“Dan’s chair is now enabling him! We all have our smiles back!!!”
Our team helped to get Dan’s wheelchair working for the whole family. Sam told us about her struggle to overcome problems with Dan’s chair that affected both the family and Dan’s carers.
“For the past 2 ½ years I have been trying to get Dan a decent wheelchair that meets his needs. Without your help he would still be in a chair that restricted his ability to get out and about.
Dan has a complex diagnosis (Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, autism, eating disorder, hearing impairment & a profound learning disability). Dan can’t walk, talk, eat lumpy food or use the loo. He is however just a happy teenager who wants to be out and about in his local community.
Dan is reliant on his wheelchair to get around. Wheelchair services have difficulty understanding that Dan’s needs are complicated. The NHS were unable to provide a chair that not only gave him mobility but also supported his behaviour issues whilst allowing for his Carers to comfortably maneuver him around. We had numerous visits to wheelchair services… nothing was ever resolved and we became increasingly frustrated, angry and confused.
Before finding DEMAND we were struggling. His carers were having to stoop over to reach the handles of his chair, they were catching their feet on the back of the chair (one carer ended up with a deep cut on their shin), the chair was unstable and kept breaking. The chair was so unstable that it was difficult to maneuver over even the most shallow kurb. This meant that Dan wasn’t going out… even trips to the local shops became difficult. He was becoming isolated and lonely at home.
One trip to DEMAND and we had a plan in place. Half a day and a simple solution of handles on the back of the chair and a 2 ½ year problem was resolved!>
Demand acted quickly, they acted proactively and now we are out and about! Dan’s chair is now enabling him! We all have our smiles back!!!
I can’t thank DEMAND enough… You are such stars”