Abstract:

This work was commissioned by a charity, the Physical Disability and Sensory Impairment Forum, owing to local parental concerns relating to the assessment for and provision of mobility equipment. The project was set up as a preliminary investigation to consider those concerns. A literature review was carried out in order to establish current practice in the National Health Service wheelchair service in England, the role of the wheelchair in children's mobility, the wheelchair and seating needs of children and the met and unmet need. A questionnaire was distributed to children and their parents to gain their views. The response rate was disappointingly poor and, therefore, the results are not presented.