Hi,
Other posters may also be interested in a few of the finalists ( 2006) of the BPA ( baby products association).
one of the finalists was "Mobaby" Its sort of a baby car seat which attaches to the w/chair. This is what the BPA say about it:
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2006 FINALIST - AISHA PANKHANIA - MOBABY
The "Mobaby Wheelchair Baby Carrier" was designed to help a wheelchair dependent parent perform certain tasks independently and to help maintain close physical contact with their child which helps retain the special bond between parent and child. A fantastic concept.
see further details at
BPA dedicated page
Further examples of products which someone has thought up for disabled folks can be found at the DPPi :
HERE
Also, on the DPPi site, ( UK site), there is an interesting 'debate' with regards to us parents who do/have carried our children/grand children on our laps. I have copied a couple of exerts below. When the whole article is read, it also gives info on other types of 'carriers' ( back back type) and looks at the serious lack of facilities/equipment available to us disabled parents.
Please see:
Disability, Pregnancy and Parenthood - International
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Continuing the theme of ‘Out and about on a wheelchair’ featured in Viewpoint.
Shanta Everington summarises the current legal position in the UK. Denise Ganley, writing from New Zealand, shares her thoughts on this from an international perspective.
This debate is then continued by colleagues from Through the Looking Glass in the USA, who look in more detail at the practical and legal aspects of carrying children when using a wheelchair.
Legal issues
Parents have a duty of care to ensure that a baby or child is carried safely. It is important to seek professional advice when planning solutions.
In the UK, all wheelchairs are classed as medical devices and their use is regulated by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
There is no law that specifically prevents the user of a manual wheelchair from carrying a baby or child on the wheelchair, provided this does not endanger the occupants or the public. However, if you don’t own the wheelchair outright, it is important to get permission first.
The law on powered wheelchairs is less clear. Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 they are permitted on public highways (roads and footpaths), but only if used solely by a disabled person. This would appear to prohibit a disabled adult from carrying a child on the wheelchair, but this has never been tested in the courts.
DPPi is in the process of clarifying the legal position for parents who use powered wheelchairs and scooters. The Department for Transport is currently reviewing the legislation. DPPi responded to the Department’s consultation document earlier this year, raising our concerns about the needs of disabled parents who use wheelchairs. We are awaiting an update.
“If such a rule existed I would be unable to go out independently with my children and this would not be acceptable for me.”
and for those overseas ( USA, and NZ) :
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Adaptations that enable wheelchair users to transport children are clearly vital to the well-being of the parent and child, even to the point of facilitating a parent’s ability to keep their child with them in the face of custody challenges. But is carrying a child in a wheelchair legal?
Thankfully, there is currently no legislation in the United States defining a wheelchair as a form of transportation intended solely for one passenger. Nor is there any case law in either the federal or state courts stating that carrying an infant or young child in a wheelchair is child endangerment. Of the major wheelchair manufacturers, no information on their internet sites indicates that infants or young children should not be carried as passengers.
Hope this is of interest too
Take care,
K
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