At the UK’s leading occupational therapy conference, Open Road Access showcases how flexible transport is critical to rehabilitation — while winning recognition for an outstanding exhibition stand.
In November at The Occupational Therapy Show 2025 in Birmingham, Open Road Access (ORA) emerged as one of the most visible and impactful exhibitors — combining insight, advocacy, and practical solutions to shine a spotlight on accessible transport as an integral part of rehabilitation and recovery.
From a compelling CPD session to thousands of conversations on the exhibition floor, ORA’s presence underscored a powerful message: mobility is not a nice-to-have, but a foundational enabler of independence, dignity, and inclusive care.
A Stand That Stood Out: ORA Wins Best Stand Recognition
ORA’s stand — number H29 on the OT Show exhibition floor — attracted considerable attention throughout the two-day conference. Designed to showcase our accessible transport expertise, the stand combined visual clarity, informative displays, and warm, human-centred engagement.
By the end of the show, this approach was formally recognised: ORA was awarded one of the show’s coveted stand awards, celebrating the stand’s design, educational value, clarity of message, and alignment with OT Show’s core mission of improving independence and quality of life.
This recognition is more than symbolic: it reflects the growing synergy between transport providers and allied-health professionals — a critical bridge if the UK is to deliver accessible, reliable mobility as part of holistic care.
“Transport as Therapy”: CPD Session Sparks Insight and Collaboration
At the heart of ORA’s participation was the CPD-accredited session ‘The Role of Transport in Enabling Rehabilitation & Recovery’, held on Day 1 of the conference.
The session was chaired and co-presented by Catherine Marris — ORA’s Director of Partnerships, Policy & Impact — together with Martyn Sibley, renowned disability inclusion pioneer and co-founder of Purple Goat Agency. The discussion was framed around a central insight: transport is not a peripheral concern for patients undergoing therapy or rehabilitation — it is often the gateway between hospital, community, and independence.
Through real-world examples and lived-experience narratives, the session explored how transport needs evolve during recovery — from immediate post-discharge wheelchair or accessible transport needs to long-term community reintegration, therapy appointments, social participation, and eventual return to work or daily life.
Catherine highlighted ORA’s flexible nationwide Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV) hire service — spanning short-term hire, long-term hire, and adjustable subscriptions — as a model of adaptive mobility aligned with clients’ changing needs. She argued that flexible transport provision can reduce barriers, improve continuity of care, and support better long-term outcomes.
Attendees — occupational therapists, case managers, rehab professionals, and policy-makers — responded positively. The session opened up a vital conversation about transport as part of care planning, beyond just housing or therapy equipment. It emphasised that reliable, affordable, and accessible transport can dramatically affect therapy adherence, social inclusion, mental well-being, and the pace and quality of recovery.
Building Bridges: Why ORA Engaged with the OT Community
For ORA, the decision to exhibit at OT Show was strategic. While many mobility companies focus on vehicle design or regulatory advocacy, ORA views accessible transport as a social infrastructure — a service equal in importance to housing adaptations, healthcare equipment, or therapy programs.
By putting a vehicle-hire service in front of occupational therapists, ORA aimed to shift mindsets: transport should be embedded into rehabilitation and long-term health support plans, not treated as an afterthought.
The OT Show provided an ideal platform. With hundreds of therapists, case managers, rehabilitation providers, and social care professionals under one roof — all focused on supporting independence and quality of life — the audience was deeply relevant.
By engaging directly with this community, ORA helped many attendees recognise that repeating obstacles — missed therapy sessions due to inaccessible transport, delay in returning home after hospital discharge, social isolation and lost opportunities — can be prevented with the right mobility support in place.
Real Conversations, Real Lives: Impact Beyond the Exhibition Floor
Across the two-day event, ORA’s stand was more than a display — it was a hub for real conversations. Therapists shared stories of clients stuck at home because of a lack of transport; social workers spoke of funding challenges and risk-averse commissioning; rehab managers questioned how to embed mobility provision into care plans without overburdening budgets.
