{"id":955,"date":"2021-03-26T11:47:28","date_gmt":"2021-03-26T11:47:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beta.devon.gov.uk\/educationandfamilies\/home\/send-local-offer\/about-send-and-the-local-offer\/conditions\/physical-impairments\/"},"modified":"2026-04-08T11:27:02","modified_gmt":"2026-04-08T10:27:02","slug":"physical-impairments","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/types-of-send\/sensory-and-or-physical-needs\/physical-impairments\/","title":{"rendered":"Physical disabilities and difficulties"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>A physical disability is a &#8216;limitation on a person&#8217;s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina.&#8217; It has a &#8216;substantial&#8217; and &#8216;long-term&#8217; negative effect on a person&#8217;s ability to do daily activities. <\/p>\n<cite>Equality Act, 2010<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Physical disabilities or difficulties can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>be mild or severe<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>affect a child or young person&#8217;s development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>be hidden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The most common causes of physical disability include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>muscular dystrophies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>spina bifida<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cerebral palsy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p>There are various support services available in Devon to help children and young people with physical difficulties or disabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Occupational therapy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Children and Family Health Devon\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/childrenandfamilyhealthdevon.nhs.uk\/occupational-therapy\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Occupational Therapy (OT)<\/a> Team provides advice, assessment, intervention and support for children who have a range of disabilities, disorders and additional needs that prevent them from carrying out the activities of everyday life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"equipment-and-adaptations\">Equipment and adaptations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/millbrookhealthcare.co.uk\/about\/our-locations\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Devon Independent Living Integrated Service (DILIS)<\/a> includes delivery and installation, servicing and maintenance, and collection of equipment that has been ordered by a prescriber, GP, nurse, therapist or social services provider. DILIS also make adaptations to people\u2019s homes.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Orthotics, prosthetics, wheelchairs and special seating<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Exeter Mobility Centre has the contract for <a class=\"wpel-icon-right\" href=\"https:\/\/www.rdehospital.nhs.uk\/services\/exeter-mobility-centre-emc\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">orthotics, prosthetics, and wheelchair services<\/a>&nbsp;in Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wheelchair service assesses you for the provision of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>wheelchairs and children\u2019s buggies if you have long-term mobility problems<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>pressure care cushions for wheelchairs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>equipment to provide postural support in wheelchairs or buggies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wpel-icon-right\" href=\"https:\/\/plymouth.wheelchair.services\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">The Plymouth, South Hams and West Devon wheelchair service<\/a> provide assessments for people with mobility and other postural problems, supplying wheelchairs, pressure care cushions and accessories for wheelchairs in Plymouth, the South Hams and West Devon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wpel-icon-right\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vranchhouse.org\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\" data-wpel-link=\"external\">Vranch House<\/a>&nbsp;provides the specialist wheelchair service for children who have been assessed by a community therapist as requiring specialist provision that cannot be provided by mainstream service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Alternative and augmented communication (AAC)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><a class=\"wpel-icon-right\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vranchhouse.org\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">Vranch House<\/a> provides an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vranchhouse.org\/copy-2-of-new-page\" rel=\"noopener\">AAC intervention service<\/a>. This service provides specialist speech and language therapist input to help people use high-tech AAC systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Depending on the equipment or mobility aid needed children and young people may need a referral from a health care professional, for example a GP or physiotherapist. <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Disabled Facilities Grants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>You could get a grant from your council if you\u2019re disabled and need to make changes to your home. In Devon these grants are provided by your local District, Borough or City Council. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/disabled-facilities-grants\/\">Find out more about Disabled Facilities Grants.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Support in school<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Children and young people with physical needs are supported in schools by their teachers and special educational needs coordinators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Physical Difficulties Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Support may also be available, either in education settings or in the homes from the <a class=\"wpel-icon-right\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/sensory-and-or-physical\/physical-difficulties\/\" target=\"_self\" rel=\"nofollow external noopener noreferrer\">Physical Difficulties Team<\/a>. Help on offer ranges from advice on how pupils can safely take part in PE, or how to support them to access exams. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">ICT\/SEN Team<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/support-schools-settings\/send\/areas-of-need\/sensory-and-or-physical\/send-it\/\">ICT\/SEN Team<\/a> supports access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and provides advice on using ICT to enhance learning for children and young people with sensory, physical, significant learning or communication and interaction difficulties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Social care support<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Children\u2019s Social Care provides a range of services and support which are accessible to children and their families. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Find out more about the types of support available, how to request an assessment, short breaks and Parent Carer Needs Assessments in our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/support-for-parents\/social-care-support\/\">social care support section<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Financial help<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Financial help may be available for children and young people with physical disabilities, and their families. Our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/\">financial support<\/a> section has lots of information you may find useful, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/benefits-and-allowances\/\">benefits and allowances<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/other-financial-support\/\">grants and other charitable support<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/send-local-offer\/money\/personal-budgets\/\">personal budgets and direct payments<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A physical disability is a &#8216;limitation on a person&#8217;s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity, or stamina.&#8217; It has a &#8216;substantial&#8217; and &#8216;long-term&#8217; negative effect on a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":748,"featured_media":0,"parent":20211,"menu_order":16,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-955","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-05-11 23:26:04","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/955","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/748"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=955"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":73923,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/955\/revisions\/73923"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/20211"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devon.gov.uk\/children-families-education\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}