Why Priority

There is a recognised and sustained problem with the provision of the correct mobility equipment for disabled young people that will enable them to play a full role in society. However the problem is sufficiently specific that a concentrated amount of funding will have a significant impact.

“A number of official reports highlight that over the past 20 years there have been no significant changes in the delivery of wheelchair services, with the result that disabled children and young people are still facing numerous difficulties in being provided with the right mobility equipment at the right time.” (“Don’t Push Me Around!” Barnardo’s, 2006).

43% of the estimated 700,000 disabled children in the UK have significant difficulty with mobility and moving about. (Department for Work and Pensions, Family Resource Survey 2002)

The system of assessing and providing disabled children and their families with the equipment they need to help them go about their daily lives at home, school and in the community is not working. A recent review of services by the Audit Commission found that disabled children and their families face many problems in accessing basic equipment.* The core problems were inflexible services, inappropriate equipment, additional costs to families, confused eligibility criteria, shortage of professionals and waiting lists. (*Audit Commission (2003) Services for disabled children. A review of services for disabled children and their families.)

With the right mobility equipment, disabled children and young people have greater independence. Without the right mobility equipment these young people are reliant on others, and are prevented from doing the things that many of us take for granted.