Wheelchairs for all ages
Adults
We have a wide range of powered and manual wheelchairs here at the Centre which you can try out during an assessment with us. We do not sell wheelchairs but we offer independent and objective advice by qualified and trained occupational therapists and can give you details of suppliers and other relevant information. Occasionally we need to do joint assessments with a local representative who will bring a selection of products or a specific piece of equipment. We have a track at the Centre where clients can try out powered wheelchairs over different surfaces, cambers and road humps.
William Merritt Centre have teamed up with Experience Community to deliver Manual Wheelchair Skills training for wheelchair users, please check out our information page.
We also have a selection of ramps including folding ramps, channel ramps and threshold ramps. There are often a variety of solutions to help you adapt your property, but we always recommend that you arrange a no obligation home demonstration by a local supplier to assess any ramp. It is always worth contacting your local occupational therapy team in Social Services as they should be able to advise you of any problems in accessing your property.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Use the Book button below to be taken to a form to complete. Once the assessment is booked a short questionnaire will be sent to you which needs to be returned before the assessment. This is so we can ensure the best equipment is available for you on the day of the assessment. There is no charge for the assessment.
What happens at the assessment?
An occupational therapist will complete a brief interview first asking details about your medical condition or disability and how this affects you. The occupational therapist will then carry out a practical assessment to check you can manoeuvre the wheelchair safely within the Centre and outdoors.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive advice and information on the equipment that you tried and a list of reputable retailers and funding sources, usually this is sent as a report after the assessment. We can also send reports to funding sources to confirm that the equipment you tried is suitable and needed. If you are assessed as not being safe to drive a powered wheelchair the occupational therapist will discuss this with you.
Guides
Children under five
There are two powered wheelchairs to choose from:
Bugzi
Wizzybug
Wizzybug
Wizzybug is a powered wheelchair designed specifically for children under five who, due to their condition, are unable to walk, who can only walk with difficulty or who may need to save energy for other activities so that they can experience mobility and fun.
Wizzybug can be used indoors, at home and at pre-school, and outdoors in accessible areas such as gardens, playgrounds and parks.
It is not expected that Wizzybug will be a child’s only method of getting around, but it will be a useful, child-friendly addition to other mobility equipment.
Borrow a Wizzybug for FREE
Requests are welcome from both therapists and families. Please contact Designability’s occupational therapy team on 01225 824103, who will help you decide whether the Wizzybug might be beneficial for your child. There will be a simple application form to fill in, which they can send to you. Testing out the Wizzybug will take place at either Designability in Bath or at the William Merritt Centre in Leeds. Normally Wizzybug will be ready to take home on the day of the assessment. No deposit is needed.
Bugzi
MERU Bugzi is a powered indoor chair for children aged one to five, enabling independent mobility, often for the first time in their lives.
An ideal introduction to switch and joystick use, Bugzi is safe, compact and manoeuvrable – the perfect wheelchair ‘trainer’. Each Bugzi’s seating and controls can be adapted the child grows. Bugzi has a programmable controller, postural seating and rechargeable batteries.
Borrow a Bugzi for FREE
Requests are welcome from both therapists and families. An application form can be downloaded from the manufacturer’s website and should be sent to MERU directly. If the application is accepted, a Bugzi will be sent to your nominated centre where you will be invited for an assessment. On the day of the assessment, the Bugzi will normally be ready to take home. A £100 deposit is required, which is refunded when the Bugzi is returned.
The maximum weight limit of a child using Bugzi is 25kgs.
Scooters
We have a wide range of scooters for adults here at the Centre which you can try out during an assessment with us. We do not sell them but we offer independent and objective advice by qualified and trained occupational therapists and can give you details of suppliers and other relevant information. Occasionally we need to do joint assessments with a local representative who will bring a selection of products or a specific piece of equipment. We have a track at the Centre where clients can try out scooters over different surfaces, cambers and road humps.
Scooter assessments are also offered at our Sheffield office, its details are on the Contact page.
We also have a selection of ramps including folding ramps, channel ramps and threshold ramps. There are often a variety of solutions to help you adapt your property, but we always recommend that you arrange a no obligation home demonstration by a local supplier to assess any ramp.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Use the Book button below to be taken to a form to complete. Once the assessment is booked a short questionnaire will be sent to you which needs to be returned before the assessment. This is so we can ensure the best equipment is available for you on the day of the assessment. There is no charge for the assessment.
What happens at the assessment?
An occupational therapist will complete a brief interview first asking details about your medical condition or disability and how this affects you. The occupational therapist will then carry out a practical assessment to check you can manoeuvre the scooter safely within the Centre and outdoors.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive advice and information on the equipment that you tried and a list of reputable retailers and funding sources, usually this is sent as a report after the assessment. We can also send reports to funding sources to confirm that the equipment you tried is suitable and needed. If you are assessed as not being safe to drive a scooter the occupational therapist will discuss this with you.
Guides
Please visit the Shopmobility section of the website.
Buggies & trikes
The tricycle clinics for children are arranged on a regular basis at St Chad’s Parish Centre, Headingley, in Leeds.
