You may need walking equipment to help you with:

• your stability and balance
• maintaining an upright body posture
• your confidence in your walking ability
• keeping up with family and friends
• keeping your muscles as strong and supple as possible so that your bones and joints can continue to develop.

Walking and standing is also good for keeping your bladder and bowel working well.

Your OT and / or physio can provide equipment that will help. For example, some young people find it helpful to have lower limb splints (sometimes called orthoses) which can help keep their ankles and knees working and flexible and also help with posture. Some find it helpful to use a walking frame to get around the house or classroom or outside.

If you are unable to walk, it is still important to keep working at supported standing for as long as possible. Standing is good for many things including breathing, blood circulation, bladder, bowels, bones and joints.

Your physio or OT will provide equipment to support your standing and positioning; this may include a standing frame. They will tell you how often, when and where you should use any equipment.

Whether or not you are able to walk, a lightweight manual wheelchair can be useful. You may need to use one most of the time; you may only need one some of the time. For example, it might make a difference to hanging out at a shopping centre with friends that you would otherwise find too tiring; or you may mainly be a powerchair user but need one as a ‘back-up’.

Your OT and / or physio will be able to advise you if a manual chair is a suitable option and may well involve Wheelchair Services (WS) in any assessment of your posture and positioning. You will be advised on the most appropriate make and model and when, where and how it could be used.

You may find the information pages on this website helpful when you are talking to your OT / physio. Tick the right boxes for you on the left of the pages:

• Living Made Easy / Active Users Wheelchairs >
• Living Made Easy / Manual Wheelchair >

If your OT and WS agree you need a manual wheelchair as a key means of indoor mobility, the NHS should provide you with an appropriate one. If you prefer an option that they cannot provide but they agree it is still suitable for you, they may be able to part fund it. If the manual wheelchair is to be a ‘backup’ only it’s unlikely the NHS will fund it.

If you need help to raise funds, Support Services at SMA UK can suggest charities that may provide a grant. Most charities will not fund if you have already bought or ordered something, so it is important your parents do not place an order or pay any deposit until they are sure they have got the funds. For more information see: Funding for Equipment on this page.

Whizz-Kidz – provide information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment, trials, training, and advice.

If you tire quickly when you use a manual chair, your physio / OT may recommend the option of adding a power pack. It means 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 which can save you energy for other activities – could be ideal for those trips out with friends.

If this is an option you are thinking about with your parents, you will need to check that:

• the power system is compatible with your chair and suitable for your strength
• the chair will still be light and compact enough for your parents / PA to lift into your car
• the cost of the batteries and running costs and annual service are affordable for your parents – though having a power pack for a manual chair is a more flexible option and generally lighter, it can be more expensive than a powered wheelchair.

You may find this link useful when you are talking with your OT / physio – tick the boxes on the left hand side that are appropriate for you: Living Made Easy / Power Assist a Manual Chair

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, your parents may need to buy you your own manual chair in addition to the power pack.

If you need help to raise funds, Support Services at SMA UK can suggest charities that may provide a grant. Most charities will not fund if you have already bought or ordered something, so it is important your parents do not place an order or pay any deposit until they are sure they have got the funds. For more information see: Funding for Equipment on this page.

Whizz-Kidz – provide information on wheelchairs and mobility equipment, trials, training, and advice.