by Michaela Meade
Yarrambat resident Caitlin Mclean is fundraising for a wheelchair accessible car for her son Rieder, to allow him to do the things he loves most.
7-year-old Rieder lives with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy, caused by a stroke in utero.
Caitlin said he has had a tough life, needing oxygen support for his first year of life, and undergoing many intensive therapies.
Earlier this year, Rieder had multiple surgeries to correct his hip dysplasia and gain back his ability to sit up and bear weight.
Caitlin said he is in need of a new wheelchair, which in turn needs a specially modified car to travel in.
To receive National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) funding, the car is required to be less than three years old.
Coupled with the cost of modifications, Caitlin said the bill will amount to almost $65,000.
“While the NDIS are incredibly supportive, they have refused to fully fund the total amount,” she said.
“They don’t see it as reasonable and necessary.
“The car is the main solution for us to give him independence, and access the community and all the things he loves.”
Caitlin said it will be a while, even without funding setbacks, to receive the vehicle.
“We started the process a few months ago… but there’s a backlog of ordering because of COVID-19,” she said.
“If all goes right, we’ll get the car in March next year, but then there’s 11 weeks [of work] for modifications.
“With a single income, being able to afford a modified vehicle is very difficult.”
Caitlin has started a GoFundMe page to fundraise for the vehicle, and said the community response so far has been encouraging.
“There’s a lot of people who are sharing his story,” she said
“It’s been good, but it’s hard because… things get lost in social media feeds.
“We’re getting the message out there as much as possible.
“He’s such a happy boy, such a big personality, and depriving him of all the things that a normal 7-year-old would have is something we don’t want to do.”
Details: bit.ly/3ktDNuf
