Early chatter matters - from bump to birth and beyond - Ewan's story

Ewan is three. He has Cerebral Palsy which affects both his communication and mobility skills. However, MERU has provided Ewan with his first powered mobility device, BUGZI; a tiny indoor wheelchair giving Ewan the perfect vehicle to take control of his mobility whilst learning new skills that will support his communication development.

MERU has previously manufactured a supportive seating insert to fit into a trailer buggy. This attaches to Ewan’s dad, Ben’s bicycle, allowing Ewan to join in with his family’s cycling activities. It was so successful that Ewan and Ben just completed their first Half-Ironman Triathlon together!

BUGZI offers children as young as 18 months, who have severe physical disabilities, the chance to be independently mobile. It does this by allowing them to use and develop their physical co-ordination and motor skills – as well as developing spatial awareness and personal risk management in a similar way to toddlers who can walk. Using BUGZI is also a great motivator and provides a platform for children to use these skills in developing their communication.

Allison Dick, Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist at the Orchard House Child Development Centre, agrees. ”Not only is the experience of movement vital for children with limited motor skills but Bugzi also provides an alternative way by to develop their understanding of cause and effect, and the skills they need to operate switches.”

Children like Ewan use switches, such as the large buttons you can see in the photograph, to communicate, learning to consciously move their hands, feet or head to press a switch to make a choice. Developing their switching skills at an early age with BUGZI can be hugely beneficial and open up opportunities for choice-making and improved communication skills.

Ben says: “Without Bugzi, Ewan has limited ability to do what most children love – to explore! Using the switches allows him to be mobile independently but teaches him about active play. Pressing buttons and understanding the resulting actions is vital for his cognitive development. He loves the Bugzi – Thank you MERU!”

MERU supports Hello the National Year of Communication, aiming to raise awareness of the challenges that children and young people with communication difficulties face and the help and support that are available to them.