Five-year-old Danny Clarke likes to be active, make his own choices and have a go.
Danny has spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and uses a wheelchair for all of his mobility. At school, at home and out with his family, having the right wheelchair gives him greater freedom to move independently, take part and build his confidence.
Danny recently received a new active wheelchair from Provide Equipment Hub’s Croydon Wheelchair Service. His Ki Little Wave Clik, manufactured by Ki Mobility and distributed in the UK by Etac, has been selected and configured around his individual needs.
Greater independence and choice
Danny has used a wheelchair from a young age. As he has grown, his mobility needs have changed too.
His new active wheelchair enables him to propel himself more independently and gives him greater freedom in everyday life.
His mum, Nee, describes Danny as incredibly driven. He has an older and a younger sibling and is always keen to be involved in what is happening around him.
“He sees everyday things he can’t do, but he wants to try,” she said.
The Ki Little Wave Clik is designed specifically for children and can be adjusted as Danny grows, helping the chair continue to support his positioning, comfort and mobility over the coming years.
Danny was also involved in choosing how his new wheelchair would look.
“He got to pick the colour himself and design the chair,” said Nee. “They gave us the colour palette. It felt like a new present.”
Giving children choice over the equipment they use every day is an important part of making wheelchair provision personal and centred around the individual.
Taking his ambition to the track
Danny’s determination has also taken him into wheelchair racing.
He is now training with the Velocity Racers at the David Weir Leisure Centre in Carshalton, competing over distances including 50m, 80m and 100m. Wheelchair racing has already had a significant impact on him.
“The wheelchair racing has made a real difference,” said Nee. “His dream is to be in the Paralympics.”
The group was founded by Paralympic wheelchair racer David Weir CBE. David is one of Britain’s most successful wheelchair racers and has inspired generations of young disabled athletes through his achievements on the track and road.
For Danny, the sport gives him the chance to develop his skills, enjoy competing and see what might be possible in the future.
Care that continues
For Provide Equipment Hub’s Wheelchair Service, the handover of a new chair is part of an ongoing relationship with Danny and his family.
Children grow, and their needs change, so their wheelchair may need adjusting, maintaining or repairing over time. Nee says the support her family has received has been particularly reassuring.
“The service they offer for children is really good,” she said. “As soon as there is a problem, they usually come out that day to fix it.”
Danny’s new wheelchair has been chosen around the life he leads now while giving him room to grow.
It supports his independence at school and at home, gives him more choice over how he moves through the world and, alongside wheelchair racing, is helping a determined five-year-old pursue some very big ambitions.
Helen Nelson, Clinical Lead at Croydon Wheelchair Service, added, “We gave Danny his first self-propelling wheelchair when he was two and a half. He has come such a long way and grown in confidence and ability over the last two years. Danny’s story really reinforces how important it is to give children access to active wheelchairs from a young age.”
The final word goes to Danny, who said: “Thank you for your help in letting me be me and join in with the things I want to do. I feel like I can be myself and do things on my own with my new chair”.