Tina, 39, has always loved live music. Getting a grant towards her wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) means she never has to miss a gig.
"Suddenly, I could go wherever I wanted without having to plan much."
“I grew up in a big family in the Yorkshire countryside and my dad had a Motability Scheme car for us.
"At 16, when I left home to go to college in the city, public transport wasn’t as reliable.
“Although I have always been independent, (I spent six years studying IT, business and art), getting a Motability Foundation grant towards my own wheelchair accessible vehicle before the first Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, changed my life.
"Suddenly, I could go wherever I wanted without having to plan much.
“I was born with a condition called Quad Amelia. There are only about 40 of us in the world with it: what can I say? I’m unique! It means I was born without limbs, although, on my left side, I have a small arm I do everything with.
“I have a fantastic set of carers who are like family.
"As a busy, active person, always going somewhere, having a car of my own, that they can drive, ensures I can run errands or get to any appointments or gym sessions on schedule.
“The first time I came across my car was at the Big Event show in Birmingham. I tested it out and loved it immediately.
"A few years later when I discovered I qualified for a Motability Foundation grant to cover the Advanced Payment for a car, I knew it was the car for me.
"While I don’t drive myself, it was important I could sit passenger-side and chat to my carers. It is adapted so I can ride in with my powerchair and sit up front.
"I’m more involved in the driving process this way – I can help with directions, or get passed a drink safely. I don’t know what I’d do without it. So much so, I treat it like a pet! That’s my sense of humour."
“It is adapted so I can ride in with my powerchair and sit up front. I’m more involved in the driving process this way.”Tina
“Having my own vehicle is a life-line. I’ll genuinely have trouble replacing it.”
“Music is important to me. I enjoy all kinds of genres, from American Synth-Wave to Country and Western. I used to write and sing my own songs, although my asthma doesn’t allow it so much these days. I still enjoy going to shows whenever I can. You can’t beat live performance.
"We’ll get in the car and drive to a gig, whether it’s in a theatre or an arena. I love socialising, getting out and about, meeting friends for coffee.
"But it was much harder accessing places in the natural world without my own vehicle. Nature reserves, animal sanctuaries, zoos, don’t tend to have good transport links. And adapted taxis are not only rare but expensive too.
“Having my own vehicle is a life-line. I’ll genuinely have trouble replacing it.”
