(Courtesy of ALEH) Jerusalem—At the beginning of November, ALEH (www.aleh.org), Israel’s network of care for children with severe complex disabilities, launched a new empowerment project at its residential facility in Jerusalem that provides toddlers with specially designed motorized wheelchairs, allowing them to take control of their own mobility from the age of 1 year old. The small but powerful “Wizzybug” chairs are intended for both indoor and outdoor use and provide full support for every part of the child’s growing body.

The chair can be adjusted to match each child’s unique physical requirements, and the steering mechanism can be adapted to his or her physical abilities as well. While most models are operated with a joystick, the chair can also be operated by switches located in areas where the child has intentional involuntary movement.

“Moving in space independently helps young children with disabilities learn about ‘cause and effect,’ helps them develop self-confidence and encourages them to interact with their environment,” explained Shlomit Grayevsky, the director of ALEH Jerusalem.

Though society as a whole is more sensitive to the needs of the disability community than ever before, major advances are still necessary in the care of young children with disabilities. Most notably, infants and toddlers require tools that enable exploration and socialization, as movement, touch and the freedom to play and make choices regarding one’s destination are crucial to their learning and development. The Wizzybug chairs address these needs, allowing a group of children who were previously beholden to their adult caretakers to explore, interact with their peers and develop spatial awareness and independence.

“We at ALEH believe that every person has a natural right to dignity, the highest quality of life and to reach their fullest potentials. That’s why these brilliant Wizzybug chairs were a natural fit for us,” added Grayevsky. “We are thrilled for all of our amazing ALEH kids who are now benefitting from this exciting project, and we enjoy watching them use this new tool to move their lives ever forward.”