The aim of the Association of Wheelchair Children (AWC) is to visit all children in the UK who use a wheelchair to ensure they are properly trained. After, we are able to refer the child to the Health Service to acquire a chair that meets the child’s clinical needs as demonstrated by the course.  The combination of the right chair and the right training means that children will have functional parity with their peers.

AWC enables such children to acquire the necessary wheelchair-handling skills so that they can fully participate in road safety training schemes. In the past, we have focussed on training wheelchair-using children to use their chairs so they could overcome most of the mobility problems they might face both in and out of doors. At these courses children were also introduced to the skills required to cross the road safely. We realise that wheelchair-using children require much more Road Safety Training than we have previously been able to offer, if they are to achieve functional parity with their able bodied peers.

In 2004 AWC was able to employ an experienced Road Safety Officer for three months who produced the AWC Road Safety Manual and trained other AWC staff in road safety. He organizedroad safety training with several groups of wheelchair-using children, AWC staff and Kerbcraft (National Pilot Network of Child Pedestrian Training Schemes supported by The Department for Transport Road Safety Division). Currently, AWC work with County Road Safety Officers to deliver high quality outdoor mobility training for wheelchair-using training across the country. Road Safety Officers can contact AWC if their wish to conduct training, free of charge, in their area.

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	Association of Wheelchair Children 6 Woodman Parade, North Woolwich, London, E16 2LL Tel:  0844 544 1050 Registered Charity No. 1057894 Company Registered 3249582