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Woman wearing purple gloves sanding back a prosthetic limb

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Advances in prosthetics are constantly evolving and over the past two decades, there have been many advances in Assistive Technology that have improved the function, design and appearance of prostheses.
To find out more about the amazing work being done in this space, we caught up with prosthetics superstar, Monique Van den Boom, Director and Senior Prosthetist from <a href="https://www.pmprosthetics.com.au/">ProMotion Prosthetics</a>. We wanted to find out more about her work, and what drives and inspires her to work in this highly technical but rewarding field.
Monique is passionate about achieving excellent clinical and functional outcomes for people living with upper and lower limb amputation and limb loss. She has worked in the prosthetics profession for almost 20 years, and her extensive work in Australia and overseas has exposed her to all aspects required to successfully treat clients who have acquired an upper or lower limb amputation or who were born without limbs.
In 2010, an earthquake in Haiti killed more than 200,000 people and left thousands more in need of prosthetics. Monique was one of the many skilled prosthetists who volunteered their time to provide much needed aid and support to injured Haitians.
<figure id="attachment_856" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-856" style="width: 608px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-856" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize.jpg" alt="Prosthetics article" width="608" height="405" srcset="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize.jpg 1080w, https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/06/Monique-in-Haiti_resize-600x400.jpg 600w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 608px) 100vw, 608px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-856" class="wp-caption-text">Monique working in Haiti</figcaption></figure>
Prosthetists like Monique, often work with people who are going through an extreme change or trauma in their lives. They play an important role in returning the individual to their previous (or in some cases, an improved) level of function.
“We work with each individual to assess their needs, determine the most appropriate device, then complete the fitting process which includes casting, moulding, fitting and aligning the device, while working with other allied health professionals to provide the therapy to help them achieve their goals.” Monique explains.
These goals may include being able to provide a device to help an individual to go to the beach with their kids or designing a prosthetic arm to help a child to ride their bike.
<blockquote>Did you know that the world’s earliest functional prosthetic body parts are thought to be two examples of artificial toes from Ancient Egypt? Early prostheses were mostly decorative, but these Egyptian toes are an early example of a true prosthetic device.</blockquote>
The recent advances in Assistive Technology have significantly raised the profile of prosthetics within the general public, as well as improve the level of acceptance and quality of life of prosthetic device users.
While this sounds complex – (and it most certainly is!),  there is a simplicity of living well and with dignity, that having a prosthesis can bring to its users and it’s up to all of us as a community to learn more about these positives.
“There have been trailblazers in the disability advocacy space that have helped raise issues people with disability face in the community,” says Monique.
“People on social media with prominent profiles act as examples of what can be achieved for new prosthetic users and people with disability are being cast in films, TV and advertising which helps to integrate all people within our society as a ’norm’; however, I believe that individuals still experience discrimination from society.”
Monique says an area with potential for improvement, is accessibility within the community.
“I think if every individual had to spend a day in their life in a wheelchair, things would be very different, and more inclusive and accessible for people with a physical disability”.
Well said Monique, we couldn’t agree more!
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Main image credit: Emily Day
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Mum of five and Carer Solutions Partner (client), Katrina Bartninkaitis, knows better than anyone just how difficult it can be to source and manage Support Workers.
Equally as complex and challenging, is finding people who genuinely connect and engage with her three young children &#8211; each living with multiple disabilities, as well as her husband John, who has early onset dementia. They all require ongoing, round the clock support.
Katrina needed a solution that enabled her to be in charge of who her Support Workers are, and when they are rostered on – all without the headache of becoming a mini Support Worker agency herself. She had been relying on agencies to find Support Workers for her, but it wasn’t working out for many reasons.
Often, she would need last minute care, but the agencies would take days &#8211; even weeks to approve shifts, and when a Support Worker finally did arrive, they would not understand the needs of her children, and often sat around on their phones, not engaging with them. This arrangement was unsustainable, and she knew she needed a better solution.
Katrina has been a Carer Solutions Partner for three years now, and she says it was a “game changer” for her and her family. Our Direct Employ model means parents like Katrina can formalise arrangements with people they already know and trust.
She has two sons with autism and ADHD, Xavier, 10 and Elliot, 12 who both have the same support workers accompany them to their after-school activities. They have a fantastic support worker who participates in the activities with them. “We even bought him a uniform so that he can do Taekwondo with them,” she said.
Katrina says that if it wasn’t for their support worker, her boys wouldn’t participate in the class – they’d just sit on the sidelines. “If the boys have any issues, he (their support worker) is right there with them,” she explains.
Katrina’s six-year-old daughter Lauren, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and ADHD, also attends Taekwondo and song and dance classes. Like her brothers, Lauren is getting so much more out of her activities, thanks to the high level of engagement and involvement of her support workers who also join in on her classes.
<blockquote>“That’s the joys of working with Carer Solutions, I have the flexibility to pick and choose the best team for my family. One of my elder son’s friends was looking for work, so we asked him to come on board as the boys’ support worker – and so he did. He is just amazing!” she explains.</blockquote>
Katrina and her family now have a team of 11 support workers who all know the family, and she can call on them as needed.
“All I have to do is send a group text message to my team, asking for a shift to be filled, and within five to ten minutes, it’s done! That’s the great benefit of working with Carer Solutions &#8211; I do the rosters, so I am in control of who comes into my home, and when.”
Katrina says her family are now even talking about the possibility of going on a family holiday together.
“That would never have been an option before coming onboard with Carer Solutions, I wouldn’t look back now – I have learnt so much from using their service.”
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Jerusha wearing a white lab coat, smiling at the camera (Images Supplied)

