Articles Tagged ‘Independence’
I thought I had better write a blog tonight before the birthday celebrations kick off this weekend. 27 tomorrow and I have felt both 17 and 37 through parts of the past year, guess it averages out hey. Its been a mega year:
I was pretty unwell for the first prolonged time of my working life in the winter months
The car was an absolute nightmare throughout winter too
I picked myself up with an amazing trip to Mexico – dolphins and scuba diving
I started a new job at Scope straight after
I setup my first ever disability event (‘Sunnier Days’ starring Natasha Wood and Sophie Morgan)
I also carried out some consultancy projects around Personalisation and social media
Had articles published on these subjects in …
Read all of My Priorities – now I’m 27!
Anna has always wanted to be a schoolteacher: “I’ve just always known that’s what I want to do. My friends don’t know what they want to do, but for me it’s always been clear.” To get an idea about what this would involve, Anna has been volunteering at a local school over the summer, working five days a week.
This commitment is even more inspiring given that Anna, who has cerebral palsy, needs a powered wheelchair to provide her with independent mobility. Her previous power chair, provided through local contacts would break down frequently, often leaving her stuck for several hours until her parents could arrange to pick her up. In March, Priority, working with Newlife funded a new powered wheelchair …
Read all of Anna’s ambition: to be a Schoolteacher
Hannah from Dorking loves cycling, swimming, music and social occasions involving cuddles and attention. Hannah has Cerebral Palsy and is unable to walk, or weight bear but has some use of her arms. Her Cerebral Palsy affects her trunk strength so that the only two activities where she can feel totally free are swimming and cycling.
Hannah already has a tricycle which she received in 2003 and which she absolutely loves but she has now outgrown it and it is also extremely worn on several parts such as the knee supports. Following a major operation in 2005 a trike is more important than ever to Hannah because she …
Read all of Hannah’s getting out and about
Whether you are a disabled person, a family or friend of a disabled person or employed within the social care world, the word ‘personalisation’ has probably started to enter your vocabulary. For those not fortunate enough to have even brushed past this concept here is a story to assist you.
Once upon a time, disabled people lived in a small part of town known as medical model ville. With efforts to cure or keep disabled people away from society, one could say it wasn’t the best part of town. Gradually over time disabled activists and campaigners have spread the good word of social model ville. Here, ramps were invented, friendships forged and careers blossomed. Now, this move isn’t quite the end …
Read all of Personalisation – a happy ever after story
When Max Burt, 45, received massive head injuries after a freak collision with an out-of-control fire engine 10 years ago, he was left paralysed on his left side and a permanent wheelchair user. The head injury also left him deaf in one ear, with uncontrollable tremors, and severe sight and speech impairments.
Since his accident, Max has learned that, to achieve full inclusion of disabled people in society, 2 barriers need to be overcome: firstly, physical, and secondly, the barriers in peoples’ minds. This has led Max to become involved with many disability-related organisations, in an attempt to overcome real obstacles and prejudices.
Max’s fitness regime (using a reclining exercise cycle) led him to the idea of the Everything Is Possible In …
Read all of Max Burt and his 714 mile marathon
Pablo is 10 years old and lives with his parents and two younger brothers in north-west London. He attends a local school and goes swimming once a week at the local leisure centre.
Pablo was clinically diagnosed with infantile epilepsy at an early age and this has led to his severe developmental delay. He is unable to weight bear or walk without specialist equipment or assistance and because he has no speech, he communicates by making noises, eye pointing and touch. Pablo is also prone to frequent and repeated infections due to a blood disorder.
To enable Pablo and his family to go out more and access parks and …
Read all of Pablo’s Story
Amelia is 4 years old and lives in the centre of Exeter. She really loves arts and 
crafts, playing with her friends, horse riding and making people laugh.
In 2007 Amelia was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type II. This neuromuscular condition affects people in different ways. Amelia was able to walk on her own until she was 18 months old, when her condition deteriorated and she now needs a wheelchair to move around independently.
In June 2009 Amelia was given her ‘Koala’ Permobil powered wheelchair, through the support of The Priority Trust. As soon as she received the chair, she worked out the controls and just got on with using …
Read all of Amelia’s Story
Hanna lives with her Mum and Dad in Chipping Ongar, Essex. Like other 6-year-old girls she loves to watch television, particularly CBeebies and DVDs such as Cinderella. Chloe also loves to be active and enjoys dancing and swimming.
Hanna was born with Cerebral Palsy and while she has some use of her hands and arms and can feed herself she cannot mobilise unaided unless she is crawling and this she can do for short distances.
She loves her mainstream school but as she has got older it has become more difficult for her to join in and feel involved with the other non-disabled children in her class. Hanna even told …
Read all of Hanna and her trike
Until recently, Amy was reliant on her manual wheelchair which she used to self-propel. However, Amy was not able to push herself over long distances and Amy and her family realised that her manual wheelchair would not allow her to enjoy the same level of independence as her peers when she started secondary school.
Amy’s family approached their local wheelchair service but they were unable to provide Amy with a powered indoor/outdoor wheelchair which would meet her needs.
For Amy to live an independent and active life she needed a wheelchair that met her social, educational and clinical needs. Through the support of The Priority Trust Amy has recently received an …
Read all of Amy’s wheelchair
It isn’t just powered wheelchairs which can make a massive difference to disabled children and their families. There are many types of mobility equipment that are not available through the NHS because of funding criteria which don’t consider all a child’s recreational needs. Simple pieces of equipment such as buggies can provide a childhood of fun and enjoyment by allowing children to enjoy normal family outings and everyday activities which most of us take for granted.
Codie is 6-year-old is a little girl, with Cerebral Palsy, who received a buggy in March 2009 through the fantastic support of the Priority Trust.
Codie’s Mum had applied to Whizz-Kidz for a buggy so …
Read all of Codie’s Buggy
