Between April and July 2014 we surveyed 341 powered wheelchair users to identify views and experiences of choosing, funding and maintaining a powered wheelchair
In addition, 23 people who had been unable to secure funding for a powered wheelchair completed part of the survey.
The survey was funded by Motability, Scope and The Clothworkers' Foundation and is part of a wider research and information project to provide the information that powered wheelchair users need to make informed decisions. The project is supported by the following disability charities: Disability Rights UK, Muscular Dystrophy Campaign, Scope, Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) and Whizz-Kidz.T
The survey found that wheelchair users experience considerable difficulty at all stages of acquiring a powered wheelchair from getting information about available and suitable equipment to funding, supply and maintenance.
The findings of the survey allow Rica to identify the shortcomings of current provision of powered wheelchairs and recommendations for improvements in the models of provision:
- Putting the wheelchair user at the heart of the wheelchair service and providing a transparent national standard service specification, which gives clear responsibilities and powers to funding bodies.
- Removing barriers between public budgets and ensuring that different funders work together to meet users’ needs.
- Providing clear information about funding sources.
- A common standard for assessments covering users’ capabilities, environments and lifestyles and a commitment to provide these speedily on referral.
- Devolving purchasing power to wheelchair users, allowing them to make supported buying decisions for themselves.
- Community enterprises supported by national information and procurement networks to provide mobility services to a common specification in a way appropriate to local and community needs.
