Powered mobility for very young disabled children.

Nine motor-disabled children with normal intelligence and varying degrees of disability were studied to see if competent control of a motorized wheelchair is attainable between 20 and 39 months of age. Each child used a conventional motorized wheelchair with adaptive seating. Parents supervised the learning at home. Eight children drove safely and independently within 1.7 to 12 hours accumulated over a one to seven week period. Parents reported that this independent mobility stimulated their child's social, emotional and intellectual behavior.