WHEELCHAIR SERVICES FOR DISABLED CHILDREN

That this House recognises the importance of enabling all disabled children to move around independently and to enjoy the freedom to live full and active lives with families and friends; notes that there are over 70,000 children who require vital mobility equipment which meets their clinical, social and developmental needs; is concerned that many children are forced to wait over a year or are simply unable to access appropriate mobility equipment and as a result risk developmental delay; further notes that, in the long term, independent mobility enables young people to develop the skills and confidence they need to play a full role in society and become tax-paying citizens; applauds the work of the national charity Whizz-Kidz as the leading provider of paediatric wheelchairs and mobility equipment outside the NHS; and supports its work in raising awareness of the needs of disabled children across the UK, promoting independent mobility to enable those children to experience the everyday things that many able-bodied children take for granted.