Michael Howard today announced his support for a new report published by children’s charities Whizz-Kidz and Barnardo’s. The report was presented to Downing Street on the 31st May and highlights how a lack of money is having a disastrous impact on disabled children across the UK.
Mr Howard has signed Early Day Motion 2317, which calls for the Government to ensure that disabled children are given the right mobility equipment to meet their needs. The EDM urges the government to give greater priority within current budgeted departmental spending to ensure that that all disabled children have access to appropriate wheelchairs.
Mr Howard said, 'I am delighted to be supporting the report, “Don’t push me around!” which highlights the difficulties children and young people face in getting the right wheelchair at the right time. It is essential that disabled children get the mobility equipment they need.'
As a result of the lack of funding parents are being encouraged by the NHS wheelchair services to seek charitable support to get the right mobility equipment for their children.
Julie Searle, mum of Jessica (12) commented, 'Our local wheelchair service provided Jess with heavy, bulky wheelchairs that gave her no independence at all. We know, in hindsight, that Jess lost valuable time during the years spent in NHS Wheelchairs. It was during these “lost” years that she acquired “learned helplessness” caused by her inability to move herself around and it has been very had to reverse the damage this has caused.
'Disabled children need to have the right start in order to achieve their full potential. It is vital that mobility equipment is allocated at the earliest age to maximise learning potential and that it is tailored around the child, not the other way round, as was our experience with the NHS wheelchair service.'
There are over 70,000 disabled children in the UK for whom the provision of the right wheelchair could make a critical difference giving them the freedom to get around and fully enjoy childhood; from going to mainstream school to being able to play with their friends and family.
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