Why is mobility important for disabled children early on?
Most of us enjoy our own independence and the freedom to get around and more often than not we take both for granted. All children, especially in their early years, need to experience the stimuli of movement as it is crucial to their overall growth and development. Disabled children are no different. Research has also conclusively proven that without independent mobility many disabled children develop a documented condition called ‘learned helplessness’. This is when a child gives up on being in control of their world and as a result becomes passive and reliant on others. This is not only detrimental to their growth and development in childhood, but also in adult life they may lack the necessary social skills to enjoy mainstream society.
