A DAY spent as a wheelchair-user was an eye-opener for Terri Carr, who found just making breakfast or entering her house required much more planning and effort than before.
The Nollamara resident spent Wednesday in a wheelchair as part of Rebound WA’s Wheelchair Challenge in order to raise funds and gain a small insight into the experience of living with a disability and dealing with daily issues of accessibility.
With 14-month-old son Tate to care for in the morning and evening and a full workday ahead of her as a bookkeeper, she attempted to wheel herself and a 35-week-old ‘bump’ around a typical day.
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READ NOW“It was hard at home, our house was not designed for a wheelchair; I’ve toddler-proofed everything so it’s up high, it was hard to get hold of anything,” she said.
“I couldn’t get (Tate) breakfast and the change table was too high.
“I can’t get into the house and we’ve got a driveway that is just a slope.”
She said little Tate grasped the wheelchair’s role early on and kept trying to push her along.
Charlie Maughan from Mirrabooka-based service Rebound WA said after people have a life-changing accident and were discharged from hospital, many were confronted with daily difficulties surrounding accessibility.
“The house is inaccessible, your job might not be accessible, you have all these massive questions of ‘how am I going to live my life’, having young kids is also a massive thing,” he said.
Rebound WA provides support, information, advocacy, sport, activities and community for its 1500 members.
Funds raised through the Wheelchair Challenge goes towards programs for young members including camps and the Wizz Kids program.
To donate go to http://my.reboundwa.com/terricarr.