10-year-old Barney from Poole, Dorset, was born with Parks Webber Syndrome which caused a bleed on his brain. As a result of this, all his motor functions are affected, meaning he is unable to stand or walk and is a full-time wheelchair user.

Over the years Barney had several manual wheelchairs as his mother Kelly felt this was good for him physically. “About two years ago, Barney really wanted an electric wheelchair, so we decided to try one – this lasted about a week as it was too fast in the house and too slow outside and was also very bulky” explained Kelly.

Kelly then started researching other options. Barney had been occasionally using a front wheel add-on to lift the front castors and provide more traction, but Kelly wanted a powered version as Barney had always been very good at controlling and maneuvering his trikes and she was confident he would be OK once they found the right solution. “We tried a couple of power add-ons, but they just weren’t right, so I asked family and friends if they knew of anything, and it was suggested that I contact Rehasense as they had the Eco Assist which could be the answer – it was one of the best phone calls I have ever made” continued Kelly.

A couple of weeks later Jordan from Rehasense was at the family home in Poole, demonstrating the Eco Assist to Kelly and Barney. “As soon as Jordan attached the Eco Assist to Barney’s wheelchair, Barney’s face lit up and he immediately called it his ‘wonder wheel’. Within minutes he was whizzing around the garden, and I knew we had found what we were looking for. From our first conversation, Jordan has been brilliant, he took the time to get to know Barney and explains to us how the Eco Assist worked. To be honest, I was concerned about attaching it to the wheelchair, but it is so easy and takes just a few seconds.”

The physiotherapists, OT’s and staff at Barney’s school have been equally impressed with the Eco Assist and people are always asking about it when he is out and about. One person at Barney’s athletics club was so impressed having seen Barney’s that they bought one. “I think the fact it looks so cool is another great feature, Barney’s friends are always asking to have a go, and it is not uncommon for people in mobility scooters to challenge Barney to a race which he loves”.

Barney has now been using his Eco Assist for nine months and Kelly admits that it has had a life-changing effect on the whole family. For example, previously, Barney never enjoyed going on family walks with the dog as he would get tired and need to be pushed, which he has always hated, but now he is the one who will suggest it and that is 100% thanks to the Eco Assist. The family also attended their first festival this summer as this would have been impossible prior to getting Barney’s ‘Wonder Wheel’.

“It is difficult to put into words what the Eco Assist has done for us. Barny is without doubt happier and more independent and any mother who has a child with a disability will tell you that is all you want – I would not hesitate in recommending the Eco Assist, Rehasense and Jordan to anybody who is looking to get more independence from their wheelchair” concluded Kelly.

Consisting of a high strength aluminum chassis, a 350-watt motor and 48-volt battery, the Eco Assist offers a very cost-effective solution for wheelchair users looking for an entry level power add-on to increase their independence. Weighing 15.5kg with the battery and just 9.4kg without, the Eco Assist is easy to transport and manually clamps onto the frame of the wheelchair and disconnects with ease in one simple movement. To ensure protection against the elements, all surfaces on the Eco Assist are powder coated and anodized. Available in a stylish black finish, the Eco Assist has a maximum speed of 20kph and can be charged from empty to full in 5 hours. The twist throttle control, central LED display on/off button and three speed modes are all housed within the handlebars while standard features include cruise control, anti-slip traction control, LED headlight and horn.

For more information on the full range of mobility solutions available from Rehasense call 0333 220 0704 email [email protected] or visit www.rehasense.co.uk