Mobility Matters

On June 23rd, the Whizz Kidz Youth Board took to Westminster to launch their Mobility Matters report at the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Access to Disability Equipment. 

They didn't just attend, they led the conversation.

Joining a panel alongside representatives from the Children's Commissioner's Office and Newlife, they presented findings from their own research - 203 responses from children and young wheelchair users across the UK. 

The findings make for stark reading: 

• 53% rate their NHS wheelchair as poor or very poor at meeting their needs 
• 77% were offered no choice in the wheelchair they received 
• 62% could not customise their equipment at all 
• 32% felt clinicians did not understand their personal needs 
• Fewer than half rated their wheelchair positively across seven key areas - including medical, educational, postural, social, and family needs

This isn't just data. These are the lived experiences of disabled children and young people who deserve so much better.

The Youth Board are calling on Government to: 

1. Review NHS Wheelchair Services and their commissioning 
2. Provide specialist paediatric training for clinicians working with children and young people 
3. Effectively capture, review and act on feedback from wheelchair users

It's time for change.