Seven-year-old Ieuan Silcox can now enjoy more fun days out with his family, after a specialist car harness to keep him safe was donated by a charity.
Ieuan, from Llanbradach, has autism spectrum disorder and is constantly on the go with no sense of danger.
When travelling in the car he uses a booster seat, but mum Sadie Silcox would not attempt any journey longer than five minutes unless she had another adult in the car. The reason? Ieuan would undo his seat belt, tug her hair and even try to pull the handbrake.
Sadie said: “I wouldn’t go any further than the local supermarket and back – which also affected Ieuan’s four-year-old sister because it meant she couldn’t get out either.”
Now all that has changed, thanks to a specialist £500 body harness from the Newlife Foundation for Disabled Children.
Newlife, the UK’s largest charity provider of specialist equipment for children with disabilities and terminal illness, has previously helped the family by providing a specialist high-sided bed for Ieuan, to keep him safe at night.
Sadie said: “Ieuan’s occupational therapist recommended we contact Newlife again. The harness has made a massive difference – it has a special magnetic lock so he can’t get out of it so I know he is safe wherever we travel.
“It means we can now go further afield. I have been able to take Ieuan to Cardiff and to a special play centre, something we couldn’t have done without the new harness. I am now thinking about taking the children away for a short holiday. I tried it once before but we only got half an hour from the house before Ieuan got out of his seat and started to pull my hair so I had to turn around and go home.”
Newlife has provided specialist equipment for 28 children in Caerphilly County Borough, totalling £22,930. However, the charity is currently working with a further two families, with combined equipment needs of £6,908.
If you would like to help a disabled child in your area, visit www.newlifecharity.co.uk/caerphilly and click on the Donate button. Newlife guarantees that 100% of money donated in Caerphilly will be used to provide specialist equipment for children in the county.