Wheelchair wrecked, independence curbed

By Caleb Francis

Aug 23, 2023

Housebound but unbroken: With her therapy dog by her side, Lelly Mather reflects on the everyday challenges she and many others with disabilities face. Photo by Megan Fisher

Stranded at home and cut off from the world she once navigated with ease, Mooroopna’s Lelly Mather is at the mercy of a broken wheelchair and a broken street.

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When the suspension on her wheelchair was damaged by the kerb outside her home, it left Miss Mather confined to her four walls, drawing attention to a struggle that’s far from unique to her.

“At the moment, I’ve had to rely on the manual (wheelchair), and I find it very difficult to push myself in, which literally means that I’m housebound,” Miss Mather said.

However she said her struggle was not isolated to negotiating kerbs.

Accessibility to local shops, including her chemist and hairdresser, is a recurring issue due to steps and lack of proper ramps.

Miss Mather’s genetic condition, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, has progressively affected her mobility, leaving her reliant on an electric wheelchair for independence.

“(Without my electric wheelchair) I can’t be independent and take myself down to the supermarket,” she said.

“It’s very difficult for my support workers to load and unload the (manual) wheelchair and push me around.”

The kerb issue has impacted not only her mobility but also her ability to take her therapy dog for walks.

Miss Mather’s NDIS support worker, Samantha Bucktin, said although the NDIS was covering the cost of the repair, the damage was likely to reoccur each time Miss Mather travelled.

Independence curbed: Lelly Mather is unable to navigate the streets of Mooroopna after her electric wheelchair was damaged by the kerb outside her home. Photo by Megan Fisher

Greater Shepparton City Council said it was unaware of any damage being caused to mobility devices by kerbs in the region but encouraged residents to lodge queries or complaints.

“All new path crossings are constructed to be DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) compliant,” a council spokesperson said.

“Council encourages residents to report any path crossings they feel are non-compliant. These will be inspected and if deemed non-compliant will be placed on a renewal program so they are made DDA compliant.”

Miss Mather said the incident with the kerb called attention to the necessity for communities to be more considerate and inclusive in their planning, especially for those who used wheelchairs, walkers, gutter frames and scooters.