Special needs buggy

brooklyn210907

Hi, can anyone help? I am desperate for a special needs buggy, a maclaren major elite.
My son has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or sit unaided. I have on loan a huge pushcair that doesnt fit in my boot and so have cancelled my holiday to my mums in devon as im stuck. I have been told that even if we are sucessful with wheel chair services it all has to go to panel so i could be waiting till xmas. I have tried freecycle but there is nothing. Can anyone help me please im getting so low. x

cresentmoon

Hi,
My DD also has Cerebral Palsy, and whilst i understand the complications of having a large pushchair and small boot i really think that you need to see the wheelchair service to get a proper assessment. Like your son, my DD cannot walk or sit unaided and we have to make sure that the pushchair we get for her supports her properly without causing any future problems and for us the Maclaren is a big no no as i does not hold her in a comfortable and correct position.
My advice would be to get on to your OT and/or Physio and get them to chase up the appointment. Or ring the wheelchair service yourself and make a polite nuisance, maybe even say that you are available for short notice cancellations?
TBH with you, i haven't ever heard of it having to go to a panel, i don't know if its different rules in different counties though.
HTH

brooklyn210907

Thankyou so much for that. They say that i need a 90/90 sitting angle for him.
I will definately give them a call tomorrow as im finding this all so stressfull. I find that you have to literally fight for everything and justify yourself all the time.

skipsmum

DS2 has the maclaren major (he has arthritis) but I very much doubt it wold give enough support for a child with CP. DS has good posture and still looks really slumped in it! You really need to phone everyone:GP,health visitor, social worker and hassle them to help you. I know its a fight for everything but its the only way xxx

jmabnc

cresentmoon wrote: »

Hi,
My DD also has Cerebral Palsy, and whilst i understand the complications of having a large pushchair and small boot i really think that you need to see the wheelchair service to get a proper assessment. Like your son, my DD cannot walk or sit unaided and we have to make sure that the pushchair we get for her supports her properly without causing any future problems and for us the Maclaren is a big no no as i does not hold her in a comfortable and correct position.
My advice would be to get on to your OT and/or Physio and get them to chase up the appointment. Or ring the wheelchair service yourself and make a polite nuisance, maybe even say that you are available for short notice cancellations?
TBH with you, i haven't ever heard of it having to go to a panel, i don't know if its different rules in different counties though.
HTH

Hi Brooklyn,I would agree with cresentmoon,my DD has cerebral palsy also,she is getting her wheelchair fitting next week,the OT referred her a few weeks ago,she can walk,BUT tires quickly and is also tripping over her feet,I hope you act soon,please check with your OT or Consultant as they are the ones who will get you referred,also ask the Ot to come out and do a visit to see what your child could get to help with everyday living items.:T:rotfl:

longhotbath

brooklyn210907 wrote: »

Hi, can anyone help? I am desperate for a special needs buggy, a maclaren major elite.
My son has cerebral palsy and cannot walk or sit unaided. I have on loan a huge pushcair that doesnt fit in my boot and so have cancelled my holiday to my mums in devon as im stuck. I have been told that even if we are sucessful with wheel chair services it all has to go to panel so i could be waiting till xmas. I have tried freecycle but there is nothing. Can anyone help me please im getting so low. x

Hi Brooklyn, Have you thought about a wheelchair for your son - I know it takes alot to get your head around. My son had a 'blade' wheelchair when he was nearly 3, and it gave him a great sitting position - support can be added and it will give a better position for him to see his world from, eat, and play at (google trabasac for an amazing portable wheelchair table!!)
We went for the 'high back' option, which meant that the handlebars folded in half. The wheelchair itself folds sideways and can then take up very little space - goes in my friends toyota auris a treat.

Ask for a proper assessment - we found the major didnt give anywhere like enough support.

Best wishes.

space_rider

My daughter has the mclaren major. She`s had it since around 3. I bought the support that stops them from hitting their heads on the side of the pushchair. She had it via the hospital wheelchair services and it didn`t take long at all.

continualdiamond

Would you ever consider looking on ebay?

I only ask as i work in a special needs school and 1 of the parents of a child in my class got quite frustrated with what chairs they were being provided, so used the one that they had to for him to get into school, but outside of school used a different one. They purchased it from America.

When the child out grew it, she then sold it on ebay.

mrscb

To get the right chair with the correct support an OT needs to do an assessment. My son has CP and his wheelchair is huge compared to some but it is what he needs.I would be wary buying a secondhand one as it could do more harm than good.