Two companies attend the clinic with us, offering a range of adapted tricycles to give the postural support and gear options to meet the needs of your child. Many children who are unable to sit or stand independently can achieve a pedalling action with the right postural support.
We hold buggy/manual wheelchair clinics for children at the Centre approximately every two months. Two companies attend the clinic with us offering a range of attendant or self-propelling buggies and wheelchairs, which offer a range of different postural supports.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Use the Book button below to be taken to a form to complete. Once the assessment is booked a short questionnaire will be sent to you which needs to be returned before the assessment. This is so we can ensure the best equipment is available for your child on the day of the assessment.
There is no charge for the assessment.
What happens at the assessment?
A paediatric occupational therapist will complete a brief interview first asking details about your child’s medical condition or disability and how this affects them. The occupational therapist will then carry out a practical assessment of your child’s postural needs and your child can try out tricycles or buggies. The therapist will also consider any needs you may have helping your child get into and out of the equipment.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive advice and information on the equipment that your child tried and a list of reputable retailers and funding sources, usually this is sent as a report after the assessment. We can also send reports to funding sources to confirm that the equipment your child tried is suitable and needed.
Walkers for all ages
Adults
We have a wide range of three and four wheeled walkers, zimmer frames, crutches and walking sticks for you try. We do not sell equipment but we offer impartial advice on suppliers and provide relevant information.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Use the Book button below to be taken to a form to complete. Once the assessment is booked a short questionnaire will be sent to you which needs to be returned before the assessment. This is so we can ensure the best equipment is available for you on the day of the assessment. There is no charge for the assessment.
What happens at the assessment?
An occupational therapist will complete a brief interview first asking details about your medical condition or disability and how this affects you. The occupational therapist will then carry out a practical assessment where you can try out all the different walkers and identify which one will best suit your long term needs.
What happens after the assessment?
You will receive advice and information on the equipment that you tried and a list of reputable retailers and funding sources, usually this is sent as a report after the assessment. We can also send reports to funding sources to confirm that the equipment you tried is suitable and needed.
Children
Children’s clinics are no longer hosted at William Merritt Centre, please contact your community physiotherapist.
Car seats
Car seat clinics take place at the Centre in Leeds every 6 weeks. Our Sheffield Centre will arrange them depending on demand at any particular time. An estimated 74% of car seats are fitted incorrectly. At our car seat clinic our paediatric occupational therapist will make sure your child’s car seat is compatible with your vehicle. They will consider the postural needs of your child and how you will help your child get into and out of the car, considering your moving and handling needs too.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Use the Book button below to be taken to a form to complete. Once the assessment is booked a short questionnaire will be sent to you which needs to be returned before the assessment. This is so we can ensure the best equipment is available for your child on the day of the assessment.
There is no charge for the assessment.
What happens at the assessment?
During the clinic your child’s postural needs will be assessed in a variety of car seats by our paediatric occupational therapists. The therapist will assess the manual handling issues arising from transferring your child into your vehicle. Then the stability of the chosen car seat in your vehicle will be checked by our car safety consultant. We also have harnesses available for assessment for those children who do not require a car seat.
What happens after the assessment?
The OT will write a report for you detailing all aspects of the assessment and you will be able to use this to support a charity application if required.
Try b4u Fly
Concerned about any of these things?
- What equipment can I take on the plane?
- Will I be able to get to the toilet during the flight?
- How will I get from my wheelchair to the airline seat?
- How will my child cope with flying?
If you are considering flying or are taking your child on a flight but are concerned about how you will manage on a practical level, we would recommend booking a Try b4u Fly assessment. We have an aircraft fuselage at the Centre where you can try equipment that helps you or your child transfer and board the aircraft together. We have seating and postural supports to determine which suits you or your child best and train you on how to use them.
All assessments are taken place by a qualified occupational therapist. The main features of a Try b4u Fly assessment are:
- Showing you seating and transfer equipment with the opportunity to try them
- Exploring the benefits of the different systems
- Advising you on airline choice
- Experience transferring in and out of your or your child’s wheelchair and using an on board wheelchair.
- An opportunity to raise questions about your journey.
Any questions?
How do I book an assessment?
Using the Book button below, please complete the Try b4U Fly questionnaire and then select a date and book your assessment, we recommend that this is at least 6 weeks before your date of travel. There is a fee of £75 to pay when you book.
What happens at the assessment?
During the assessment we will discuss the procedure from check in, to boarding the aircraft and disembarking from the aircraft. We will also discuss toileting needs, supportive seating and transfers on to the aisle chair and aircraft seat. We will physically carry out transfers as hoists are only available at certain airports.
What happens after the assessment?
Following your assessment you will receive advice and information on the equipment that you tried. A list of reputable retailers and funding sources that you can loan or buy equipment from for when you go on your travels. We will write a report following your assessment and post/email this to you after your assessment together with any photographic evidence to help your airline understand the situation.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Centre if you have any further questions about Try b4U Fly assessments for you or your child.