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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To buy my son a mobility scooter for Christmas?

131 replies

Christmasstockingsbythefire · 16/10/2016 17:51

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.

OP posts:
petitpois55 · 16/10/2016 19:05

If this is for real, than of course the answer should be no. Children can't have everything they want,- even at Christmas.

AndNowItsSeven · 16/10/2016 19:05

Fairy lea I understand what you are saying my dd is hypermobile , it's co morbid with her Asd though not part of her Asd and HM was t mentioned by the op. My ds will most like qualify for a blue badge when he is older however his mobility needs are exactly what would make a mobility scooter dangerous.

ALemonyPea · 16/10/2016 19:06

I have a son with autism, so I sympathise with the obsession with a certain item.

DS can't ride a bike, so we bought his this which he loves riding, and has the bonus of the basket at the back which I put shopping in when coming back from the shops. This might be better for your DS than a mobility scooter.

itsmine · 16/10/2016 19:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Emmageddon · 16/10/2016 19:13

What about a quad bike? He could have a lot of fun on one of those.

fuzzyduck1 · 16/10/2016 19:16

Can He get about without one? If so then my answer is NO! or do you want him to grow up lazy?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/10/2016 19:19

Quad bikes need a LOT of supervision.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 16/10/2016 19:20

Fairy yes absolutely, I wish people would understand the scope of different conditions. Of course Aspergers and Autism can have an impact on mobility.

That doesn't seem to be the case here. Or the reason for the scooter.

But I wouldn't want that to be the take out of other posts reading this thread though :)

I also find it annoying when people are saying it's fine backseat he has a/ any disability. Like its about having one or not, that binary yes/no like that's what guides use of specialist disability equipment.

By that way of thinking I could use a white stick, because hey, I'm disabled (though I don't have any vision impairment). Which would be rather offensive wouldn't it?!

I think im most uncomfortable because this 'yes disabled' / 'no disabled' approach is about bunching everyone disabled together in one biiiig group, as if we're all the same. And defined in opposition to the normal, non disabled, group of people. Whereas in reality, disabilities are very different, and even those with the same medical condition can be effected in very different ways.

cakedup if there was any kind of reason for the child to be wanting to use a mobility scooter, then that changes things. It's not the same as your child using audio books, unless it would aid that person in being able to do something that's more difficult that usual because of their disability. That would absolutely be disgusting.

(As an aside, I listen to a lot of audio books nowadays (turning pages/ holding device is tricky for me), and I find it makes my brain work far harder than before. The level focus and concentration it takes to follow complicated plots is much more. Skim reading and then focusing attention isn't possible in the same way. I have an awful lot of respect for anyone who uses audio books, your DC will be developing great skills :) )

tartanpjsandtea · 16/10/2016 19:22

I think the disability is a red herring.

If the OPs son cannot walk or has mobility issues it's different.

But 'disabled' doesn't equate to needing a mobility scooter, any more than all people with a disability need glasses or hearing aids.

Emmageddon · 16/10/2016 19:25

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen I was thinking of a junior quad bike, then he could maybe join a club and go on quad biking activity weekends.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 16/10/2016 19:30

Emma- oh, good idea. I'm a bit twitchy about quads not being used safelyBlush

monkeywithacowface · 16/10/2016 19:31

I really feel for you and your son. My son has ASD and I totally understand why you want to do this for him I really do. But I do hink it's a bad idea unless you can be strict about it only being used on the farm and nowhere else. I'm sure he is very sensible and wouldn't wilfully cause harm or danger but the implications if something goes wrong on a public footpath or road are quite big for you and him. It would be very unfair to give him that responsibility TBH

1smartyMCflurry · 16/10/2016 19:31

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.

Exactly. It's not fair on the people who really need them. They're not toys.

WalterWhitesNipple · 16/10/2016 19:33

hmm, i wouldn't personally. If he asked for a wheelchair would you buy it?

slenderisthenight · 16/10/2016 19:34

I haven't read the full thread, OP, but it completely depends on whether the scooter is filling a gap caused by your son's disability.

I know that autism can affect people in many different ways so wouldn't presume to know if there is a genuine need.

On the face of it, riding a scooter on public roads for ease of carrying eggs is not really acceptable, unless there is a reason why he can't walk or use an alternative to walking that would be open to an able-bodied person.

For years of my life, a mobility scooter was my lifeline to the outside world. I would be the last to want to see them go. But speaking from personal experience, they are quite dangerous, they are unregulated and there is the potential for things to go horribly wrong. For a start, they have no flippin brake. So if you need to stop in a hurry, you need to have super fast reflexes not to clutch the handlebars (as you would to break on a bike) because that will speed the ruddy thing up. You do have to be very alert to what might happen next in any situation. It's not very safe to other users to be on the pavement, generally speaking, so they're not the safest way to travel, either.

But no reason why anyone who wants one can't have one on the family farm. But, for those purposes, why not a quad?

slenderisthenight · 16/10/2016 19:34

brake not break :)

FrancisCrawford · 16/10/2016 19:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EveOnline2016 · 16/10/2016 19:38

As a son with asd I can empathise with you, but even with the asd he can't have everything he wants.

He isn't physically disabled and doesn't need a mobility scooter.

QueenLizIII · 16/10/2016 19:38

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.

He should be told his grandparents need them as they have mobility problems. He is 9 years old and is not getting one as he has no mobility problems and is lucky he doesn't.

It also isnt legal to use one if you arent actually disabled.

Buy him a bike with panniers if he wants to transport stuff around.

ImAMoving · 16/10/2016 19:39

Get him something similar, designed for kids that isnt a disabled item.
He will not legally be allowed to drive it through the village.
Non disabled people are only allowed to drive them on pavements if taking them to or from a garage for repair. You can't just take your mates scooter out for a joy ride.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 16/10/2016 19:44

Snorts at Slenders typo, "brake not break :)"

It's a very close run thing, with scooters!

When I first got on one I couldn't actually believe that the 'go' lever was in exactly the same place and mechanism as the right hand bicycle brake lever. You have to release your hands off all controls to stop... Working against your basic instinct to grip.

It's like it's got a built in mind fuck device :)

MrsWorryWart · 16/10/2016 19:46

Could you plan a special Christmas treat, where you take him on an outing to a factory where they make them? And make the whole day about them.

miserablesod · 16/10/2016 19:47

Aw do it! I bet he will be made up.

MiscellaneousAssortment · 16/10/2016 19:47

OP, thank you for replying with such a measured response. I hope you find something your DS loves for Christmas :)

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