The ability to drive is something most of us can or want to do.
Popping to the shops, driving to work or even going on a long road trip, the necessity to drive a car is evermore increasing.
TV programmes like Top Gear and The Grand Tour promote luxurious and elegant vehicles costing upwards of £100,000 but most of us just need a car to do the basics: get us from A to B.
But imagine those tasks you would normally be able to do are gradually becoming more difficult because of your disability.
That’s the reality facing one Teesside parent who suffers from klippel-trenaunay syndrome which can cause the enlargement of a limb.
Kim Hunt is a fun, bubbly character who doesn’t let her disability get in the way of what she wants to do. Kim explains what klippel-trenaunay syndrome means for her:
“My main mobility issue comes from that my hip is dislocated permanently, and the hip joint isn’t formed properly. And because it has been like since birth, we can’t do anything about it.
“It’s arthritic and it will just get worse.
“At the moment it doesn’t really affect my driving. I think because you’re using the clutch quite a lot it is probably the left leg and the disability is on my right.
“I have started to get some arthritis in my left knee which is a consequence of my syndrome but not part of it and I do think that is going to affect it in the future.
“My main issue is probably getting in and out of certain cars, rather than driving it so that’s why I’ve always tried to have one that is slightly higher to get into but not too high because I’m small!”
Because of her disability, Kim had been granted Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for life which meant she got payments for a car as well as other benefits. However that scheme changed recently to Personal Independence Payment (PIP), which Kim was assessed for last summer:
“My lymphoedema nurse and my friend who is an OT (Occupational Therapist) gave me a covering letter but now they must grade everything differently as I’m on a lower PIP which meant I didn’t get the payments for a car
“The difference that has made for me is that we’ve had to, after quite a few years of having a disability car, go buy our own car, which is fine, but then my insurance is now massive as I’ve had no insurance for however many years. So that has been a difficulty.”
The change from DLA to PIP made it more difficult for Kim to get a car, but it wasn’t just the price of insurance which made her worry:
“It’s that security of not having to worry about the car.
“If anything breaks down it gets sorted. You don’t worry about it quite so much. The other thing which was a big thing for me is that we changed the car every three years and I’ve changed the car as my disability has changed.
“Now I’ve bought a car, I won’t be able to do that every three years. I’ve been a bit nervous thinking; does it suit me?
“Before I didn’t worry quite as much as I thought well in three years’ time, I’ll have a chance of changing it even if I don’t need to.”
The PIP scheme came under a lot of pressure in December as a high court ruling found that it had been “blatantly discriminatory” against people with mental health conditions, and was unlawful because there had not been a consultation on the issue. Since then all 1.6 million PIP claims have been reassessed.
Despite Kim’s claim not being linked to a mental health problem, she believes the reassessment is necessary for people with mobility issues:
“I think it’s good that they have reassessed lots of people because I don’t think it was right that some people had disability cars that probably shouldn’t have had them.
“The problem is if you know how to answer the PIP form differently, and if you lie, then you can often get it.
“That’s the annoying thing for me is that people might get it that shouldn’t have.”
ABOUT ME
Hi there, I’m Sam Fletcher and I have just finished my final year of Sport Journalism at Teesside University. I am due to graduate with a First-Class Honours Degree with an NCTJ Level 3 Diploma in Journalism and 80wpm shorthand.
Course
Sport Journalism, BA (Hons)
Biography
After completing a work experience placement with Middlesbrough Football Club, in their media and communications department, I knew that I wanted to work in the industry of sports media. It was that placement which cemented my passion for journalism and the production of content for fans to engage and interact with. As much as the degree has benefitted my journalistic knowledge and skillset, I believe my greatest achievements at university have come through the work I have produced outside the classroom. Some of these include working closely with Spennymoor Town as a commentator, Middlesbrough Football Club as an audio descriptive commentator and the Daily Mirror producing written articles for online publication.
Software & Hardware Proficiencies
I am skilled in Adobe software such as Audition, InDesign and Premiere Pro.
Employment, Work Experience & Volunteering
I have paid employment with Middlesbrough Football Club for providing audio descriptive commentary for partially-sighted supporters. During this past season, I have volunteered with Spennymoor Town as a commentator broadcasting live, online through mixlr. This commentary also features on their highlights packages which can be found via YouTube. I also produced 16 articles for the Mirror Online during a week’s work experience placement in November, all of which were published on their online website. My other work has been featured on Sky News, Tees Valley Sport and the Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation.
Interests
I have shown in previous roles that I am passionate about sports broadcasting, particularly commentary and written articles. But despite my degree being Sport Journalism, I am not solely limited to sport. I have also produced content on environmental issues, disability benefits and politics. I believe this highlights my ability to report on a vast range of topics and key issues.
