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People we help
Maria
Maria learning to walk on her own makes us proud to support people living with disabilities the world over!
Maria’s walker had found it’s way to DEMAND when it couldn’t be re-issued by a local authority after failing to meet their strict criteria for finding a new owner. Luckily, DEMAND’s expert equipment medics had the skills to clean and touch up the chip in its blue paintwork.
It sat in our store room until we got a call from the Open Door Baptist Church in Rochdale, who had been fundraising to get Maria the walker she needed, which costs more than £300 to buy new. As a charity dedicated to helping people with disabilities any way we can, we shipped the walker off to Maria’s home in Malawi, and made sure the church kept their hard-earned money to help someone else.
Maria is enjoying a new found freedom now that she can get around by herself. We hope you go far Maria!
Help someone like Maria today – Find out about donating disability equipment here.
Summer
At the age of two Summer was diagnosed with the rare neurological disorder, Rett syndrome; a condition which can cause severe physical and mental disability. Summer cannot walk and her only way of getting around and keeping well was by using a Scuttlebug tricycle which she was given when she was a toddler.
The Scuttlebug did a good job of preventing the worsening of her condition but unfortunately, as she got older, she outgrew it and Mum and Dad were unable to find a suitable replacement.
They contacted DEMAND in the hope that we would be able to make a trike, tailored to Summer and which would delay, for as long as possible, the need for Summer to use a wheelchair. We designed a foldable trike especially for Summer, which is cleverly designed to grow with her.
Now she is able to get around independently as much as she likes without the need for a wheelchair whilst at the same time getting plenty of exercise which strengthens her back, preventing curvature to the spine.
Dad, James, fills in some of the story “Summer was given a Scuttlebug bike before we knew she had Rett Syndrome. Despite the fact that she never had the inclination to crawl, bum shuffle etc. we found that she could scoot about on this Scuttlebug. As time went by and we knew she would not walk.
It now keeps her mobile, her back is still straight and mothers of other girls with Rett Syndrome have commented on this. We hope she will get another couple of years of mobility out of it before we have to look at something else. It is her lifeline. She can’t walk or talk, but she takes it everywhere.”
Sarah
Sarah is up and out of the house every day thanks to a walker that can carry her heavy oxygen bottle. See Sarah in our short film about all kinds of adapted equipment made by DEMAND.
Rio
“As a parent, when you have a child who is born differently-abled, you think about how life might be a challenge for them. DEMAND has helped Rio do the same things his peers do.” Juliette, Rio’s Mum
Help a child like Rio with a monthly gift to DEMAND.
Orla
Orla is a long standing client of DEMAND. She has multiple disabilities including Autism and Global Development Delay. This makes it hard for her to understand when she is likely to injure herself, or others, by her actions. She had a safety gate to stop her from going in the kitchen and accidently injuring herself, but as Orla grew bigger, and after many years of wear and tear, a bigger, more robust, gate was needed.
DEMAND designed a special gate – bigger and stronger than the ‘baby gates’ available from the shops – with an unique locking mechanism which Orla cannot operate, but her parents and sisters can. The unique transparent window which makes up most of the area of the gate ensures that Orla feels very much a part of everything that goes on in a busy household whilst being kept safe from harm at the same time.
Natasha
“The kitchen was a scene of devastation but it was great fun!”
17 year old Natasha was able to cook in her kitchen for the first time thanks to a custom seat designed by DEMAND.
Cerebral Palsy means Natasha isn’t able to stand unaided so it’s not possible for her to stand at a kitchen counter to prepare food. Natasha and her family spent years testing different pieces of equipment. Using a wheelchair meant Natasha needed to stretch up high to reach the counter and no stool offered enough support or stability.
Seemingly out of options, the family learnt about DEMAND, who can provide custom made equipment to augment and enhance the lives of people living with disabilities when no suitable solution can be found. From workshops in Hertfordshire and Yorkshire DEMAND designs, manufactures, and modifies equipment to suit an individual’s unique needs.
Natasha’s bespoke stool has a tilting seat that lets her perch half sitting, half standing which makes it easy to work comfortably at the worktop. Locking castors mean she can move around the kitchen freely but apply the brakes when she needs to stay securely in one place. DEMAND’s designers produced prototypes of the seat to find the best seating position for Natasha to feel comfortable and secure.
Natasha chose her favourite colour for the upholstery, which is of course wipe clean, and having received the finished product she could make her first recipe. “I’ve made a French pastry called a “mille feuille” – my favourite!”
With the custom stool Natasha can be more independent, and it has come just in time to help her practice for a GCSE Catering course starting this September.
Natasha’s stool was made possible with a donation from the DM Thomas foundation; “The chair is fantastic! I always used to be reliant on other people, It’s great that I am now much more confident and able to use the kitchen on my own”
Save a cake for us Natasha!
John
John came to us about his walker. The frame of his walker was too small for him and forced him to bend forward whilst walking which led to persistent and often excruciating back pain. DEMAND modified the walker to suit his height and therefore greatly improve his posture and overall mobility.
He no longer has to ‘make do’ and can now walk and stand much more comfortably.
John speaks about his modified walker in our short film:
Susan
Susan has a severe and persistent tremor which often stopped her from making her own hot drink. Hot water presented no problem as she has a special kettle but she often needed someone else to pour milk and finish making the drink.
We designed an unique mug holder and milk dispenser which allows her to squeeze the milk into her tea, avoiding messy spillage and the need for assistance.
Wendy
Wendy has multiple sclerosis and when drinking she has to use two straws because she often chokes if she only uses one. She wanted to be able to drink independently without needing someone else to position the straws correctly. She had tried many ways to secure the straws, finally resorting to elastic bands which was still far from ideal. We devised a neat 3D printed,
We devised a neat 3D printed, 2-straw holder which clips onto the rim of a range of cups and glasses. Wendy is now able to enjoy her drinks without the frustration of always having to have someone else there to position the straws for her.
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