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When we read about all the amazing things that disability advocate, Jerusha Mather has been up to &#8211; we just had to connect with her to find out more.
Jerusha has cerebral palsy and says medical colleges in Australia make it very hard for people like her to get accepted – and she wants that to change.
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“When I was a teenager, I fell in love with neuroscience and I saw myself in a career where I could lead in the medical field and create positive change for people with disabilities.”
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Despite the obstacles that Jerusha faces both personally and professionally due to having a disability, she doesn’t give up. The words ‘give up’ are simply not in her vocabulary. 

She mentions that people&#8217;s attitudes towards disabilities need to change and when it comes to study and achieving her medical dreams, her biggest achievement has been passing the Graduate Medical School Admissions Test (GAMSAT). 
One reform that Jerusha is currently supporting, is for medical schools to accept people with disabilities without a GAMSAT or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT). 
“Some medical schools accept indigenous students without a GAMSAT or MCAT score. so, I&#8217;m asking for the same to be done for people with disabilities,” she says. 
Challenging the parameters of medical science isn’t the only reform Jerusha is fighting for. She’s been doing a huge amount in the accessibility space, including accessible food packaging, jewellery, fashion, make up and self-care products. 
Oh, and did we mention inclusive dating!? 
That’s right. She’s even put her own hand up to become Australia&#8217;s first Bachelorette with a disability &#8211; to create awareness and make people with disabilities included in the mainstream media. And we are here for it!
Jerusha’s passion for change doesn’t stop there. She’s also been calling for inclusive immigration policies to include people with disabilities who&#8217;d like to live in Australia.
While we can all agree that Jerusha’s list of achievements is beyond impressive, there is definitely no sign of her slowing down anytime soon. 
“I think knowing that my PhD research could make a tangible difference in someone&#8217;s life, drives and motivates me to finding fulfilment in what I do,” she says.
Jerusha’s message to anyone out there with a disability is don’t give up and don’t back down.  “Go for it. Keep knocking on doors and the right one will open.&#8221;
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/medical-colleges-should-be-more-inclusive-of-applicants-with-disability-exempt-pwd-to-give-gamsat-or-mcat-scores?recruiter=945230247&amp;recruited_by_id=d8723f60-4ef9-11e9-a6f7-2ff3878d30c7&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_medium=copylin">Click here</a> to support Jerusha and her petition urging medical colleges to be more inclusive.
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Close up photo of man wearing a purple hat, smiling with a young boy (Images Supplied)

