An electric wheelchair buggy for disabled children under five
All parents can empathize with the challenges that both parents and children face while dealing with a disability. So it is no coincidence, that engineers at the Bath Institute for Medical Engineering, have designed the Wizzybug – electric mobility buggy for disabled children under five. Smart design makes buggy look less electric wheelchair and more a toy, so end result is that other children want to use it. The Wizzybug is also fitted with a towing hook so that a trailer can be attached and towed. In evaluations of Beth Institute, friends of the disabled children wanted using Wizzybug saying, "I like your car, where did you get it from?".
Wizzybug incorporates suggestions from therapists and parents, and has top speed of two miles per hour. The Wizzybug electric wheelchair weighs 31 kg (69 lbs), and features fully adjustable seating system with memory foam cushions. Wheelchair buggy has a programmable joystick and can be controlled either by the child or by a parent/caregiver. Wizzybug can be used both indoors and outside. Recommendation is to keep it on even grounds, but either way it will enable young disabled children to explore and do the sorts of things that other children are doing. Buggy is easy to adjust without need of special tools and can be dismantled and carried even in boot of a smaller car.
It took Bath Institutes's engineers three years to develop the Wizzybug. Buggy is already selling in UK, price ranges from $3,400 to $4000. As Bath Institute is a charity, they want to reach rock bottom price, to expand availability, so device is sold at cost. Unfortuantely this currently makes worldwide availabilty a question without answer.
Source: BBC
Patricia Szczygiel Said,
September 9, 2007 @ 4:16 pm
Thank goodness for organizations such as yours. It does my heart good to see that someone has such wonderful ideas for children that are at a disadvantage, but really need not to miss out on the fun as able bodied children. The Shriners Hospitals in the U.S. might be a good place to show off the Wizzybug. I wish that I was wealthy and I could purchase some of these for needy children.
PLS in TN
Adel Gaber Said,
December 31, 2007 @ 11:21 am
Hello, First of all I would like to thank you very much for this nice product, I have my kid born with birth defect (Sbina Bifeda) and he is now has 4 years old. and I was looking for product like this. but it is very expensive for because I am Egyptian and work in Egypt so how can get it as a donation and if not how can I buy it?
mu kid now has 4 years but his weight now is 25Kg for how Kg he can use it.
Claudia Said,
October 8, 2008 @ 2:17 am
Que produto maravilhoso para as nossas crianças especiais que se privam muitas das vezes de frequentar praças por não ter um brinquedo adequando. Se muito filha não fosse tão grande, com certeza seria o meu sonho adquirir o Wizzybugy, pois além de ser um meio de locomoção, funciona como um brinquedo. Parabéns!!!
Só lamento que no Brasil a maoiria não tem condições financeiras para adquirir este produto.
ada Said,
January 3, 2009 @ 12:06 am
My little boy Foster child has cerebral palsy and had a buggy from about 2yrs old. He is totally dependant and cannot walk talk stand sit unaided. Within half an hour of sitting him in the buggy (strapped well in with a special waistcoat supplied) he was driving around the house. He soon progressed to driving outside – wind rain snow sun – nothing stopped him. Our NHS service had said that he wouldnt get a motorized chair until we could prove he could use one!! ! Our then social worker wouldnt help with the funding as she said that it wasnt really vital that our boy could move independently!!!. Thank God for action for kids charity who helped us with funding. Our boy is now 12 yrs old. Uses a computer. Is a total delight. Everyone loves his wonderful smile. Drives a powered wheelchair donated by The Freemasons charity.He still drives into all the walls and furniture but that is nothing to do with the C.P.- just a typical boy.- I can really recommend this wonderful buggy. Good luck to all of you needing funding – dont be too proud to ask.
lachkar Said,
January 16, 2009 @ 4:40 pm
bonjour,
je suis très contente de trouver cette invention, pouvez voue me dire comment puis je l’acheter.
Merci pour votre aide.
Marlene Alonso Said,
January 22, 2009 @ 10:04 pm
quiero información del costo y si en México lo puedo adquirir o me lo enviarÃan es para mi hija con mielomeningocele de 9 años de edad, espero respuesta gracias
Naeem Kasuri Said,
August 17, 2009 @ 2:47 am
Dear Admin
I am looking an electric wheelchair for totly disable boy, please send me very best & very special discount prise for Pakistan and also send all details along with colors pictures of wheelchair by any DHL, Fedex or any couriour at my fowlling mailing address:- I will be Thankfull for your’s very best co-operation and help.
Muhammad Naeem-ur-Rehman
c/o Mrs. Iqbal Bano
45-D II, Model Town
Lahore – Pakistan
cell: 0092-321-4926717
0092-300-9569444
AUDREY JOLLY Said,
March 5, 2010 @ 4:01 pm
HI MY DAUGHTER HAS A DISABILITY KNOWN AS SPINBIFADA, AND IS IN GREAT NEED OF THIS BUGGY. SHE IS A FOUR YEAR OLD LITTLE GIRL WHO LOVES TO BE ON THE GO, THE BUGGY SHOW IN THE PICTURE ABOVE WILL HELP HER REACH HER GOAL, HOWEVER WE ARE HAVING TROUBLE PURCHASING THIS IN THE UNITED STATES, CAN YOU PLEASE ASSIST US WITH THIS PURCHASE. WE WILL GLADLY PAY FOR SCOOTER AND ALL SHIPPING COST THANKYOU.
AUDREY JOLLY.
414 828-3626
Andre Said,
May 3, 2010 @ 4:35 pm
May our charity use some pictures and mabe some web content for our new charity website regarding your wizzy bugy
community Said,
July 5, 2010 @ 6:42 am
You may quote articles published here, but no more than 10% of the article. You must always link back to original article on our page. Pictures are mostly just PR pictures that come with news, so you should investigate about persmissions on the source, but since they are press materials i dons see any problems.
Andrea Said,
July 12, 2010 @ 8:17 pm
Hi,
My daughter is 2 years old and has Spinal Muscular Atrophy type 2, which means she can not walk and need wheels. I was enquirying to see if you sold the wizzy bug here in Australia or anyone that stocks it here and how much it would cost. Could you please email me and let me know as soon as you can.
Kind regards
Andrea O’Neill