Wizzybug is a small powered ‘wheelchair’ for children under the age of 5 and weighing up to 20 kgs. With adult supervision it can be used indoors and out and is easy to control. It may be suitable for children as young as 14 months.

Wizzybug is loaned to families free of charge by the charity Designability. Families can keep it for as long as it is suitable. This is usually when the child outgrows it.

To be accepted onto the scheme children:

• must have good, sustained head control
• need to be able to maintain a sitting position using the harness, headrest, lap-belt and chest (thoracic) supports provided.
• do not need to have joystick skills or be able to ‘drive’.

Wizzybugs:

• have flexible seating, allowing minimal tilt-in-space, recline/upright and seat depth adjustment
• have postural support, including harness, headrest and chest (thoracic) supports
• are easily adjusted without tools as your child grows
• can be controlled by a joystick or by a carer control
• can be taken apart for one person to transport in a small car

They can be used every day or just occasionally, but are not intended to be used all day, every day.

Wizzybug is popular with many families. You can ask your occupational therapist (OT) or physiotherapist (physio) if one of these would work for your child.

You can self-refer to Deisgnability. Applications are assessed by their own Occupational Therapists.

Apply online to Designability > 

"She will be able to have some sense of the independence that her friends have and won’t just have to shout to get what she wants."

Mum of Elsie who has SMA Type 2

If your child tires quickly when using a manual chair, your physio / OT may recommend adding power assist – a power pack or powered wheels as an option. This means that a suitably supportive lightweight, foldable manual wheelchair can still be used indoors or for shorter trips but there is the option of getting further faster. This saves energy for other activities.

If this is an option you are discussing for your child, you will need to check that:

• the power system you are thinking about is compatible with your child’s chair and suitable for their strength
• the chair will still be light and compact enough for you to lift it into your car
• the cost of the batteries and running costs and annual service are affordable for you. This option, though more flexible and generally lighter, can be more expensive than a powered wheelchair.

If you already have a chair provided by Wheelchair Services (WS), check they will allow you to modify their chair with your chosen power pack. If not, you may need to buy your own manual chair in addition to the power pack.

If you need help to raise funds, Support and Outreach at SMA UK can suggest charities that may provide a grant. Most charities will not fund anything you have already bought. , So it is important not to place your order or pay any deposit until all funding has been secured or pledged. For more information, see Funding For Equipment on this page.

• Go Kids Go – training and expert advice for children who use wheelchairs.
• Whizz-Kidz – fund a range of powered and manual wheelchairs for children under 18 years of age, if wheelchair services cannot provide the mobility equipment your child needs. They also provide information, advice, activity programmes and wheelchair skills training programmes, as well as this guide: Caring For Your Wheelchair: Wheelchairs and Equipment

Some children are ready for a power chair before they are aged 5. However, in the UK at the moment it is rare that a chair will be funded until a child is aged at least 3 years. This is one reason why Wizzybug is very popular.

In general, your child will need a chair that meets their health, educational and social needs. Ideally this means that they have a chair that:

• is stable
• they can easily control
• can turn in a small space (turning circle)
  has a seat suitable for their needs, which supports them in as straight and comfortable a position as possible
• can ‘tilt in space’ (the seat-to-back angle remains the same while the whole seating system is tilted backwards), to enable them to change position and to relieve pressure
• has leg and footrests which provide adequate support
• has controls mounted in a position which is easy and comfortable for them to reach and to use
• has a seat that can go up and down (seat elevation) so that they can be at the same level as non-wheelchair users
• has straps of a type, number and location that provide best support
• has capacity to be adapted as your child grows

If possible, it is best to have a chair with ‘modular’ seating which means that any extra supports your child might need can be added on – such as for their arms and head if they need them. Some children will need a moulded seat made specifically for them. Though this will limit how adaptable the chair will be, it may be advised as the most comfortable and supportive option.

Whizz-Kidz – provides very small manual and powered wheelchairs allowing toddlers to explore their surroundings independently. They do this on a loan basis and as quickly as possible from initial contact so children don’t miss out on opportunities in this crucial stage of their development. Whizz-Kidz also offer information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment, trials, training and advice.

Go Kids Go – training and expert advice for wheelchair using children.

• Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RiDC) / ‘Getting a Powered Wheelchair
• NHS / Wheelchairs
• Help My Mobility – information on mobility products, aids, and equipment
• Go Kids Go – training and expert advice for wheelchair using children
• Whizz-Kidz – fund a range of powered and manual wheelchairs for children under 18 years of age, if wheelchair services can’t provide the mobility equipment your child’s needs. They also provide information, advice, activity programmes and wheelchair skills training programmes, as well as this guide: Caring For Your Wheelchair: Wheelchairs and Equipment