Herts Ability

07/08/2025

Happy ! 🎤 We loved representing Herts Ability & Driving Mobility at the Rise4Disability exhibition in Bedford recently - an amazing event championing independence and inclusion!

One of the day’s highlights? Our Lead Driving Assessor, James, delivering an incredible CPD session:

“Empowering OTs to Guide Clients Towards Safe, Cost-Effective Vehicle Solutions.”

James tackled the big questions OTs face every day - from legal responsibilities to client engagement - reminding us how crucial your role is in safe, supported mobility.

Remember, you don’t need a spotlight to speak with purpose.

Every meeting, email, and conversation is a chance to make an impact.

Here’s to the voices that move us - and to yours! 🧡

05/08/2025

Returning to Driving this August? 🚘 Following injury or illness, some drivers have difficulty returning to driving the way they always have done.

Some people see their injury or illness as a barrier to driving and give up but it doesn’t always have to be that way!

Herts Ability has a team of highly trained Approved Driving Instructors and Occupational Therapists that can help you return to driving.

Using a fleet of modern, specially adapted dual controlled cars, our Approved Driving Instructors can guide you through every step of regaining your independence and getting you back to driving.

Once you’ve reached that safe standard of driving, the Herts Ability staff will then guide you through the process of having your own car adapted and notifying DVLA.

👉 Need more information to start your journey towards independence behind the wheel? Call our friendly team 01707 324 581 or email driving@hertsability.org.uk and we’ll be happy to help! 👈

04/08/2025

Herts Ability 🤝 Better Mobility Limited! Recently, our assessment team had the absolute pleasure of spending the day at Better Mobility’s Hemel Hempstead showroom - and what a day it was! Full details ⤵️

This wasn’t just any training - it was hands-on, insightful, and empowering. We explored their full product range, from manual chairs to high-tech powered models (yes, even off-road ones!).

Getting behind the wheels ourselves gave us a real understanding of user experience, comfort, and independence.

💡 We also learned how their team helps clients navigate grants & funding - vital info that will help us support our clients even better.

It’s this kind of teamwork that makes our partnership so special. Better Mobility often refers clients to us for driving assessments, and we’re just as proud to recommend them for expert mobility advice and equipment. Bonus: Herts Ability clients get a free 1-year service on anything purchased through them!

The day wrapped up with great conversations, shared goals, and a delicious lunch (thanks, team!). We left feeling inspired and ready to continue empowering people through safe, confident mobility. 💪

Massive thanks to the amazing Better Mobility crew for the warm welcome and knowledge-sharing - we’ll definitely be back!

03/08/2025

Kindness makes life better - for others and for us. This August, let’s fill the world with compassion, joy and hope. Join us and share 💛 🌍 🙏

02/08/2025

✈️ Flying made more accessible! 🧑‍🦽 Travelling with a disability can be tough - but it’s getting better thanks to innovative changes in the aviation industry. A huge shoutout to Ross H, Workplace Inclusion Specialist, for highlighting the importance of equity in travel and celebrating a big step forward at London Gatwick Airport!

In partnership with AccessAble, Gatwick has launched new Detailed Access Guides to help disabled passengers navigate the airport more safely, confidently, and independently.

🧭 These FREE guides cover:

🔹 Step-free routes

🔹 Noise & lighting levels

🔹 Floor surfaces & signage

🔹 Accessible toilets & seating

🔹 Walking distances

🔹 And much more - across 30 airport areas including car parks, check-in, security & gates!

What makes them stand out?

📸 100% accurate details with facts, figures, and photos

👟 On-site surveys by trained AccessAble surveyors

📅 Especially helpful during September–October, Gatwick’s busiest time for assisted travel

👏 A fantastic example of how inclusive design can transform everyday experiences.

🎥 Check out Ross’s video to see how these guides make a real difference when flying from LGW.

01/08/2025

Older drivers are not just older drivers; they are drivers with years of experience! Here's how Herts Ability can support your independence ⤵️

Did you know? 🤔

🚘 There are over 5 million drivers who are over 70 years old

🚘 Your licence will not be automatically renewed when you reach 70 years

🚘 There is no upper age limit for driving a car

🚘 All drivers have to renew their driving licence when you reach the age of 70 and every 3 years after

🚘 You can renew your driving licence online for free any time from 90 days before your 70th birthday

Source: InformationNow(dot)org(dot)uk

Many people will suggest that older people should have a driving test.

Some people will even say that older people shouldn’t drive.

At Herts Ability, we believe that age is no barrier to the independence that driving can bring.

However, as we get older, our body changes and the way we think can change.

