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SN children

Here are some suggested organisations that offer expert advice on special needs.

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Original poster

Skiing and cerebral palsy...

12 replies

madwomanintheattic · 03/02/2009 09:45

dd2 (5) is mobile (wobbly, but mobile) and wants to ski

we're thinking toggle her tips together and use reins (we have some from when the other two were tiny tots)

anyone had any experience of trying to get wobbly kids moving on snow?

we've done the sledging etc and last time we got skis on her and she slid down with daddy holding her up lol, but how best to find out if she's got the balance herself?

disability snowsports won't have her until she's 8 lol.

love to hear if anyone has any experience...

OP posts:

feelingbetter · 03/02/2009 10:58

Combining a flippant post with a sneaky bump:

Rein her up, put the skis on and let her go! She'll fall over (as I did MANY times) - it's half the fun, she'll get covered in snow and have a brill time.
What a girl ! You must be very proud.

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 03/02/2009 11:45

she's a total star lol.
stubborn as a mule, but a star
and where the other two go, she'll work out a way to follow... eventually...

i have drawn the line at skateboarding though - i figure that concrete is a lot harder than snow, and even with my thinking hat on, i can't work out any way of even getting her to remain upright in that particular scenario...

thanks for sneaky bump!

OP posts:

josey · 03/02/2009 11:52

I have no Idea just wanted to say go your DD

Can you get a kind of frame similar to a walking frame but adapt it for the snow?

Surely disability snowsports must be able to give you an Idea of how you can help??

Good luck with it x

springlamb · 03/02/2009 11:58

Rather than single ski-sticks, might tripod walking sticks help?
As the parent of another Wobbly Walker, I can appreciate the lengths you'll go to.
DS (now 14) wanted one of those motorised 2 wheel scooters a few years ago. I sent DH to the shed and refused to let him come out until he had adapted one that allowed DS to remain balanced when he stopped! We managed it tho!

springlamb · 03/02/2009 12:00

Also, have a look at the equipment they use for disabled skiing in Aspen for ideas you might be able to adapt. They use some quite novel stuff there.

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 03/02/2009 16:47

ah, now... i've found 'outriggers' lol - like crutches with skis on the bottom and you can get them fixed on a sit-ski, or loose - how cool is that?! (not completely convinced - the idea that she'll have to control her arms as well her legs is slightly frightening )

i think i've managed to book an adaptive lesson for her - i'm waiting for a response, and hopefully they are going to try a few things and come up with some ideas.

it came with a personal recommendation and he's an adaptive snowsports instructor, so fingers crossed...

springlamb - we've had the scooter discussion (but not motorised lol) - we found one with a triangular base, so she was sort of mollified with that... it's going to get more difficult as time goes on, isn't it?! will see if i can find the aspen pages... (still reeling from the fact that one day she will want stuff with a motor...)

josey, disability snowsports didn't really want to discuss it until she was 8 - i suspect they can't even give advice earlier than that for insurance reasons... it was a shame - i really thought they would be the best people to start with, but hey ho - i'll find another way lol.

OP posts:

josey · 03/02/2009 21:16

Lol they sound brill!!!

Shame they arent even aloud to give you some pointers.

Hope the lesson comes up trumps!

You DD is certainly an inspiration

madmouse · 03/02/2009 21:33

Children ski very differently from adults, they sit backwards with more bend in the knees and their bum quite far behind the knees. This may or may not make her more stable, you are the one who will know that.

Also in Austria you always see children behind their parents and teachers holding on to ski sticks.

Way to go your dd, I hope you will manage

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 04/02/2009 08:50

thanks madmouse - i'd forgotten the sticks thing - and that would provide some rigidity lol

well, i'll let you ladies know how it goes thanks!

OP posts:

LollipopViolet · 04/02/2009 09:26

She's brave lol! I can ski, and yes, you do fall (rotten balance myself due to my sight) but it is doable, there's always a way to adapt for most people. With me, it was getting back up and trying again

Original poster

madwomanintheattic · 04/02/2009 18:26

thanks lollipop - really glad it worked out for you too, where there's a will there's a way! extreme terrain must be really tricky with VI...

OP posts:

LollipopViolet · 04/02/2009 20:05

Well I learnt on an artificial (nylon) slope, I've never been on snow so I think it'd be different! But yes, perseverence. I think for a lot of people, even those who are NT, a lot of nervousness comes from fear of falling over. Do it a few times and it's not so bad really! Same goes for ice skating I found.

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