Jimmy Baker didn’t feel like he had any independence before moving into his specially designed unit in Glenroy last month.
Mr Baker was left with an acquired brain injury after his bicycle was hit by a speeding car in September 2002.
While he doesn’t remember the accident, Mr Baker has been told he had to be revived a number of times and was in a coma.
As a result of the accident, he suffers from amnesia. He is also partially deaf in his right ear as well as being partially blind.
Because of his disabilities, Mr Baker lived at home with his parents.
But he gained the confidence to move out after securing supported accommodation through the residential indpendence project.
The recently completed project provides four Transport Accident Commission clients with serious chronic and mental and physical disabilities a chance to move out of their family home or a care home and live independently.
The units have been specially designed by architects Hayball to meet the needs of each resident.
A fifth unit has been built to house support staff, who are on hand to help Mr Baker with tasks such as meal preparation, as well as reminding of everyday tasks that need to be completed.
Mr Baker, who is studying an aged care course at Melbourne Polytechnic in Preston, said moving into the unit had given him freedom.
“I needed to be independent,” he said.
“This has given me a chance to live in a house that is not interrupted by anyone else. It’s somewhere I can live by myself with the support I need close by.”
