The Motability Scheme began in 1978 and since then over 2.5 million cars, scooters and powered wheelchairs have been provided to help disabled people with their mobility needs.
By the mid 1970s almost every household in the country owned a car but disabled people were missing out. Only those who could drive themselves received any government help with transport, usually in the form of a small, blue trike which was unable to take passengers. As a result, many disabled people were housebound for long periods and dependent on others for their mobility.
The Mobility Allowance, introduced by the Government in 1976, broke the mould in giving help regardless of ability to drive. It also signalled the Government's commitment to giving disabled people choice in the form of a cash allowance, rather than imposing certain types of vehicles on them.
The Mobility Allowance was a positive advance but it soon became clear that it was not enough to buy and run even the smallest car. So, the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Services invited the late Lord Goodman to consider how disabled people could use this allowance to affordably obtain a vehicle.
Thus Motability was born in 1977 and, for the first time, disabled people could afford a good quality car, from any participating manufacturer, fully insured, serviced and with breakdown assistance. Motability was set up as a charity so it could also raise funds and make grants, in order to provide customers with a complete mobility package even if their allowance would not cover the type of car and adaptations that they needed.
Motability opened up new horizons - things that were once hard to accomplish became easier for many more disabled people such as shopping, doing voluntary work, visiting friends, getting to the doctor, going swimming, giving a family member a lift or enjoying a driving holiday. For some, enhanced opportunities for further education and profitable full-time employment also became a reality for the first time.