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House of Assembly - Fifty-Second Parliament, Second Session (52-2)
2012-09-18 Daily Xml
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TECHNICAL AID TO THE DISABLED SA

Mrs GERAGHTY (Torrens) (15:49): Technical Aid to the Disabled SA (TADSA) was started in 1978. It is a not-for-profit organisation that is based in my electorate. It provides a service to people with a disability across South Australia. It aims to help people with disabilities overcome problems by creating, modifying or repairing devices where there is no other solution readily available on the market.

Whether someone has a disability that they have been born with or whether it is an acquired disability, either through ageing, an accident or disease, the consequences can mean that those people's independence has been compromised and their ability to cope with normal everyday actions are severely restricted. Sometimes this puts a burden of care on family, friends or, indeed, the community, when a simple adaptation to suit an individual's situation and needs may be all that is needed to maintain independence and quality of life.

TADSA offers specialised technical advice and information to people with disabilities and their carers. Their volunteer technical members have many different skills to cater for the different needs: some are qualified mechanical, electrical or electronic engineers; some are builders, carpenters or just good handymen. Using their own sheds and equipment, they work with health professionals or individuals to construct many types of custom designed and made equipment for TADSA clients. They often need to be innovative problem solvers, inventers and imaginative thinkers. In fact, it often needs a team approach to create a one-off custom-made solution or to carry out modifications to existing equipment for clients.

I was told about Sue, a client confined to a wheelchair, who found it impossible to hang out her washing, and get it on and off the line. She was dependant on help for what I think most of us would think is a simple task, and she felt it compromised her independence. The volunteer team designed and constructed a framework to support the clothes line, while gas struts, brackets and rollers were used to enable the client to raise and lower the line by the use of a roller. I am told that Sue is delighted, and for the first time in five years she is now able to do this very simple task and feels that she has her independence again.

Another young client who was referred by SCOSA very much wanted to play ball with her friends at school. The volunteers particularly love solving these sorts of problems for their young clients. To the delight of the youngster, they constructed a chute out of PVC piping, with wheels back and front, enabling her to aim the chute and then release the ball from the top so it can be caught by her friends. The volunteers often work with SCOSA, Disabilities SA, the MS Society and other therapists. Families and individuals themselves can also self-refer, and with the expertise that TADSA has managed to garner, the team are rarely stumped to find a solution for very long.

Another client, a grandma, regularly looks after her young grandson, but uses a mobility scooter for long distances. She found that she could not take him to the park, the shops or visit friends as she had always imagined she could do with him. The team attached a carry seat to the back of her scooter, and now grandma and toddler are both happily mobile.

Perhaps my favourite program, though, is Freedom Wheels. This is a customised bike program which modifies standard pushbikes for children with disabilities so that they can enjoy mobility and a form of recreation previously denied them, and it brings such joy. The volunteers from TADSA work with therapists to ensure that the child receives a bike that is age appropriate and suitable for the individual child's height, weight, type of disability, and physical and cognitive abilities. Modifications might include: customised training wheels that are wider and stronger than the standard wheels; postural supports for the head, back, pelvis and hips; foot supports; or perhaps special handlebars.

Bike clinics are held regularly by TADSA at various locations around Adelaide, and bikes are only supplied after attendance at the special assessment and training clinics. I have to say that it is truly wonderful to see these children riding their bikes, independently mobile, and sometimes for the first time in their lives. It is quite moving to see.

I know that we all have many wonderful volunteers and not-for-profit groups in our electorates, but I am truly happy to recommend the work of TADSA to the house, and call on anyone with the technical skills to assist in this program to volunteer their services on behalf of our aged and disabled, and our young community.

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