The SnapDragon's effect on your child
Especially if the SnapDragon is the first electric wheelchair your child has had, you will find
that his access to things around him will suddenly expand. He will now be able to reach
from the floor to perhaps three feet high - maybe higher if he has the standing frame. Just
as when toddlers find their feet for the first time, safety must be a prime consideration.
Even older children may have to be carefully introduced to areas of danger, as their
previous experience of less mobility may not have taught them the basic rules of safety.
You will quickly learn what needs to be moved out of reach or protected, to enable your
child to make the most of his new-found freedom. You will also find out what new rules of
behaviour your child must learn, to give you confidence in him.
Because the SnapDragon is highly manoeuvrable, movement will be much more fun than
in a conventional wheelchair - not merely a necessity. You may find that your quiet and
cooperative child becomes a monster for a while! But stick with it! With time and
experience, the novelty element will wear off, and the SnapDragon will become a normal
part of life. Most importantly, his greater capacity for movement should open up other vital
avenues of development to him.
The SnapDragon's effect on you
More freedom for your child should eventually mean more freedom for you, but at the
start, it will mean a dramatic change, especially if your child has not had a powerchair
before. One of the things the SnapDragon will do is enable the child to help and to join in
with what is going on, maybe by fetching and carrying - don't forget the carrying platform
on the back when you go shopping. You may find that you are the one lagging behind when
you both go out - machines don't get tired!
But bear in mind that more movement means closer supervision, depending on the age
and ability of your child. It also means that discipline is essential. As with any child, the
boundaries need to be set clearly at the beginning. If a child is not acting safely and
responsibly enough in whatever the circumstances happen to be, he must be aware that
his freedom may have to be restricted. The on/off switch on the back is a last resort in the
case of disobedience, remembering that the SnapDragon can be set to freewheel, and
pushed if necessary, but learning will only take place if other means of persuasion and
incentives for good behaviour have been used first.
One of the changes will be in transporting your child from home to school, or on outings,
shopping or other family activities. How much you need to dismantle the SnapDragon to
transport it (see section 3) will depend on the type of car you have. Although tie-down
systems are possible to allow a person to travel in their powerchair, if the vehicle is
adapted for this, we always recommend that while a child is small enough to be transferred
into a car seat this is by far the safest way to travel.
Maintenance
As for any vehicle, be it a wheelchair, bicycle or motor car, the SnapDragon needs regular
maintenance. If you consider that a SnapDragon typically gets as much wear in 4 months
as the average car does in a year, servicing is important. Some servicing can be done at
home, or by a qualified mechanic at almost any bicycle shop or garage, but a
manufacturer's service every year is strongly recommended. Service information is
available from Dragonmobility, and can be accessed through the internet from
www.dragonmobility.com/support/
SnapDragon
– Owner's Manual
Dragonmobility Ltd
Issue 1,8
Page 2
© Dragonmobility Ltd, Sept 2016
