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Tiara’s Journey to a Powered Wheelchair

3 November 2020

Recently our wide range of hire equipment has been reduced to Augmentative & Assistive Communication devices and tablets, meaning we have had excess items to re-home through sales and donations.

One lady received a temporary wheelchair from the Hire team so she can be comfortable while she waits for a new, purpose-built powered chair.

Cornwall House Occupational Therapist (OT) Marion White, had been working with 42 yr-old Tiara who lives with Cerebral Palsy and her mother June, who is also her primary carer.

Tiara had a 25 yr-old Glide wheelchair; which was being used in the shower regularly, with June having to lift Tiara in and out during showering.

Tiara and June had been reluctant to seek NDIS services, as they had previously experienced frustration and roadblocks when asking for help, it took a very good friend to convince them to re-apply for assistance.

OT Marion advised Indigo that sitting in the Glide chair was causing severe problems with Tiara’s spine and hips, making the purchase of a new wheelchair complex.

Ultimately Tiara was accepted for a new powered wheelchair with customised seating, which would take several months to be made for her. During the wait, Tiara was reliant on her old manual wheelchair, which collapsed leaving her reliant upon her spare chair, a purchase from Aldi and unsuitable for prolonged use.

Not having safe, comfortable and appropriate wheelchair mobility meant Tiara couldn’t access the community or travel.

Mother and daughter sitting in garden, mother on chair & daughter in a wheelchair, both smiling

OT Marion contacted Sue from Indigo’s Hire Team who was able to organise an interim chair to be donated to Tiara. 
 
Tiara told us what the wheelchair means to her, “ I can’t thank Indigo enough, without the wheelchair I would have been stuck in bed, it has helped me in going out and enjoying the sunshine”.
 
OT Marion highlighted the benefits
 

“It is such an incredible gift, and the positives are:

1. It will enable Tiara to access the community via wheelchair taxi
2. It is safe with good brakes
3. It fits Tiara well (with some cushions to fit around her scoliosis)
4. It is a lot lighter and easier to lift if her mother takes her out in her car.
5. It has made this family so much happier and feel that they are accepted in the community.
 

Tiara says her new, customised powered wheelchair has been ordered and is coming from the Eastern States; as there have been delays due to COVID-19, the ETA is still a couple of months away, but this hasn’t dampened Tiara’s excitement and she is glad her wait will now be in greater comfort and safety thanks to Indigo's Hire Services.

At Indigo our purpose is greater independence and inclusion for all through allied health and assistive technology solutions.