Which statement best describes a non-ambulatory child?

• A. A child who can move freely without assistance
• B. A child who can move only with assistance such as a walker or wheelchair
• C. A child who cannot move at all
• D. A child who crawls but cannot walk

Answer: (B)

Mobility status in children centers on whether they can ambulate independently. A child who can move freely without help is ambulatory. A non-ambulatory child is someone who cannot walk without assistance and typically relies on devices like a walker or wheelchair to move. That’s why the statement describing a child who can move only with assistance such as a walker or wheelchair best captures non-ambulatory status: it specifies the need for support to ambulate, rather than independence or complete immobility.

If a child moves freely without help, they are clearly ambulatory. If a child cannot move at all, that’s immobile, which is a related but broader condition. Crawling describes a movement pattern that doesn’t involve walking, so it doesn’t convey ambulation with or without aid.