Need A Stairlift For Disabled Child Can Anyone Advise

smscat

The Family Fund can sometimes help with grants for disabled children
http://www.familyfund.org.uk

Local charities also sometimes have funds for people in need. Your local Citizens Advice Bureau or local library would have details of these.

climbingrose_2

I'm also an OT (but one of the elusive ones who works specifically with Disabled Children at the local council)!!!

I would reiterate what has already been said - please strongly consider getting an impartial assessment. A through floor lift may well be a better long term option if your son needs a lot of support and/or uses a wheelchair for mobility.

How about making a referral to adult OT for yourself? Perhaps their waiting list might be shorter and they can get on at the children’s team for you?
Complaints or your councillor may well be good ideas! You might mention that one of the outcomes of 'Every Child Matters' is for children to Stay Safe, and that your son is being put at risk by not having the equipment/adaptations he needs (www.everychildmatters.gov.uk). There is also 'Every Disabled Child Matters' but this is more a campaigning focus.

The Disabled Living Foundation are good; you could also consider getting a private OT assessment and try submitting this to the housing department along with an application for a Disabled Facilities Grant. (Technically I guess this should be possible but never known it work in practice... any thought echohoteloscar?!) See https://www.cotss-ip.org.uk for private OT's.

There is a charity called BDF Newlife that is spearheading a campaign to get disabled children the equipment they need when they need it (https://www.bdfnewlife.co.uk) and they have a report you might be able to take advantage of. They also make grants for equipment and have a very useful helpline.

[FONT=&quot]Good luck!

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pavlovs_dog

just an idea, but if it doesn't prove possible to get a stairlift or similar, would it be a viable alternative to turn a downstairs room into a bedroom for him? do you have a toilet/shower facility downstairs (or the means to add one) so as to take the stairs out of the equation altogether?

lukiesgirl

Thanks Pavlovs & climbing rose. We did think about adapting one of our reception rooms for him but I would have to sleep there as well because he requires quite a bit of nighttime care. Thanks for the idea though. I am now determined to contact the council on Monday (snowed in at the moment)! I think I will have to make a nuisance of myself. The school have asked for the Physio to visit and monitor DS so that she can see his mobilty probs. The SENCO who is wonderful is also going to submit a report. At the moment I would accept anything that was offered!
:A

parentdad

Where are you based and what type of staircase have you got?
Curly or straight?

lukiesgirl

I am based in Caerphilly area and my staircase is straight.

angecull31

lukiesgirl wrote: »

Thanks Poppy9. I am on the waiting list but I have just had a letter to say there are staff shortages so I will have to wait 6 months!! I phone once a week in the hope that things have changed:rolleyes:

Hiya,

I'm not 100% sure if it is the same in England or not but we had a lot of work done through an agency called Borders Care and Repair. I live in the Borders and I suppose that is where they got that part from but the reason that I brought them up is because they are just like the social work department where as they are funded throught the local Council and not only can they give you an assesment but they can also help with the cost of part or all of the money for work or an adaptation.

Here is a link for Care & Repair within England - http://www.careandrepair-england.org.uk/

Scotland - http://www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk/

and Wales - http://www.careandrepair.org.uk/

Hopefully thy should be ableto breach the gap of your local social work department and will get you well on your way to a new stair lift.

Angela

Pookie36

Did you get a stairlift. I have a 5 year old and am in the same position you were in. Any progress. Which one did you get and did the council pay?