Skating is great exercise and a great social activity. Disabled children like my David's son want to skate with friends and family. But whereas skating aids currently on the market are designed to stabilize the skater to some degree, they do not arrest a fall and they are not designed to allow an attendant to comfortably or safely help propel or steer the device.

Disabled children may take several seasons to learn to skate independently. Or they may never learn. Or whatever ability they have may be lost over time. They still want to be included. In the meantime, they grow. They get taller and heavier. They fall further and fall harder, usually striking the back of the head on the ice. Because they take longer to learn or may never learn, they fall more often than other children. Helmets reduce the risk of skull fractures, but do little to prevent concussions. And they do nothing to prevent arm, leg or back injuries. To compound the risk, these children usually require supplementary load bearing support from an attendant. When the child loses his footing, the attendant has to catch the child or get the child back up off the ice. As the child gets bigger and heavier, this becomes increasingly dangerous to the attendant (who is often an older family member who may have frailties of his/her own).
Here are some proposed specs:

• Adjustable cushioned seat
• Various positions for handholds
• Possibility to propel or steer from the rear by the attendant
• Fit in a car and be light enough to transport

IMPORTANT: David's son says it must have a cup holder so he can have hot chocolate on the Rideau Canal.
MORE IMPORTANT: And it has to have a "cool" factor. He wants compliments on the ice. Not pity.

MORE IMPORTANT: And it has to have a "cool" factor. He wants compliments on the ice. Not pity.