Disabled children are sometimes left waiting two, three or even five years to receive the right wheelchair, according to children’s charity Whizz-Kidz. Being in the wrong wheelchair can cause serious back problems, as well as having a negative effect on a child’s confidence.
Fast Forward is Whizz-Kidz campaign calling for the Government to reform the NHS wheelchair provisions for disabled children up and down the country.
“Lots of people still think that kids and families can get what they need on the NHS. It’s only until they know somebody or experience it themselves that they realise this isn’t the case,” explained Rob Dyson from Whizz-Kidz.
The aim of the campaign is to collect 70,000 signatures to represent the 70,000 estimated young people around the UK who are in inadequate mobility equipment or have no equipment at all.
At the moment, children face a “postcode lottery” when it comes to receiving adequate and appropriate mobility equipment.
“Whizz-Kidz looks at childrens' needs, both physically and socially. Why should they be left out of family bike rides? Why can’t they play with their friends? Young disabled people have the same ambitions as everyone else, so if you enable them to have a good quality of life from a young age, they will want to go to college and they will want to work,” said Rob.
“We need to let the government know that this isn’t just something that interests disabled people, or mums and dads of disabled children, but that it’s something we are all interested in," he added.
You can show your support for Whizz-Kidz' campaign today - we think it's a really important issue. All you have to do is enter your name and email address on Fast Forward’s Sign the Petition website. An email will be sent to you straightaway (for you to confirm you are actually a human being!) and then your name will be added to the petition. It’s as easy as that!
MadeForMums is proud to say that we are the 5,340th signature on the Fast Forward e-petition.
