StrategicPlan-24-26 FINAL - Flipbook - Page 26
Shopmobility Service
DDAI holds valuable
expertise on everything
from learning to drive...
Parking Permit Administration
The services of DDAI have been dominated by
the exponential growth in demand for the EU
Parking Permit. DDAI is approaching 60,000
active permit holders and receives over 500 new
application requests each week. The level of
this demand has strained the resources of the
Association, making it difficult for other services
to engage with users.
Objective: Continue the process of
improvements to the sustainable management
of parking permit administration.
Specific Actions: Review waiting times for EU
parking permit applications. Improve phone
service waiting times.
Member Experience
A casualty of the parking permit demand has
been members access to information on the
driving experience for drivers (and passengers)
with a disability. DDAI holds valuable expertise
on everything from learning to drive, to obtaining
an adapted vehicle but has struggled to find a
channel to communicate this information to
members in recent years.
Objective: Improve and enhance member
engagement and the wider public through
education around driving experience for drivers
and passengers with a physical disability.
Specific Actions:
•
•
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Develop an online information hub for
disabled drivers, passengers & families.
Review DDAI membership benefits to
encourage new members to join.
Shopmobility represents the largest
disbursement made by DDAI. Shopmobility
provides a free loan scheme service of manual
wheelchairs, powered wheelchairs, and mobility
scooters to people with limited mobility for
use within a shopping centre. The first outlet
was opened in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre in
2000. The service is now available in Dundrum
Town Centre, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre,
Liffey Valley Shopping Centre and Whitewater
Shopping Centre in Newbridge, Co. Kildare. The
services are used by over 3,000 Shopmobility
members annually.
Objective: Develop a sustainable model that
reduces dependence on DDAI and enables
expansion of the service nationally.
Specific Actions: Explore ways to expand the
service outside of Shopping Centres. Develop
a more sustainable model by introducing a
membership fee and expand the range of
products for sale.
Driving Services
One of the key beliefs of the founding members
of the Disabled Drivers Association was in the
transformational effect personal transport could
have on the life of a person with a disability. The
ultimate achievement in independence was the
ability to own and drive one’s own car adapted
to one’s needs. The first step on this path was
the ability to drive. DDAI has been involved in the
provision of driving services since its inception.
There is a strong member interest in continuing
this role. Our experience in driving services has
been key to understanding the needs of disabled
drivers across a range of issues.
Objective: Develop driver services that provide
a pathway for a person with a disability, to begin,
continue or return to driving.
Specific Actions:
•
Develop and expand on-road driving
assessments.
•
Review feasibility of other driving services
e.g. tuition, off-road OT assessments etc.
