Narre Warren mother of two Debby Conlon has been waiting for a new wheelchair for her son Michael for almost a year.
By Rebecca Fraser
A NARRE Warren mother forced to wait almost a year for a new wheelchair for her son wants a fairer deal for people with disabilities.
Mother of two Debby Conlon applied for the wheelchair last August and will finally receive it next month.
Her eight-year-old son Michael has cerebral palsy and outgrew his old chair some time ago.
The chair does not work properly and is also giving him pressure sores on his spine and the backs of his legs.
The family has also been waiting more than nine months for a commode to allow Michael to be showered, which would greatly relieve the strain of Ms Conlon having to bath him daily
On Tuesday, Ms Conlon attended the launch of the Coalition for Disability Rights, a new group that will work for a better deal for the disabled and their families.
The campaign will see for the first time all major disability groups in Victoria coming together to push for support to fix the crisis in disability services.
Ms Conlon, who works part-time as a parent support worker with the Association of Children with a Disability, said many issues needed to be addressed, such as the lack of funding and the long wait for equipment.
Michael’s new chair will cost $10,000 but only $3500 is funded through the Victorian Aids and Equipment program.
Ms Conlon, a single mother, will be left to foot the remaining bill.
She said she was lucky she had supportive parents who had helped her purchase some equipment and she had also received some support from the Hampton Park Lions Club.
“I will have to find the $6500 shortfall, and as a single parent that is not easy to do,” Ms Conlon said.
“Some people go around and beg local charities, some families fundraise – most resort to that, others who have equity take out another mortgage to pay for these things. The whole process needs rethinking.
“There is no response to emergencies.”
Ms Conlon said because families had to spend so much money on basic equipment other things such as respite and family activities were put on the back burner.
Michael needs a walker and standing frame for physiotherapy at home, but Ms Conlon said she had not even tried applying for the equipment as she would face a long waiting list and have to put in extra money.
Last year the family’s bathroom was modified, but Ms Conlon said disabled people were only allowed to have one bathroom modification funded in their lifetime.
“This really needs to be addressed. Bathrooms need to be updated every 10 to 15 years,” she said.
“We have had our (bathroom done), so what happens if we move, or Michael moves out when he is older?”
