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Other equipment providers
If you are looking for advice on where else to get mobility equipment there are a number of other possibilities.
Your first port of call should always be your local NHS wheelchair service. You should talk to your local occupational therapist or physiotherapist and/or your child’s doctor as they will have a good idea of how best to approach your local wheelchair service in light of what your child needs. If you know of other families who have received equipment in your area it’s very worthwhile talking to them to find out about their experiences and learn from them.
If you are unable to get the mobility equipment you need, charities like Whizz-Kidz and other charitable trusts may be able to help you. Please do bear in mind that charities and charitable trusts often have more families applying than funds available, so you may have to wait. Whizz-Kidz is reliant on voluntary funds so we need to raise the money in order to open the next child’s case and deliver our service.
If you are unable to get what your child needs from the wheelchair services and would like to apply to Whizz-Kidz, please go to mobility equipment
Local wheelchair service voucher scheme
Some wheelchair services operate a wheelchair Voucher Scheme which means they will fund or part-fund mobility equipment.
Whizz-Kidz actively joint funds equipment with as many local wheelchair services as possible that operate the voucher scheme. It’s worth approaching your local service to find out if your child is eligible under this scheme before applying to Whizz-Kidz. If you apply to Whizz-Kidz we will also approach your local wheelchair service to identify any joint funding oportunities.
It is worth knowing that the voucher can’t be exchanged for cash. It is non-taxable so it will not affect any disability benefits your child may be receiving.
Also, if you buy a wheelchair privately from a commercial company or individual, you cannot claim back the money from the NHS wheelchair service.
Take a look at your local Primary Care Trust website to see if your local wheelchair service operates a voucher scheme.
Other charities
If you are unable to obtain equipment from the statutory services the other options are charities or charitable trusts that provide grants for mobility equipment. You’ll need to check what their guidance is for eligibility and follow their application procedure. Most charities are not able to cover the cost of maintenance, servicing or insurance costs so you’ll need to think about how else you might fund what is an essential part of looking after your child’s equipment.
If you are able to afford to purchase your child’s wheelchair privately Whizz-Kidz can offer you an independent assessment. A Whizz-Kidz therapist can carry out a full assessment including equipment trials, and then provides a prescription for the recommended type of equipment your child needs. From there you can order it directly from recommended dealers. There will be a small fee for an independent assessment to cover the cost of our therapist’s time and expertise.
To find out about other charities or grant makers please go to links
Buying equipment privately
If you have fundraised to buy your child their equipment or you can afford to purchase your child’s mobility equipment privately here are some of the things you should think about:
- Getting advice from your child’s local therapist
- Think about what your child wants to do with the equipment?
- What makes their movement difficult, and what would make it easier?
- What is good about any equipment they may already have?
- What else needs to be considered when buying mobility equipment e.g. access to your house, car, school requirements, their social or recreational needs etc.
- What may change in the next few years?
- Consider approaching Whizz-Kidz as we can offer you an independent assessment.
Once you’ve taken advice and have a feel for what’s on the market you need to decide what the best solution is for your child. Your local therapist should be able to offer you advice and you might like to consider contacting Whizz-Kidz as we can offer an advisory assessment which will provide you with the specifics of what would best meet your child’s needs.
Whatever advice you take you should ensure your child is assessed by some one who is qualified to do so. You should also approach the appropriate equipment dealer so that your child is able to trial equipment before you purchase. It’s worth noting that a piece of equipment may not be able to do everything you want it to.
Mobility equipment exhibitions
To get an idea of what’s available on the market it is worth visiting exhibitions such as the Mobility Roadshow or Naidex Exhibition. These are trade shows for equipment dealers and other businesses that work with the mobility and disability field.
Please be aware that your local wheelchair service is unlikely to provide the extent of equipment that is available on the market as they have a very limited budget and range of mobility equipment for children.
Other sources of support and information
- Ask your local paediatrician who may have knowledge of local charities who could help you
- Libraries or voluntary organisations often have directories listing local charities and trusts. Remember, to check their criteria
- If a member of your family is, or has been a member of a group or union it is worth approaching them. Often industries in decline have funds waiting to be used
- If any member of the family is, or has been a member of the armed forces, you could approach the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA)
- There are companies that hire and sell products - often with someone coming to your home to demonstrate products to you. These can be found by searching online, in disability magazines or in the phonebook.
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