Three Things Caregivers Of Persons With Disability Should Do

If you’ve recently become a caregiver to a person with a disability, it might seem a little overwhelming to support and offer the kind of responsibilities that come along with it. The responsibilities of taking care of a person with a disability can range from looking after personal hygiene, driving the person from one place to another, taking care of meals while also managing your own individual wellbeing.
We hope that these three tips will help you and make you thrive in your new job as a caregiver.

1. Gain Knowledge About The Disability

Who can digest the news of a loved one being ill or disabled well? No one! Such a news is always received with fear, worry and a lot of pain. On occasion such as this, remember that you can help yourself and your loved one facing the disability only if you are well equipped with knowledge. Researching from reliable sources about the specific disability and how to tackle it can actually relieve you of anxiety and prepare you for what might occur. Visiting local centers offering information, reading more, visiting support groups of caregivers may help you to feel more confident about the road ahead.

Know more about Ability On Wheel’s wheelchair accessible taxis and driving despite disabilities at Ability On Wheels.

2. Network with other caregivers 

Several support groups exist in different cities. The ideal thing would be to reach out to a support group that can help you to deal with your feelings of worry, anxiety, grief and can make you more in control of yourself. This will help you to address your new responsibilities in a better way. If you don’t have a support group in your area, there are a lot of support groups online that you can be part of to share your feelings.

These are people who will know exactly what you’re going through, will understand emotions that come in play while taking care of a person with disability, and will make you feel less alone.

3. Taking Care Of A Person With A Disability Doesn’t Mean You Forget Your Life!

It often happens that when we take care of an ailing or disabled family member, it’s quite easy to get consumed and forget your own life and ignore your needs in the new role.  That’s why it is very important to strive for balance in your life. This means scheduling time for yourself despite the demands of your new role. Pursue your hobby, take care of your friends, go out, whatever it takes do it to refresh yourself. Doing what you love will help you to embrace your role as a caregiver.

To help your loved one gain independence and live a free life, reach out to Ability On Wheels and help him learn how to drive. With special adapted vehicles; Ability On Wheels is the first of its kind driving school in Ahmedabad, Gujarat and has changed the lives of several people with disabilities by teaching them how to drive.

Can People With Disabilities Drive A Vehicle In India?

Whether a person with a physical disability can get a driving license in India or not depends on an individual’s physical capability and the extra equipment to accommodate them. Driving school for the disabled in India now are coming up with the intent to make disabled people independent.

People suffering from loco-motor disabilities (meaning disability of the bones, joints muscles leading to substantial restriction of the movement of the limbs or any form of cerebral palsy) are eligible to drive an Invalid Carriage (modified vehicle) if the licensing authority is satisfied that he is fit to drive such a carriage.

As per Indian Motor Vehicle Act “invalid carriage” means a motor vehicle specially designed and constructed, and not merely adapted, for the use of a person suffering from some physical defect or disability, and used solely by or for such a person.

People suffering from hearing impairment, visual impairment & mental illness are not authorized to drive.

In all cases, a driving school for disabled must make the driver skilled to be tested to prove you can drive safely, and a restriction will be placed on your driver’s license.

All States require a valid learner’s permit or driver’s license to receive an on-the-road driving evaluation. You cannot be denied the opportunity to apply for a permitor license because of age or disability. However, a driver’s license with restrictions may be issued based on your need of adaptive equipment.

However in 2011, the Delhi High Court has allowed deaf persons to go through the test and drive if they are found capable, the High Court has, for the first time in this country, permitted deaf persons to legally drive a vehicle.

We at Ability On Wheels is an effort to encourage the differently- abled to take a big leap towards leading a normal life by increasing mobility and accessibility services and solutions.

Being the first- of- its- kind driving school in India, we work towards teaching driving to differently- abled people using customized cars.