In its fourth year, the Ready Willing and Mobile competition organised by the Mobility Roadshow seeks bright ideas from young people – both disabled and non-disabled – aged seven to 16 years: ideas that will help children with disabilities on the mov
e at home, at school and at play. Ultimately their ideas could help improve the lives of thousands of young disabled people.
The potentially winning entries from this school include a personal navigation system designed by Hannah Gordon, aged ten, to help guide blind and visually impaired people around their home.
Twins Caitlin and Olivia Brough, aged ten, entered 'The Happy Bed', specially designed to help make disabled children's life "better, easier and more fun". As well as many comfort features it includes electronic arms to fetch your
teddy bear and turn on the tv, as well as a 'help' button.
Eleanor Lee, also aged ten, has devised an Independence Bag full of helpful gadgets to help children with autism be more independent. Contents of the bag include electronic word and money converters, a reminder 'timetable for the day' prompt and instructions to help remember how to do every day things.
Also winning through to the final round is a team effort. Djembe Askins, Dominic Button, Noah Summers and Jake Wilson, all aged 11, put their heads together to design a go-cart to allow disabled people to travel with more freedom. Features include special supportive seats and restraints, stabilisers to ensure safety, a height-adjustable steering wheel and voice command for people with restricted arm movements.
"This is an excellent competition that encourages children to consider inclusivity from an early age," said Paul Charlton, head of design technology at Marden Bridge Middle School. "I am absolutely thrilled that so many of our entries have made it through to the final selection."
The final judging takes place on May 28, when the winners and runners-up of the two age categories will be decided as well as the outright winner, which is selected from the two category winners.
The outright winner will be announced and awards presented by CBBC 'Desperados' star and wheelchair basketball ace, Ade Adepitan, at the Mobility Roadshow at Stoneleigh Park, Coventry on National Young Disabled Persons' Day – Saturday, June 14.
As well as £1,000 cash prize and a £250 Staedtler stationery and art and craft pack for their school, the outright winner bags a Canon PowerShot A550 digital camera and PIXMA photo printer, £100-worth of HarperCollins books of their choice and a skid car or off-road experience at the Mobility Roadshow. There are prizes for runners-up too.
Jacqui Jones, director of projects and events, Mobility Roadshow said:
"The competition is building year on year.
