Partnership to Advance Accessible Travel

Mobility in Motion has announced a new collaboration with the Spinal Injuries Association (SIA), bringing together two organisations with a shared focus on supporting greater independence for people living with spinal cord injury (SCI). 

More than 105,000 people are estimated to be living with SCI in the UK, and three quarters of people surveyed by SIA have experienced challenges when travelling.

For many people living with SCI, the ability to travel independently is an important part of rebuilding everyday life. SIA's Travel with Confidence research, based on responses from 1,508 people living with SCI, found that 75.37% had previously experienced challenges when travelling and almost half – 48.45% – said their mobility equipment did not allow them to participate in all the activities they wanted to do.

SIA's wider research has also identified access to transport as a significant concern. Its What Matters survey found that 35% of respondents said access to personal transportation and a suitable wheelchair were their main concerns when living with SCI, while between 30% and 40% reported significant challenges accessing public transport and accessible parking spaces.

Against this backdrop, Mobility in Motion's collaboration with SIA aims to help raise awareness of the practical mobility solutions available to people living with spinal cord injury, while giving Mobility in Motion greater insight into the real-world experiences and challenges faced by the SCI community. 

Gary Dawson (pictured above), Support Network Manager at SIA, visited Mobility in Motion's headquarters to explore a range of vehicle adaptations, share perspectives from the spinal cord injury community, and take part in a photoshoot that will form part of upcoming awareness campaigns. 

“Travel is an important part of living an independent life after spinal cord injury, but our research shows that many people continue to experience barriers when travelling,” said Gary.

“Having access to the right information, equipment and support can help people feel more confident about travelling and making choices that work for them. Working with Mobility in Motion gives us an opportunity to highlight practical solutions and help our community understand the options available to support greater independence.”

The collaboration forms part of Mobility in Motion's wider work to develop deeper relationships with specialist charities and organisations that represent the communities it serves. 

To find out more visit https://www.spinal.co.uk/ or https://www.mobilityinmotion.com/