The Reading services that make the lives of disabled people in easier

While disabilities can make life more difficult, service providers have recently highlighted the ways they can help people at a meeting of Reading Borough Council's access and disabilities working group.

One of these is ReadiBus, which is a free dial-a-ride transport service for disabled people.

Liz Thompson, who works with the service, said: "This gives people the opportunity to be independent. It means people can travel independently with confidence and safety.

"ReadiBus is fully accessible and door to door. The team worker knocks at the door and walks with them to and from their destination."

A woman present at the meeting said: "Through these trips, you are saving people getting mentally ill, saving with healthcare. ReadiBus is a wonderful service, they are wonderful people. You can go out and enjoy life. Thanks so much."

She added that buses go as far as Twyford or Thatcham to suit the needs of users.

Another woman who attended said: "I get to see parts of Reading I've never seen before. It's enabled me to not have to rely on my husband, so it's really been very helpful. Staff are very friendly, they don't get irate. It's a very good service."

ReadiBus has served people in and around Reading since 1981, when it was launched as a council-funded service. It receives approximately £450,000 of funding each year.

Once the ReadiBus presentation finished, the access and disabilities working group then received a presentation by Robert Monk of Remap.

Remap provides custom-made equipment for disabled people for free, created by a collective of engineers.

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Examples of equipment created include art and musical instrument aids for the infirm and furniture devices to help people relax or wash.

In Berkshire, a group of 25 engineers complete around 200 jobs a year, with 50-60 per cent of assignment referrals coming from occupational therapists.

Zoe Carter was provided a grabbing stick to help her pick items up from her wheelchair, an example of how Remap helps.Credit: Carter family / Remap Berkshire handout

You can view the work Remap does online, make contact by phone on 07790 127123 and email berks.caseofficer@remapgroups.org.uk .

Thanking Mr Monk, councillor Karen Rowland (Labour, Abbey) said: "This is absolutely fabulous. It's a lot about heart applied to engineering.

"It's so important the work you do. How can we get the word out more about Remap? How can the council support in getting more attention to you all? Because this really is life-changing."

Replying, Mr Monk said the work the engineers do is 'very simple', and that more work with the council's occupational therapists would be welcome.

Remap Berkshire was one of the recipients of the council's small grant fund paid to organisations which help people in the borough.

The access and disabilities working group met on Thursday, September 5. The group is a forum for people with disabilities to voice their concerns to the council.