Amie Greenfaery, 45, from the Cotswolds, relocated to a new home in 2017 to be closer to her husband’s workplace. Despite being assessed with an urgent gold-band medical housing need due to her disability, her journey to secure proper access to her home turned into an eight-year ordeal.
Before moving in, Amie was assured that necessary adaptations, funded through a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG), would be straightforward. DFGs are local authority grants intended to help disabled individuals adapt their living spaces to maintain safety and independence. These grants are meant to be processed within six months and work completed within a year. However, Amie’s case revealed significant systemic failings.
She was informed that a separate assessment and application for front access modifications would be required, causing lengthy delays. Over several years, Amie was visited multiple times by occupational therapists who expressed sympathy but failed to resolve the issue. One professional questioned why she needed a driveway, suggesting she simply use her wheelchair to traverse 25 meters from a car parked on the road to the front door—demonstrating a profound misunderstanding of her needs.
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To make matters worse, the council initially claimed they “did not do driveways,” contradicting earlier assurances of eligibility for a grant. When a proposed plan was finally shared, it featured an inaccessible design with fifteen concrete slabs separated by gravel, unsuitable for powered wheelchairs. A ramp was added unnecessarily, and no practical loading or unloading area was included for Amie, her child, or her assistance dog.
Frustrated, Amie redrew the plans herself, proposing a simpler and more usable layout, which was supported by an occupational therapy supervisor. Nevertheless, construction began without her consent or proper consultation, resulting in new hazards, including a six-inch step where none had existed before.
“This was incredibly stressful, especially as a single parent with a child who has pathological demand avoidance,” Amie recalls. The builders insisted the hazardous step would remain for at least six weeks, offering only a temporary metal fold-out ramp she knew would not suffice.
Eventually, Amie’s complaints were upheld by the local government and housing ombudsmen, who found failures in communication, consultation, and process throughout. The driveway was completed properly, and in 2025, Amie was awarded £950 in compensation.
Reflecting on the ordeal, Amie said, “They had ample opportunities to do the right thing, but their failures have been devastating to my family and me. It prevented us from going anywhere and caused immense distress. The noise from construction even triggered a breakdown during a Zoom meeting.”
Georgina Colman, disability advocate and founder of Purpl Discounts, emphasises the broader implications: “Disabled people face higher living costs, and delays or denials of essential home adaptations force many to pay out of pocket or live in unsuitable conditions. Accessibility is a fundamental right, not an option.”