a much needed mode of transport not a holiday, and with recent press attention about people having high class high powered vehicles on motability to sell them on and make money I feel this is a sticky issue.
Actually one of the rasons i have done this petition is because of the ammount of people who have asked about this through various websites.
It is not the case of getting a good enough deal, a car is yes a big need of many people with mobility problems and there carers. I would much prefer that my husband was well and didnt need the help of motability at all but...
As for tax payers money, the government saves billions a year through people like myself who have to give up the jobs they love to care for a disabled realtive/friend.
I have paid my taxes since leaving school and so has my husband and never asked for a penny out of the government.
But thankyou for your opinion anyway, every1 is entitled.
I'll go and sign the petition - all motobility is, is allowing the mobility part of disability allowance to be used for purchase of a vehicle the balance of the purchase still has to be funded. The motorhome would still be an expensive purchase just slightly less so than for the rest of us - but then we are lucky enough to be able to move about freely and probably don't need sometimes expensive adaptations.
When disabilities can include the requirement for toilet facilities at short notice a motorhome is an ideal vehicle - my father had problems along these lines and both his and my mothers lives were massively curtailed (he would not leave the house, a vehicle wasn't the problem access to facilities was). He wasnt eligble for motibility but I finally managed to buy my own motorhome in May - it would have meant that I could have taken my parents out and about - admittedly he probably wouldn't have left the van but he would at least have been able to see more than the four walls. Unfortunately he was never able to try it - his condition worsened & he was taken into hospital while I was away collecting it & died less than a month later but my mother who is also not in the best of health is enjoying the being taken out in it and finds the facilities useful.
Why should people (not just the disabled person but also their families) not be able to go on holiday just because they are disabled. Package holidays can be difficult - you can not rely on the facilities at a hotel being suitable for your particular disability even if the owners have done the best they can, if you have your own van then you know you can cope.
As I see it this petiton is just asking to be allowed to use the allowance for something different not for more.
Thank you so much for the replies.. Vitalspark, im so sorry to hear about your parents, and thankyou you put into words basically what i was unable to...
No that wasnt rattleing, lol, im not very good putting into words wot i want/need to say, so suprising really that so many people ask about motability yet i was the one to start the petition lol, thanks again