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<h4>Empowering dads of kids with disabilities to ask for help</h4>
There’s no doubt that being a parent of a child with a disability can be stressful and challenging, and while you are busy focusing on your child’s needs, you can often neglect your own.
As dad to a five-year-old autistic boy, Rob Hale realised that he, like many other men, were often too proud or afraid to show vulnerability and ask for support. After experiencing his own mental health challenges, Rob decided to create a podcast &#8211; <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/dad-ability/id1619709876">Dad-ability,</a> dedicated to empowering dads of kids with disabilities, by encouraging them to open up and be vulnerable.
We love everything about this awesome podcast here at Carer Solutions and think it needs to be shared far and wide. At its heart, the podcast aims to bring dads of kids with disability together, to share their stories and learn from others. Put simply, dads supporting dads – and what’s not to love about that!?
Rob says his lived experience has shown that there needs to more support for dads of kids with disability. Trying to go it alone increases the risk of depression and anxiety going unrecognised and untreated.
“I have felt very alone and isolated as a dad of a disabled son over the past few years. Even with my son joining a disability school this year, it was the mums who flocked together naturally to form connections and support each other – while the dads were largely silent and not as involved.” Rob says.
With 35 per cent of households living with someone with a disability in Australia, Rob recognised that there must be a way to connect dads better, so they can learn from each other, and not feel that they had to go it alone.
“The podcast felt like a very low touch way for people to listen and feel connected to a like-minded community of dads that get it”.
Rob talks very candidly about his own personal mental health battle in his podcast, urging other dads to seek professional health if they are not coping. He urges men not to “just solider on and hope it will improve.” He says if you start to notice feelings of guilt or resentment, then you would benefit from seeking professional support.
<blockquote>“When you have something wrong with your physical health you see a doctor, so if your mental health is suffering, you should seek help too. It’s okay to admit that you’re not okay.”</blockquote>
Rob shares his own personal self-care tips on how he maintains a healthy body and mind.
“I do a five-minute guided meditation via an app first thing in the morning and last thing before I go to sleep each night. This daily practice gives me some personal space to disconnect from my busy life. I have always felt my best when I go to the gym and do strength training, so I make sure I do this four to five times per week.”
Rob says that if you experience change in mood, irritability, anxiety or perhaps notice a lower resilience to cope with the stress or meltdowns that come with parenting a child with a disability, then put your hand up and ask for help &#8211; don’t suffer in silence.
“You are human, you will make mistakes and lose it at times &#8211; and that’s okay. Be brave and ask for what you need so that people can help you. Be kind to yourself and don’t keep score or beat yourself up &#8211; lean into the discomfort as that is where you will find your biggest lessons and growth as a dad.”
If you are a dad of a child with disabilities, or know someone who is, then be sure to listen and subscribe to the <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dad-ability/id1619709876?ign-itscg=30200&amp;ign-itsct=podcast_box_link">Dad-ability podcast.</a>  And of course, if you love it – make sure you spread the word and share, because you know &#8211; sharing is caring!
Do you have any other great disability podcast recommendations? Let us know!
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Picture of two men in all-terrain wheelchairs on a beautiful beach.

