To buy my son a mobility scooter for Christmas?

[Christmasstockingsbythefire]

Would I be unreasonable to buy my son a mobility scooter for Christmas?

To give you abit of background my son has autism and for the past 5 years on birthdays and Christmas' he has only been asking for a mobilty scooter and nothing else .. hasn't yet got one, this means every birthday and Christmas he gets disappointed and doesn't show any interest in any of the gifts he does receive . We decided against a mobility scooter in the past because we thought it was just something he would get bored of within a few days, people's views and we were worried he was too young. My son is now nine years old and is still asking for a mobility scooter, he enjoys visiting the mobility scooter showroom that is local to us and loves exploring and looking at his grandparents scooters.. After this many years I am starting to think he must feel very strongly about his wish.

He would ride the scooter up to the family farm to help collect the eggs etc and also use it to deliver eggs around our local neighbourhood, as he often has to make two trips as he cannot carry everything on his own.

If you were in my shoes would you buy him a mobility scooter? Or wouldn't it be acceptable? It doesn't need to be an expensive one, he just wants one he can ride and with a basket.

If he is as sensible as you said he will understand they are not toys why not get him an electric bike instead

I can't quite believe what I'm reading tbh!

Nor me

Firstly I'd like to say I have a child with ASD and understand the intensity of the interests. I do think this would be a 'no' from me though. Unless he has actual mobility needs it would seem wrong to me - like needlessly using a wheelchair. I also think that in terms of teaching appropriate social behaviour teaching a child it's ok to use mobility aids when you have no mobility issues isn't doing them any favours as it isn't generally deemed acceptable.
I do sympathise but I would just stick to encouraging the interest in looking at them -and maybe having a go on his gp's in private--.
Would an electric scooter be appreciated as a compromise? I'm suspecting not if the interest is very specific but he might like it once he's had a go?

Yes,tell him it will never happen ans prepare him for the fact he won't be having one for Christmas. He'll be disappointed but we really can't have everything we want,even at Christmas.

But the OPs DS does have a disability.

It's a tough one. I'm not sure I would buy one for my DC tbh. But that would be my choice with my children.

He doesn't have a disability that prevents him walking.

I do find it really quite bizarre although I can't fully articulate why. My first thought was also that surely he wouldn't be allowed to ride it on public footpaths/roads - and from the link it appears not.

No, not reasonable, not actually legal either.

There's already a big issue with people who don't need them using them, people who do need them but can't use them safely using them, and people who do need them and use them safely getting abuse in public because they don't fit the publics view of 'disabled'..

Get him an electric bike.

I wouldn't let him use it unsupervised though.

I definitely would :) It sounds like it would bring him a lot of joy.

www.gov.uk/mobility-scooters-and-powered-wheelchairs-rules/overview

This link may help you. Your son may not legally be able to ride/drive a mobility scooter. Though please don't think I'm judging you.

He wants a mobility scooter to play on to scoot about with he doesn't need a mobility scooter he wants 1 that is the difference.

The op didnt say he had mobility issues posters are starting to add bits now.

Thank goodness for section 6!

I can't quite believe what I'm reading tbh!

Neither can I.

They're not toys. They're to help poeple like me get around. The last thing I want, when I'm having a good day and am out on my crutches, is having to dive out of the way of kids on mobility scooters.

Sometimes in life you can't have what you want.

Her DS is autistic that is a disability!

He wants a mobility scooter to play on to scoot about with he doesn't need a mobility scooter he wants 1 that is the difference

Yes, quite. He wants one. It's not appropriate and will do him no favours in the long run. If you have 2 working legs you should use them.

Jesus. There's been so many threads on here complaining about adults using them and how there should be tests and blah blah blah but here people are saying it's fine for a child to use one!

It illegal. It's wrong to use one if you don't have mobility problems. It's incredibly unwise and unsafe to allow a child to use one.

But Autism is not usually a physical disability that requires a mobility scooter.

Yes Autism is a disability not 1 person has disputed that

Firstly I'd like to say I have a child with ASD and understand the intensity of the interests. I do think this would be a 'no' from me though. Unless he has actual mobility needs it would seem wrong to me - like needlessly using a wheelchair. I also think that in terms of teaching appropriate social behaviour teaching a child it's ok to use mobility aids when you have no mobility issues isn't doing them any favours as it isn't generally deemed acceptable.

Almost word for word what I was going to say.

The op said it would be used on PRIVIET land. So not in public.

Maybe get him a small garden cart for delivering the eggs, and keep the mobility scooter for use on the farm as I'm assuming that is private land.