Jamie is a six year old boy living with cerebal palsy and other conditions. He is one of a family of five living in a three bedroom home, one of these rooms in a box room. Due to the amount of equipment and space Jamie requires, this means his teenage sister only has a make-shift bedroom in their living room. With Jamie's age comes changing needs and more space is required for him and his equipment. Their home is no longer suitable for his needs. While he is currently in a medium size room, it in predominately taken up by his hospital bed and large wheelchair lift. His wheelchair remains in the lift while he is upstairs as there is not the space to bring it out. Between the lack of space for the wheelchair and the lack of space for a hoist in the bathroom. Jamie is not able to have baths nor is he able to use the toilet. Due to this, Jamie is required to use a commode in his bedroom rather than the toilet in the bathroom. This also means that Jamie's mother, Kate, is required to carry Jamie around the upstairs of the home when it is time for him to shower. Understandably this is going to become a greater issue as time goes on and puts Kate's own health and safety at risk. Having a larger home means that it can be adapted to suit Jamie's needs not only in the present, but for as he grows older. It would also mean he could be more independent as he would be able to use his electric wheelchair rather than relying on others to move him. It would also mean that Zoe, Jamie's sister, will have the bedroom of her own that she has a right to. For the second time, this family have been offered a new house but they now risk losing it again due to the housing association and council being concerned about the costs required to adapt the home for Jamie's needs. We have created this petition as we want to draw their attention to the fact that it is not acceptable for a disabled child to be living like this, for a teenager not to have her own room and that not only do this family deserve a new home but they require one with the correct adaptations done for Jamie's long-term needs, not the cheapest solution possible. The housing association will decide on THURSDAY THE 17TH OF OCT as to whether Jamie and his family will be able to have this current house they've been offered. Let's show them what we think!!

Links