For further information on the resources we are creating for Leaders of groups in this specialist field please visit our new Resources Area:
http://www.dofe.org/go/additionalneeds
CASE STUDY: DofE for Wheelchair Users
It was a pleasure to welcome from Surrey, Claire Pennells and her father to St James’s Palace in London. Claire was there to be presented with her Gold Award certificate from HRH The Earl of Wessex.
Claire suffers from ME and therefore spends much of the time in a wheelchair. For her Expedition Section she therefore had to carefully plan what activity she would be able to achieve and what assistance she would need during the planning, training and completion stages. Claire undertook her expedition with five others in May 2008.
Very kindly, Claire has written two reports of her experiences and agreed that we can share these with other DofE participants and groups. The first, ‘Aspects to consider when organising a Special Needs DofE expedition’ we make available here in extract format. The second ‘Wheelchair Accessibility Assessment of the Brockenhurst area, New Forest’ is available from the South East Region office should Participants or Leaders be interested in this specific area.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Claire for her generosity in producing and sharing these reports with us and the wider DofE family. Her views and opinions expressed in the report may not agree with those of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award or your local Operating Authority. You should therefore check your plans at the earliest opportunity with your Group Leader and/or Operating Authority to gain their agreement and advice.
Christian Scott
Director – South East