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<h4>The best accessible trails Australia has to offer</h4>
The summer heat is now behind us, and stunning autumn days are ahead. So, what better way to make the most of this gorgeous season than get outdoors, breathe in clean, fresh air and admire some breathtaking scenery.
Our version of Australia’s top eight wheelchair-accessible trails is inspired by a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/wheelchair-hiking-best-trails-perth/100793746?fbclid=IwAR2GicR3i9QOLM4s5SabrPFwfYtnTH9EwkOC7twb5G1pHJ273Du7AYHvwZQ">recent article</a> featuring West Australian hiking enthusiast, Robbi Flynn.
Here are our top picks for some of the best wheelchair-accessible trails our beautiful country has to offer.
Wilson’s Prom (VIC)
This picture-perfect Victorian jewel offers the trifecta – beautiful bushland, mountain ranges and gorgeous sea views. What’s not to love!?
There are many suitable trails for all-terrain wheelchairs, which are also available to hire if required. To make it easier for people with limited mobility to see the accessible experiences on offer, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6x3fJ6k_R4k">Parks Victoria released this video</a> &#8211; produced and narrated by park visitor and wheelchair user, Ryan Smith.
For more info, <a href="https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to-see/parks/wilsons-promontory-national-park">click here</a> 
Three Sisters Walk (NSW)
We know it’s an overused term, but this trail really is breathtaking. This trail is a sensory treat with the ever-changing views of the grand Three Sisters rising nearly a kilometre above sea level.
The trail is wheelchair friendly to the Oreades Lookout &#8211; although some sections have a 10 per cent slope and may require some assistance. Access beyond Oreades lookout is not recommended for wheelchairs as it involves several steps.
For more info, <a href="https://www.visitnsw.com/destinations/blue-mountains/katoomba-area/katoomba/attractions/three-sisters-walk">click here</a>
Burleigh Heads National Park (QLD)
In the heart of the Gold Coast, this National Park offers the most idyllic trail flanked by the foreshore and rainforest.
The gorgeous Oceanview trail offers wheelchair assisted access and, if you’re lucky, you may get the chance to spot some whales and sea eagles, or even the most mesmerising birdwing butterflies.
It’s a 2.4km round trip and picnicking in the stunning scene post-hike is strongly suggested! Unfortunately, the other tracks within the park are not wheelchair accessible.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/parks/burleigh-head">click here</a>
Lorikeet Loop Walk (SA)
This 3km, flat loop trail is located within the Belair National Park in the gorgeous Adelaide Hills and offers an ideal opportunity to fully immerse yourself in nature. You can also meet the park’s resident lorikeets and rosellas, who are equal parts noisy and attractive. The trail takes around 90 minutes and provides easy wheelchair access, and also allows dog walking.
For more info, <a href="https://www.walkingsa.org.au/walk/find-a-place-to-walk/lorikeet-loop-walk-belair-national-park/">click here</a>
Kuljak Island (WA)
As voted by Robbi Flynn, Kuljak Island is Western Australia’s best nature-viewing trail. Centrally located and easy to access, this beauty has an abundance of pelicans and swans.
The area is also surrounded by various paved paths with easy access from the carpark for wheelchairs and/or prams.
It’s worth noting that there are no toilet or BBQ facilities on the island and being a wildlife sanctuary, fishing is not permitted. While it is dog-friendly, your furry friend must be on a leash.
For more info, <a href="https://trailswa.com.au/trails/kuljak-island-walk-ascot">click here</a>
Russell Falls Track (TAS)
This picturesque short trail is through a lush rainforest in Mount Field, Tasmania, and is best suited to wheelchair users who have someone to assist them.
The 1.4km tranquil hike to the beautiful Russell Falls may even present a special opportunity to spot a platypus in the creek. It’s a relaxed walk with no bushwalking experience required. It has a flat, even surface with no steps or steep angles.
For more info, <a href="https://parks.tas.gov.au/explore-our-parks/mount-field-national-park/russell-falls">click here</a>
Territory Trails (ACT)
Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve in the Australian Capital Territory is a must see, with a stunning tapestry of trails and wetlands which are populated by cute and friendly wildlife. Tidbinbilla offers mobility access to many popular locations including The Sanctuary, the Eucalypt Forest, Sheedy’s Picnic Area and the Visitor Centre. These locations have accessible toilets, designated parking areas and paved footpaths allowing independent wheelchair access.
There is an awesome playground that has a bird’s nest swing suitable for very young children and people with limited mobility. TrailRider all-terrain wheelchairs are available for free day hire from the Visitor Centre. A TrailRiders are a cool way for mobility-impaired visitors to explore and enjoy all that the bush capital has to offer.
For more info, <a href="https://www.tidbinbilla.act.gov.au/do/walking-trails">click here</a>
Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (NT)
As for the Northern Territory, nothing compares to exploring the base of Uluru, with its natural beauty and rich culture. Most of the tracks are wheelchair accessible and range from easy to moderate. Uluru and Kata Tjuta hold great spiritual significance as they are places where many creation stories converge.
At Uluru, there are two trails that are accessible for wheelchairs. The Mala Trail is 2 km return and the Kuniya Trail is a leisurely 1 km return.
For more info, <a href="https://parksaustralia.gov.au/uluru/do/walks/">click here</a>
If you know of any great Wheelchair Accessible Trails, please let us know at <a href="mailto:care@carersolutions.com.au">care@carersolutions.com.au</a> we&#8217;ll add them to the list!
Banner Image Credit: © Parks Victoria 2019

