Though Driving License my be restricted, people can generally continue to drive and learn to drive following amputation. Specialised driving lessons in adapted vehicles are provided through the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA)or Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI). Insurance cover and restrictions imposed by certain insurers in the past have eased considerably and insurance cover is generally available from a number of companies. You should seek insurance quotations in the normal manner. Though the rule of disclosure with insurance, uberimae fides (of the utmost good faith), will of course apply and full disclosure of your disability is of obvious importance. Certain parking concessions can also be obtained and are administered through the IWA and DDAI in the form of the Disabled Driver Parking Badge, which is recognised throughout Europe. Tax concessions are available from the government through the offices of the Revenue Commissioners, though are subject to strict medical criteria and the need to have one's car adapted to mitigate for their disability. These medical criteria, which must be certified by a Director of Community Care, are as follows: (a) persons who are wholly or almost wholly without the use of one or both legs. (b) Persons wholly without the use of one of their legs and almost wholly without the use of the other leg such that they are severely restricted as to the movement of their limbs. (c) Persons without both hands or without both arms. (d) Persons without one or both legs. (e) Persons wholly or almost wholly without the use of both hands or arms and wholly or almost wholly without the use of one leg. (f) persons having the medical condition of dwarfism and who have serious difficulties of movement of lower limbs. Details of the tax concessions available through the Revenue Commissioners subject to the above criteria are as follows. These Details will be published here when they become availible. Note: These regulations in their entirety are under review by an Government interdepartmental review group. Useful addresses: DDAI Ballindine Co. Mayo Tel: IWA Blackheath Drive Clontarf Dublin 3. Tel (01) 8338241 Revenue Commissioners Disabled Drivers Section Coolshannagh Monaghan Tel: 1890 606061
2.Finance
Financing the cost of prosthetics may be covered in the following ways. Medical card holders The prosthetic provider will seek sanction on your behalf from the relevant health board area. Cost of provision of limb is borne by the area health board though a ceiling may apply. Private Medical Insurance BUPA Following prosthetic prescription from Qualified practitioner, BUPA will bear cost retrospectively. Ceiling will generally apply. VHI Following prosthetic prescription from Qualified practitioner, VHI will bear cost retrospectively. Ceiling will generally apply. Self Financed Though choice of prosthetic prescription is unlimited in this way, costs of prosthetics are in general very high, running into thousands rather than hundreds. Direct Health Board Sanction In cases of extreme hardship an area health bard may sanction and bear the cost of provision of prosthetics.
3. Education & Training
Training for employment or re-training for employment can be accessed via the 'normal' process of application for the educational institute of your choice. This process has been eased in recent years with the introduction of Disability Officers to most third level institutions. The role of the disability officer is specific to ensuring that a barrier free environment exists within the particular educational establishment. The route to a more specific training environment for people with disabilities can be taken trough FAS services who have recently incorporated, referral to training for people with disabilities, as part of their role. This service was provided by the NRB (National Rehabilitation Board) until June of this year and has now passed to FAS under the Dept of Trade and Enterprise. Training courses of this nature are generally funded jointly by this department and the area health board. The following is a list of accessible FAS offices: This information will be added when it becomes availible One such provider of Education to whom you may seek referral is the National Training and Development Institute (NTDI) which is part of the Rehab Group. NTDI provides vocational training to people with disabilities located at 40 different centres around the country. The following list provides details of the programmes and courses on offer from NTDI. For further information contact: The Marketing Officer NTDI Roslyn Park College Beach Road Sandymount Dublin 4.