We walk slower and sometimes have problems moving freely without pain.

The way we remember things can change and even the speed we respond to things can change but, this doesn’t mean you’ll have to stop driving.

A driving assessment with Herts Ability can be more beneficial than you think! Let’s call it a driving appraisal.

The Herts Ability Occupational Therapist will look at the way you move and think. If you’re experiencing difficulties, we may have a solution.

The specialist Approved Driving Instructor will appraise your driving. Those things you might find challenging, we may have a solution.

What’s more, after your ‘appraisal’, you’ll receive a full written report. You can use this as supporting evidence to renew your driving licence with the DVLA.

Getting older shouldn’t mean losing your independence. Herts Ability are on hand to support you, every step of the way. All you need to do is get in touch.

This is what our client Valerie had to say about the service she received:

“I only drive locally and never in the dark but it's a big help and keeps me independent,” she said. “All the Herts Ability staff were really great, always positive and caring and never gloomy or negative.”

👉 For further information, advice, to make a booking with our team of experts, please call 01707 324 581 or email driving@hertsability.org.uk 👈

Last summer, 79-year-old Geraldine Gibson died after pulling out into oncoming traffic near her home in Cornwall.

Her daughter Claire Eady believes that if the rules for older drivers were different her mum would still be here today.

Do you think stricter measures are needed for drivers over 70?

Read more here: https://bbc.in/4flmcQs

01/08/2025

Happy August 1st to all our clients, friends, and followers! 🌞 This summer, Herts Ability is here to help YOU get back on the road with confidence! ⤵️

🚘 Specialist Driving Tuition - including support for SEND learners

🚘 Theory Test Preparation

🚘 Help with Licence Applications

🚘 Fully Adapted Vehicle Fleet for a wide range of mobility needs

Our DVSA-Approved Driving Instructors, supported by our team of Occupational Therapists, provide personalised, supportive training for people with:

✅ Physical disabilities

✅ Learning difficulties

✅ Challenges with confidence or skill development

Whether you’re a first-time driver or returning to driving after a life change, we’re here to help!

📞 Call us on 01707 324 581

📧 Email: driving@hertsability.org.uk

Please share, like, and spread the word so more people across Beds, Herts, Essex, Cambs, London and surrounding areas can access the help they deserve!

31/07/2025

Pathways to Independence: A Herts Ability Showcase! 🚘 We’re thrilled to invite you to our BIGGEST and most inclusive Open Day ever - a dynamic celebration of independence, accessibility, and community spirit!

Whether you’re living with a condition that impacts mobility or you’re a supporter, carer, or professional, this is a day for everyone to discover, learn, and connect!

📅 Date: Wednesday 24th September 2025

🕙 Time: 10AM-3PM

📍 Location: Panshanger Golf Complex, Welwyn Garden City

🎟 Entry: FREE - No booking needed, just drop in!

🧠 From stroke recovery to MS, brain injury, arthritis, SEN, and more - we offer tailored services and assessments that support real independence. Our team of experts is here to guide you through:

🔍 What’s On:

✅ Fitness to Drive Assessments

✅ Access & Control Evaluations

✅ Wheelchair, Scooter & Hoist Demos

✅ Bugzi & Child Car Seat Clinics

✅ Adapted Vehicle Displays

✅ Meet Occupational Therapists, Approved Driving Instructors, and Mobility Pros!

🧓 Step into the world of dementia with the nationally acclaimed Virtual Dementia Tour by Training 2 CARE - a truly eye-opening, immersive session.

👥 Meet Our Partners! Alzheimer's Society, Age UK Hertfordshire, Stroke Association, Motability Scheme, Better Mobility Limited, PB Conversions Ltd, eFoldi, Disability Driving Instructors, Barclays Bus, SPACE - and yes, the Dementia Bus will be there too!

🎖️ Special Guests: We’re proud to welcome Mayor Lynn Chesterman and Deputy Mayor Cllr Michal Siewniak, passionate advocates for inclusivity in Welwyn Hatfield!

☕ Enjoy free refreshments, collect a goodie bag, and explore at your own pace. Come anytime - stay as long as you like!

📧 Questions or keen to let us know you’re coming? Email: driving@hertsability.org.uk or visit our special showcase page (link in bio)

Let’s drive forward together - toward a future where mobility is for everyone. We can’t wait to see you there! 🚘

Jonathan Goodwin, Driving Mobility

30/07/2025

💙 Dementia Looks Different for Everyone 💙 Dementia is not one-size-fits-all. From Alzheimer’s disease to vascular, frontotemporal dementia, or dementia with Lewy bodies - each type affects people in unique ways. Some signs are well-known. Others go unnoticed. But recognising the early signs matters - it can mean faster support, clearer decisions, and more time to plan with dignity.

