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Pip planing a unfamiliar journey
- Darren
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1 year 2 weeks ago #285215 by Darren
Pip planing a unfamiliar journey was created by Darren
Hi when following an unfamiliar journey I use my bluetooth hearing aids connect to google map on my mobile phone. This prompts me to find my way. Would the be classed as orientation aids. Thanks.
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- Gary
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1 year 1 week ago #285242 by Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by Gary on topic Pip planing a unfamiliar journey
Hi Darren
Welcome to the forum.
You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum.
Good question, I have no idea. Unfortunately google map is not a 'orientation aid' for PIP, unless it is especially made for a disabled person. Points can be gained under PIP if an activity can't be done reliably.
Forum members might be able to shed their experience on this question.
Gary
Welcome to the forum.
You might want to have a look at the following FAQ which explains where everything is; www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/guides-for-claimants/faq/forum.
Good question, I have no idea. Unfortunately google map is not a 'orientation aid' for PIP, unless it is especially made for a disabled person. Points can be gained under PIP if an activity can't be done reliably.
Forum members might be able to shed their experience on this question.
Gary
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
The following user(s) said Thank You: Darren
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- Wendy Woo
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1 year 1 week ago #285254 by Wendy Woo
Replied by Wendy Woo on topic Pip planing a unfamiliar journey
Hello Darren,
I don't wish to seem unnecessarily pessimistic, but in my experience (acting on behalf of my son, who is autistic), PIP assessors appear to feel that just the ability to access a Google map on a phone indicates competence to plan and follow a journey. My son spends an inordinate amount of time planning journeys, but even when accompanied, will often give up and return home because he cannot follow the route he has mapped out, which I don't feel constitutes the successful completion of a journey, which should be to start in one place and finish in another. He has had two assessments over the past five years and both assessors concluded he could do this without difficulty with help from Google. However, on the first occasion, the DWP changed their original decision after we requested a Mandatory Reconsideration, which may indicate they are more aware of the problems than their assessors. My son again lost his mobility award after his most recent assessment and we are still awaiting the result of the M/R.
I doubt whether this is helpful, but maybe the fact that you use bluetooth hearing aids would make a difference.
Best wishes,
Wendy
I don't wish to seem unnecessarily pessimistic, but in my experience (acting on behalf of my son, who is autistic), PIP assessors appear to feel that just the ability to access a Google map on a phone indicates competence to plan and follow a journey. My son spends an inordinate amount of time planning journeys, but even when accompanied, will often give up and return home because he cannot follow the route he has mapped out, which I don't feel constitutes the successful completion of a journey, which should be to start in one place and finish in another. He has had two assessments over the past five years and both assessors concluded he could do this without difficulty with help from Google. However, on the first occasion, the DWP changed their original decision after we requested a Mandatory Reconsideration, which may indicate they are more aware of the problems than their assessors. My son again lost his mobility award after his most recent assessment and we are still awaiting the result of the M/R.
I doubt whether this is helpful, but maybe the fact that you use bluetooth hearing aids would make a difference.
Best wishes,
Wendy
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- LL26
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1 year 1 week ago #285296 by LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
Replied by LL26 on topic Pip planing a unfamiliar journey
Hi Darren,
Unfortunately, I don't think that Bluetooth hearing aids to connect to Google maps will be 'an orientation aid' under the law. By saying this, I am assuming that these are simply in-ear ear phones, similar to those used to listen to a phone call or music? If my assumption is wrong then there may be further argument to be had. My assumption is also that you just use the ear phones to connect to Google maps because it is easier or less obtrusive to others than eg having to look and listen to a Web page whilst going along.
An 'orientation aid' has to be a specific device made for disabled people, such as a white stick for people who are blind.
Maybe you need to consider further aspects of making journeys?
Does Google maps always get you to the correct place, within 'a reasonable time' ie no more than twice that of non disabled person. (Look at each separate journey, and see how long it should take and how long you take?)
Think about the following - Maybe looking or listening to Google maps makes you need to stop every few moments? (So you are too 'slow'?)
Maybe someone else has to load up Google ready for you to use?
Do you still get lost? Do you still get anxious en route?
Are there any other difficulties you might have in arriving at your chosen destination?
Depending on your answers this might suggest a need to be accompanied?
Think also about safety, acceptable standard. (Here, not arriving or arriving in eg an anxious or dishevelled state might indicate not being acceptable.)
Also being able to repeat throughout the day as many times as reasonably required.
Think also of whether all journeys present the same difficulties. Car, bus, on foot?
Remember, that all journeys will comprise part on foot, even if it is just leaving the front door and later exiting a vehicle next to a building at the end of the journey. The bit in the middle could be all on foot, in a car, bus, train or any combination of all. Think holistically.
Is there anything else healthwise that could impact on your ability to do journeys? This might be fatigue, risk of falls, or fits or simply when anxiety from another cause is too high.
A similar style of analysis ( how a descriptor activity is done etc) can also be adopted in respect of other descriptors which may help identify how to phrase answers in respect of how other descriptors are done or not done.
I hope this helps.
LL26
Unfortunately, I don't think that Bluetooth hearing aids to connect to Google maps will be 'an orientation aid' under the law. By saying this, I am assuming that these are simply in-ear ear phones, similar to those used to listen to a phone call or music? If my assumption is wrong then there may be further argument to be had. My assumption is also that you just use the ear phones to connect to Google maps because it is easier or less obtrusive to others than eg having to look and listen to a Web page whilst going along.
An 'orientation aid' has to be a specific device made for disabled people, such as a white stick for people who are blind.
Maybe you need to consider further aspects of making journeys?
Does Google maps always get you to the correct place, within 'a reasonable time' ie no more than twice that of non disabled person. (Look at each separate journey, and see how long it should take and how long you take?)
Think about the following - Maybe looking or listening to Google maps makes you need to stop every few moments? (So you are too 'slow'?)
Maybe someone else has to load up Google ready for you to use?
Do you still get lost? Do you still get anxious en route?
Are there any other difficulties you might have in arriving at your chosen destination?
Depending on your answers this might suggest a need to be accompanied?
Think also about safety, acceptable standard. (Here, not arriving or arriving in eg an anxious or dishevelled state might indicate not being acceptable.)
Also being able to repeat throughout the day as many times as reasonably required.
Think also of whether all journeys present the same difficulties. Car, bus, on foot?
Remember, that all journeys will comprise part on foot, even if it is just leaving the front door and later exiting a vehicle next to a building at the end of the journey. The bit in the middle could be all on foot, in a car, bus, train or any combination of all. Think holistically.
Is there anything else healthwise that could impact on your ability to do journeys? This might be fatigue, risk of falls, or fits or simply when anxiety from another cause is too high.
A similar style of analysis ( how a descriptor activity is done etc) can also be adopted in respect of other descriptors which may help identify how to phrase answers in respect of how other descriptors are done or not done.
I hope this helps.
LL26
Nothing on this board constitutes legal advice - always consult a professional about specific problems
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- PatGPT
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1 year 1 week ago #285297 by PatGPT
Replied by PatGPT on topic Pip planing a unfamiliar journey
I mean, I don't mean to state the obvious here but if that's the case then just use an app that's designed for disabled people.
Even if it uses Google Maps, how could they possibly argue it's not an orientation aid for disabled people if it's designed for them?
Even if it uses Google Maps, how could they possibly argue it's not an orientation aid for disabled people if it's designed for them?
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