A 13-year-old girl with a rare genetic disease has been given more independence thanks to a mechanism donated by a charity.

When Layla Brunger, from Sittingbourne, was just a year old, her mum Ann noticed she would start to fall over.

Instinctively, Ann knew that something was not right.

She took her daughter for tests which revealed she was suffering from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a condition in which mobility is progressively impaired through the wasting of muscles.

Layla’s condition deteriorated so much that within two years of her diagnosis she needed a wheelchair.

When Layla was eight, she developed mobility problems with her right arm and over the next five years the situation became steadily worse.

The Orchards Centre, a specialist unit for disabled children that Layla attends in Attlee Way, Milton, was trialing an Edero arm support.

The device is designed for those who have limited strength in their arms and hands, or who can only use their muscular strength for a limited time.

"I can now brush my hair, put on make up, and it's also helping me with writing" - Layla Brunger

It compensates the full weight of the arm and follows the natural movement of the user, allowing the arm to move in all directions.

The groundbreaking piece of technology caught Ann’s attention and together with the centre they arranged for Layla to test it out.

The results were so encouraging that the Orchards Centre put her in touch with Donations with a Difference (DWAD), a charitable trust that provides grants to various causes.

The charity covered the full £2,536 cost of the robotic device, which was tailored to Layla’s requirements and arrived at the beginning of October.

“I love it,” The Westlands School pupil said.

“I can now brush my hair, reach more, put my hand up in class, put on make up, and it is also helping me with writing.”

Her mum said: “The robotic arm has given Layla more independence and we’re grateful for the funding help that was provided by DWAD.”