ORA representatives — including Director of Operations and Customer Experience Hafsa Ameen, and Customer Success Manager Lottie Vickers — explained how the company’s service model offers an alternative: nationwide delivery, flexible hire durations, transparent pricing, and support for complex mobility needs.
Multiple attendees commented that the showcase changed the way they viewed transport — not as a logistical add-on, but as a core enabler of therapy and long-term wellbeing. Some indicated they would return to their services and consider recommending WAV hire to clients or embedding transport provision into discharge planning/care packages.
In short, ORA’s presence seeded long-term connections between mobility services and the OT / rehab community — connections that have the potential to impact hundreds, if not thousands, of people.
Why This Matters — The Broader Case for Accessible Transport in Rehabilitation
The significance of ORA’s involvement at OT Show goes beyond a successful exhibition. It reflects a deeper shift in how accessible mobility is understood within health, social care, and rehabilitation sectors.
- Mobility = Independence: For many people, recovery isn’t just about physical function — it’s about restoring agency, participation, and quality of life. Accessible transport is critical to that.
- Continuity of Care: Adaptive transport that changes with rehab needs ensures therapy isn’t derailed by simple logistics — reducing cancellations, delays, or isolation.
- Holistic Rehabilitation Planning: Recognising transport as part of a care ecosystem where vehicle, home adaptations, therapy and social support are designed together.
- Cost-effective and Flexible Solutions: Through WAV hire rather than permanent purchase or leasing, organisations can offer tailored mobility support without long-term capital commitments.
- Scaling Accessibility: Nationwide coverage and flexible terms make it feasible for services across the UK — urban or rural — to access inclusive transport support.
By aligning with the OT community, ORA is helping to embed these principles at the heart of rehabilitation practice.
Reflections from ORA Leadership
‘Transport doesn’t exist in isolation — it’s a fundamental part of recovery, dignity, and independence,’ says Catherine Marris. ‘At the OT Show, we met professionals who see beyond wheels and ramps — they see the person behind them. It’s energising to show how mobility can support real, lasting change.’
The award for ‘Best Stand’ felt like validation: not just for good design, but for a message that resonates. As ORA’s CEO, David Dew Veal, put it: ‘Winning this award shows that accessible transport matters — to therapists, clinicians, and care providers, not just to those who need it. That shift in awareness is just as important as any vehicle on the road.’
What’s Next: From Awareness to Action?
Building on the momentum from OT Show, ORA is committed to turning conversations into collaboration. Some next steps:
- Outreach to healthcare and social care organisations — offering WAV hire solutions tailored for rehab, rehab-to-home transitions, discharge planning and community reintegration.
- Advocacy for transport-inclusive rehab planning — working with case managers, commissioning bodies, and funders to recognise transport as a core component of rehabilitation budgets and outcomes.
- Continued engagement with the OT community — sharing data, case studies and best practice to build confidence and awareness of what good accessible mobility provision looks like.
As Catherine noted during the CPD session, when mobility needs change, transport needs to adapt too. ORA’s flexible WAV hire model offers a practical, scalable way to deliver that adaptation — not just for individuals, but for care systems as a whole.
Closing Thoughts
The success at OT Show 2025 proves something important: accessible mobility is not a niche concern; it is central to rehabilitation, independence, and quality of life.
By bridging the worlds of transport and therapy, ORA is helping to shift perceptions: transport isn’t a luxury add-on, it’s infrastructure for dignity.
As the UK faces rising demand for inclusive transport solutions, and as disability, ageing, and health inequality remain critical social issues, that shift in mindset may become one of the most significant outcomes of the event.
For ORA, the message is clear: we’re not just selling vehicle hire, we’re enabling opportunity, independence, and human potential. And after a standout showing at OT Show, we’re more motivated than ever to make that vision real.
