Accidents which leave the victim with serious injuries can be life-changing in terms of both the physical, emotional and psychological impact. While many people make a full recovery from their injuries, others have to learn to adapt to a life with disabilities. When recovery takes months or years, it?s referred to as rehabilitation as a person works towards regaining as much of their previous mobility and independence as possible. This may also require adaptations and modifications in the home and workplace. If you are in recovery or in the early stages of rehabilitation after an accident, you should be aware that there are lots of services available to aid in your recovery. After your initial medical care, you may need ongoing treatment or support from professionals depending on the nature of your injuries. Physiotherapists focus on improving or restoring mobility in a person and possibly helping them to regain some independence.

1. Head injuries may require the involvement of neuropsychologists, clinical psychologists and possibly speech and language therapists. These professionals can help to improve both spoken and written language as well as speech clarity or even help people who find swallowing difficult. For more information on the Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists visit  www.rcslt.org 

2. If your disability is the result of an accident which was caused by someone else?s negligence, you may be entitled to accident compensation help you to support yourself if you are unable to work as you once did. It may also help you pay for the treatment you need and any modifications you need to make to your home. Depending on your circumstances and the severity of your injuries, you may be entitled to benefits or support from the government. Click to find out more about the benefits available to disabled people in the UK. 3. An occupational therapist will assess the level of physical functioning a person has after their accident and will build a program to help them live as fully and independently as possible. For example, they may require wider doorways or ramps in their home or daily support from professional carers. Head to www.cot.co.uk to find an occupational therapist.  4. Returning to work is absolutely possible in many cases if the role is suitable and the workplace is able to make the necessary changes such as installing a ramp or lift for a wheelchair user. Some injuries may make it impossible for the victim to return to their previous job and this is when a loss of earnings would be taken into account in a compensation claim. A Disability Employment Adviser (DEA) can provide information about the different schemes available which help disabled people return to work. You should be able to contact a DEA at your local Job Centre. 5. There are several public transport services which cater to citizens with mobility issues including trains and buses or even designated minibus operators. For information on the services in your area, it?s best to contact your local authority. Disabled people who wish to drive a car need to contact the Drivers Medical Group of the DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) to inform them of their injuries in case they preclude them from driving.