Life’s a beach again

Siblings Alyssa and Bradley, diagnosed with a form of progressive disability that led to increased joint rigidity and pain, are having a ball. With the sibs increasingly reduced mobility, it appeared all hope was lost until Alyssa and Bradley bounced back with restored confidence. Once mere spectators to friends and family activities, today they actively participate in activities on land and the water, thanks to Better Rehab’s unyielding commitment to improving lives.

Occupational Therapist Rebecca has assisted the two children over telehealth for the last 1.5 years. Rebecca is based in Macquarie Park, while the children’s family lives in Traralgon, Victoria. The children’s Mum couldn’t find an Occupational Therapist with assistive technology expertise in town, so she sought the help of Better Rehab.

Rebecca improved multiple pieces of assistive technology, including their beach wheelchairs, as both children often visited the beach, local lakes, and other water areas. She also improved the assistive tech of Bradley’s electronic adjustable bed and mattress, and Alyssa now has a powered wheelchair with scripted seating.

With the help of Better Rehab, Rebecca flew out to Traralgon to deliver Alyssa’s powered wheelchair herself.

“The main challenges they needed to overcome were maintaining their independence with daily activities as their disability progresses and maintaining their leisure participation in activities such as going to the beach with their family,” Rebecca said.

The Quantum Stretto powered wheelchair includes powered seat functions of “iLevel” elevation, tilt-in-space and recline. This means optimal positioning and postural support, further supported by scripted seating with specific contouring and pressure relief.

The scripted wheelchair is a game changer. It achieves multiple goals for Alyssa, including interacting with her friends at eye level, reaching up for high items unassisted, raising her wheelchair up the kitchen bench to help with Mum’s cooking, rising in church, and overall, independently controlling her mobility despite her upper limbs continually becoming stiffer or fatigued.

A reversing camera is fitted in the wheelchair for times when moving her head becomes difficult. The nifty camera supports her independence with driving the wheelchair—she can now identify obstacles or hazards.

Alyssa and Bradley love doing regular youth groups and church mission games at camp in the water. But their progressive disability prevented them from standing in the water. The narrow wheels of their standard wheelchair couldn’t even get onto the sand. The children would be forced to watch the action from a distance.

So Rebecca managed to get their beach wheelchair approved. The beach wheelchair has balloon wheels and waterproof seating, allowing the siblings the joy of driving across the sand and water and just goofing around with friends and family. This demonstrates how assistive technology promotes social and community participation.

Alyssa and Bradley’s conditions continue to change so that assistive technology will support their childhood and teenage goals. They aim to maintain their independence with social activities.

If you need help with Occupational Therapy and Assistive Technology, call Better Rehab at 1300 0 REHAB (73422). For more information about our services, visit our website.