St Giles children testing out their wheelchairs and mobility devices at the Launceston Transport and Road Safety Centre (front from left) Eve Bowden, Beau Dennis-Dance, Skye Fleming, Luke McKenzie, Savannah McKenzie, (back from left) Jess Bowden, Montana McKenzie, Katie Bowden and Anal Acharya. Picture: PHILLIP BIGGS
CHILDREN with disability got a rare opportunity to play more freely with their siblings and friends at the Launceston Transport and Road Safety Centre yesterday.
The children were at the centre as part of St Giles's power of mobility project, which runs several times a year.
Senior therapist Janet Brown said the project gave them a chance to try the organisation's powered mobility machines and play in a setting usually reserved for children with no disability.
``Some of them won't have to use the machines when they get older, but it gives them an opportunity for individual movement,'' Mrs Brown said.
``It's also a great play opportunity, because they're so often sitting on the sidelines . . . you can see them become more confident - some of them are concentrating more, and their cheekiness can come out.''