People Planet Peace

                "I have 2 children.

                When I need a seat, highchair, car seat, pram, cot etc for my able bodied son, I can go to any major department store,

                knowing that there will be a selection and we can choose an item to meet his needs and our budget on the spot.

                When I need a seat, pram, wheelchair, stander, walker, car seat, shower commode or communication device for my

               daughter who cannot sit, stand, walk or talk there has been no shop (or rather an empty ILC). I have had to pay upwards

                of $200 to view equipment and to wait up to 4 months for this to be flown to WA. Children with special needs don't need

                any more challenges and should not have to wait over 4 months for the opportunity to sit, stand or walk"

Whilst the Independent Living Centre in Nedlands WA exists to provide a showroom for disability equipment, the ILC has relied solely on West Australian disability equipment suppliers to pay for showroom space and leave equipment for show.  Disability equipment items are priced between $1,000 - $20,000 each. It is not surprising these small businesses cannot afford to leave items on display and the full potential of this showroom as a 'shop' for disability equipment has gone to waste! 

Furthermore there is often only one item stocked in Australia to be shipped between all Australian states at a freight cost usually charged to the end user. This adds again to the considerable financial barriers families of children with disabilities face in providing their child with the equipment they need for an equal start in life to their able-bodied peers.

The issue of having to spend several different appointments viewing equipment, and much time spent trying to source suitable equipment eats into much needed government funded early intervention therapy time with physio and OTs. Having a broad range of equipment in one place (such as the Special Kidz Special Needz permanent display), to view in one appointment, affords an easy equipment comparison and best utilises therapist time, maximising their expertise for therapy sessions, giving WA kids the full potential of these government funded services. 

Over the past two years West Australian children eligible for Community Aids and Equipment Grants (for basic and essential items like postural seats, walkers, wheelchairs) have had to wait up to 12 months for grant approval due to funding issues. They then wait on average two-four months to receive the equipment. When every day counts in early childhood development, this is unacceptable.. We commend the government for its recent increases to its funding allocations this year adn wait to see if this does significantly reduce this wait.