One of the hardest decisions? Knowing when it’s time to stop driving.

That’s where Herts Ability comes in.

Our expert Occupational Therapists and Driving Assessors are here to guide you with empathy, patience, and understanding. Whether you or a loved one is feeling unsure, we offer support, reassurance, and - when needed - help with making those difficult but necessary choices.

We believe in safety without shame. Independence for as long as possible. And compassionate, expert care at every step.

You’re not alone. And you don’t have to navigate this on your own.

📞 Call us: 01707 324 581

📧 Email: driving@hertsability.org.uk

Let’s talk. Let’s plan. Let’s support each other.

P.S. Thanks to the Alzheimer's Society for their brilliant infographic on dementia symptoms - check it out to learn more.

Welwyn Hatfield Dementia Action Alliance/Dementia Friendly Community, Welwyn Hatfield Dementia Action Alliance, DEMENTIA INFO HERTFORDSHIRE, Dementia Friends

30/07/2025

BACK BEHIND THE WHEEL? LET’S GO! 🚛 Been off the road due to injury, illness, or a break from driving? It’s time to rebuild your confidence with Herts Ability’s NEW LGV & PCV Driving Assessments, now in partnership with the expert instructors at MK Driver Training - DVSA Approved and ready to help YOU return stronger than ever!

Who’s This For?

If you hold a valid licence for:

✅ LGV: C1, C, C+E

✅ PCV: D1, D

…this is YOUR sign to take the next step.

What’s Involved?

🔹 Step 1 - Car Assessment:

We begin with a car-based check to ensure safety. You’ll need to:

👀 Meet DVSA eyesight standards

🧠 Be cognitively sound

💪 Have suitable physical ability

🚗 Avoid significant driving faults

🔹 Step 2 - Vocational Assessment (with MK Driver Training):

If step one goes well, it’s time to level up with:

🔁 Reversing exercise (DVSA-style)

🔗 Coupling/uncoupling (if needed)

🛣️ A 1-hour LGV or PCV road drive

This thorough two-part assessment gives you AND your employer peace of mind. Whether you’re returning to work or just want to know you’re still good to go, we’re here for YOU!

📞 Call: 01707 324 5821

📧 Email: driving@hertsability.org.uk

You’ve got the licence. We’ve got the support. Let’s drive your comeback!

MK Driver Training Driving Mobility

29/07/2025

Tuesday Testimonial! 🗣 At Herts Ability, we love celebrating success stories - and today, it’s all about David from Digswell! Here's his story, in his own words! ⤵️

After a major operation last year, David was determined to get back behind the wheel. With the help of our expert team, tailored driving lessons, and the right hand controls, he passed his driving assessment on the first attempt! 👏

Now, David is back on the road, enjoying life with his wife, Gill, and their beloved motorhome! 🚐

💬 David shared: "After practicing with Herts Ability, I found the hand controls so easy to use - I had no issues at all!"

💬 Gill added: "We can’t thank the Herts Ability team enough for giving David his confidence back. It has made a huge difference to his mental health and well-being!"

Our mission is to help more people like David regain their independence through accessible driving solutions!

Need support? We’re here to help! 😀

📧 driving@hertsability.org.uk

📞 01707 324 581

Driving Mobility

28/07/2025

Meet the Team Monday! 🤗 Please say a big Herts Ability ‘hello’ to our Lead Occupational Therapist, Linda! Originally from Gothenburg, Sweden, Linda has called the UK home since 1998. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy from Brunel University in 2009 and has excelled in various roles since then.

Linda joined the Herts Ability team in March 2024 and loves meeting diverse individuals daily, helping them achieve independence through driving and other community access methods.

Our Herts Ability team includes dedicated ADIs, Occupational Therapists, and invaluable admin support, always delivering news with empathy and care.

Outside of work, Linda enjoys traveling, reading, gardening, and cooking. She treasures time with her family and their two charming Maine C**n cats, Daisy and William. Driving has always been a passion for Linda, providing her with a sense of freedom and independence.

Linda is truly grateful to be part of the Herts Ability team and is enthusiastic about contributing to our shared mission. We’re excited to see the meaningful impact she’ll make in our community throughout the rest of the year! ❤️

🚗 Ready to start your driving journey or need an assessment? Contact us today!

📞 Phone: 01707 324 581

✉️ Email: driving@hertsability.org.uk