Wheelchair users in South Yorkshire schools 'missing out on experiences'
That's according to a new report which has been released today
Whizz Kidz is warning that young wheelchair users are still being shut out of key parts of school life, as its latest frontline data shows satisfaction with school-related activities at just 2.5 out of 10 before they receive the right wheelchair.
With an estimated 75,000 young wheelchair users across the UK, the charity says children continue to face barriers to experiences including getting around school independently, PE, school trips, clubs and opportunities to prepare for the world of work.
Whizz Kidz’s latest data shows young people who have received specialist wheelchairs from the charity are having a much more positive school experience, with satisfaction for those same activities rising to an average 9.3 out of 10.
Across all activities young people said mattered to them, satisfaction before receiving the right wheelchair averaged 4.3 out of 10 in 2024/25, falling to 3.5 in 2025/26.
School has remained one of the most frequently identified priorities for young people in both years.
Jennifer Jones is from Disabled People Against Cuts in Sheffield:
"There's often no access to lifts - which means certain lessons and experiences on other floors are inaccessible for disabled people.
"We often find that people who use wheelchairs are told that they need to stay behind.
"A lot of people experience that from primary school into secondary school.
"For example, if there's a plan for a school trip to go swimming, wheelchair bound children will be often told they have to stay behind.
"We hear a lot that accessible toilets - designed for disabled people - actually get used as a storage room - rather than being left empty.
"The space itself is supposed to be there for the wheelchair user to get in, turn around, and use the facilities.
"It's not supposed to be used for mops, buckets, and other equipment - but we see this time and time again."