'We need more driving instructors for disabled people'

Disabled people are missing out on driving due to a lack of instructors, a campaigner has said.

Less than 1% of the UK's driving instructor's have specially adapted cars that can be used by disabled people, which means many people do not consider taking up lessons.

Ben Veli, 37, from Gloucester, is one of only three disability instructors in Gloucestershire, and is calling for more to be done to support disabled people.

Mr Veli began became disabled himself in his 20s after undergoing surgery to remove a large brain tumour, which left him needing to relearn how to walk.

Ben Veli underwent a 12-hour surgery to remove a 7cm (2.7in) tumour in his brain

Mr Veli always loved driving and became an instructor at the age of 23.

Two years later, he was diagnosed with a large brain tumour after suffering from slightly blurred vision in one eye.

"I went from being so fit and active, to disabled overnight," said Mr Veli.

"I was told that I would probably spend the rest of my life in a wheelchair and never be able to walk again."

Mr Veli could not drive for almost two years after the surgery, he found "going from being fully independent to relying on everybody was really difficult".

After years of rehabilitation, supported by his wife Clair, Mr Veli relearned how to walk with the use of a stick and splints on his feet.

Eventually the father-of-two felt ready to return to work as a disabled driving instructor using a specially adapted vehicle.

Initially he was teaching able-bodied learners in his adapted car but said he "quickly realised that are a lot of "disabled people did not think driving was an option for them because they don't know about the adaptations available".

"I didn't realise quite how rare I am as an adapted car instructor," he added.

"Currently I am the only person in Cheltenham and Gloucester that's able to offer driving lessons to disabled people."

According to the Association of Disability Driving Instructors, said less than 1% (150) of the 39,500 driving instructors have adaptations for disabled people.

John Rogers, from the association, said: "Getting the knowledge across about the adaptations available has improved, but it's frustrating when disabled people know what is on offer but then have no-one to teach them."

It took Ollie Burns five years and three instructors to pass his driving test

Youth worker Ollie Burns, from Stroud, has a cleidocranial dysplasia - a rare genetic condition that affects his bones and causes pain in his joints and back.

He also has difficulty lifting part of his foot, so finds operating pedals difficult.

Mr Burns passed his driving test last year with the help of Mr Veli.

"Driving has opened up a whole new world of opportunities," Mr Burns said.

"I was relying on my parents and my sister to get me anywhere, having the option just to drive myself somewhere is so freeing."

The AA works with Motability, a foundation which helps disabled people to get access to adapted vehicles, to provide suitable driving lessons for disabled people.

In a statement, the DVSA said it "welcomes" that "proactive work" and is "working hard to make sure that the theory and practical driving test are accessible to all to provide a level playing field for learner drivers with disabilities".

The Drivers and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) said it is working hard to provide a "level playing field for learner drivers with disabilities".