Elliot is a happy & sociable 6 year old boy. At 18 months Elliot wasn’t walking so was referred for physiotherapy. At 2.5 years, there was no improvement so he was seen by a paediatric neurologist & an MRI scan showed that the small part of Elliot’s brain (cerebellum) was smaller than it should be. He was diagnosed with congenital ataxic cerebral palsy, the least common type of the disorder affecting around only 5% of all people with CP.

Due to his condition, Elliot is unable to walk & uses a wheelchair. He lacks coordination, balance & muscle control & has difficulties with speech & learning. He is unable to carry out day to day activities such as washing, dressing & feeding himself.

Elliot uses lots of specialist equipment - wheelchairs, standing frame, bath chair, adapted seating & an electronic VOCA (communication aid).

Unfortunately our family home isn’t suitable for disabled living & as Elliot is getting older we don’t have adequate space to meet his needs for things such as a wheelchair accessible bedroom, adapted wet room, changing table, or height-adjustable bed.

We currently carry Elliot upstairs, lift him in & out of bed, bath, wheelchair & seat, all essential daily activities that are taking their toll on our health. Plus, we dress & change Elliot on the floor which, as he gets older, isn’t appropriate or dignified.

We would benefit from wheelchair accessible living space, ceiling hoists, wider doorways, through the floor lift, ramps & level flooring to allow Elliot to access his bedroom & garden independently.

We have been approved for a Disabled Facilities Grant to help pay for some of the adaptations , but this will only cover a small proportion of the cost so we need to fund the majority of the work ourselves.

The amount we are aiming to raise is over £25,000. This will help us adapt & extend our home to accommodate Elliot’s needs, allow him to live an independent life and ensure we continue to live together as a united family.