by Chris Summers (Category Manager at Allied Medical)
Mobility can have a significant impact on how people participate in everyday life, from getting around at home to taking part in work, education, family life and the wider community.
For people living with progressive conditions, mobility needs can also change over time. A new New Zealand research project called Mobility for Life is looking more closely at what happens when a powerchair is provided earlier.
Allied Medical is one of four contracted suppliers supporting the project.
What is Mobility for Life?
Mobility for Life is a research project being run by Enable New Zealand and Disability Support Services.
The project will provide up to 100 people with progressive conditions with a high-performance powerchair earlier than they might usually receive one. Researchers will then work with participants, their whānau and carers, and the people involved in providing their equipment to understand what difference earlier access makes over time.
The project is expected to run for two years and includes an independent evaluation. The research will consider areas such as independence, participation and quality of life, as well as broader social and economic outcomes.
The Government has committed $3.5 million to the project through funding from Budget 2025.
Why is earlier access being researched?
Mobility for Life has been created to test international research findings within a New Zealand context.
Overseas research has identified potential benefits associated with earlier access to appropriate powered mobility. Rather than assuming those same outcomes will apply here, Mobility for Life will gather evidence from people taking part in the project in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The aim is to better understand what happens when high-performance powerchairs are provided earlier, and how this may affect participants over time.
This distinction is important. Mobility for Life is a research project, and its purpose is to build an evidence base. The findings will come from the research and independent evaluation, rather than from the suppliers involved in providing the equipment.
Building New Zealand based evidence
Assistive technology and mobility equipment are highly individual. A person's needs can depend on many factors, including their mobility, environment, daily activities and personal goals.
Mobility for Life provides an opportunity to gather New Zealand-based evidence about one particular part of this wider picture, the timing of high-performance powerchair provision.
According to Disability Support Services, Enable New Zealand is coordinating the delivery pathway for the project. This includes assessor engagement, clinical review, supplier coordination, purchasing, fitting, asset management, repairs and maintenance.
The research findings are intended to help inform future conversations about powerchair provision, funding and policy in New Zealand.
Allied Medical's role in Mobility for Life
Allied Medical has worked alongside New Zealanders, whānau, clinicians and organisations across the disability sector for more than 25 years.
As one of four contracted suppliers supporting Mobility for Life, our role is to contribute our experience in powered mobility as part of the wider project.
We are pleased to be involved in a piece of research that is focused on gathering evidence from the experiences of people here in New Zealand.
Want to know more about Mobility for Life?
Enable New Zealand provides the official information about Mobility for Life, including current eligibility requirements, information for assessors and details about how the research works.
For the most current information about eligibility or taking part in the project, please visit Enable New Zealand's Mobility for Life page.
You can also read more about the research through Disability Support Services and the Government announcement about Mobility for Life.
At Allied Medical, we are pleased to support Mobility for Life and look forward to following the research as it progresses.