Posted By sian
Hello There

Can someone give me there advise on a pupil we have whom is over 18 and suffers with MS, She is scheduled to go on a trip soon to a location where some places cannot be accessed therefore she may be on her own. She has an electric wheelchair. And has said she is fine in her daily duties etc, so shouldn't need anyone to help.
Can someone advise would we need to do a separate risk assessment.

Posted By Bob Shillabeer
What arangements are in place when she is in school? Look at where you are going and identify anything that makes managing her safety and enjoyment/benefit of/from the trip meet the same standard as she gets at school. I suggest you don't leave her alone at any time, does she have a carer who may like to go on the trip to look after her, this means she has someone she knows without detracting from the enjoyment of her other school friends. Why not ask her carer?

Posted By Sally
As she is over 18, if she is capable of looking after herself without assistance for short periods of time I see no reason why she shouldn't be on her own. Make sure she has a mobile phone so she can phone for assistance if necessary but many people in wheelchairs with MS don't have full time carers - only when needed for specific tasks.

Posted By Lilian McCartney
For longer periods on her own is there something else she could do instead?

I'm guessing it's places which really can't have access that the difficulty is in e.g. some historical sites etc. and that you've covered the angle of accessibility to where it can but hasn't been provided.

As previous posts being on her own may be quite common but do a separate risk assessment for where this will be whilst on the trip as it's likely to bring in aspects she might not have met before.

Hope they have a good trip.

Lilian