Picture of a woman in a white t-shirt looking at a young girl who is reading a braille book

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<h4>Braille House Bringing Tactual Literacy to a Whole New Level</h4>
Braille House is celebrating its 125th Anniversary this year and this amazing not-for-profit organisation, continues to provide essential services to the blind and low vision community across Australia.
It was way back in 1897, when a motivated group of seven women met in Brisbane to form the Queensland Braille Writing Association (now known as Braille House).
The group included Mrs. Sharp who was the Head Teacher at the School for the Blind and Lady Lamington, the wife of the then Governor of Queensland. Yes &#8211; the very same lady the lamington cake was named after!
Each of these determined women translated seven books into Braille and started what has now grown into a national free lending library, Braille tutoring and a transcription service.
Completely free to all Australians, the Braille House library offers books and magazines in both Braille and Moon script (a writing system for the blind, using embossed symbols mostly derived from the Latin script). They are in fact, Australia’s only producer and library of titles in Moon script.
To make it easy for borrowers, each book selected is sent free in the post with a reversible return address label. 
What we love about Braille House, is that in its long 125 year history &#8211; its mission has not changed. The organisation, run mostly by volunteers, still exists to empower people who are blind or who have low vision to live with dignity and independence.
It is this belief and commitment to the written word that attracted Ambassador Rupert McCall OAM to Braille House.
According to the celebrated poet and author, “I believe every Australian should have the opportunity to pick up a book and experience the magic of reading,” McCall said.
A Braille House student who lost both her sight and hearing due to a sudden severe illness, says learning Braille has opened up her world.
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“As an adult having to learn to live a completely new life can be challenging. With Braille I can send and receive email, read the news and events happening in the world, read books and I am learning to take my own affairs back. Braille gives me the ability to live an independent life again” 

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With an estimated near 600,000 Australians being blind or vision impaired, the efforts of organisations such as Braille House are not only inspiring, they are essential – and we wish them all the best for another amazing 125 years of service.
For more information on Braille House and their national library, head to <a title="Link to the Braille House website" href="http://www.braillehouse.org.au">braillehouse.org.au</a>
(Banner Image Credit: Designed by Freepik)

Photo of Madeleine Buchner sitting on the floor laughing (Images Supplied)

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Madeleine Buchner (Images Supplied)

<h4>Little Dreamers is a dream come true.</h4>
The national organisation – established in 2009 by Madeleine Buchner when she was just 16 – supports young people who are carers of family members affected by disability, chronic or mental illness, addiction or frail age.
When Madeleine Buchner was a child, her younger brother had many health issues and was in-and-out of hospital for years. “I realised mum and dad were getting a lot of support in terms of support from organisations, and my brother was getting a lot of support from doctors, but I wasn&#8217;t; nobody was really noticing there was another sibling, feeling left out, or the extra stress and anxiety [the situation brought for them],&#8221; Madeleine said.
Madeleine founded Little Dreamers to change that.
One in 10 young people are carers across Australia. These roles vary significantly and Little Dreamers generally supports 5000 young carers a year. These young carers need to balance their own needs and education with those needs of their family member and don’t always have the means or the time to reach out and ask for help. This is where Little Dreamers comes in; they offer the carer this help, which can take many forms.
<figure id="attachment_579" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-579" style="width: 760px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-579" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/01/Little1.png" alt="Little Dreamers Activity" width="760" height="507" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-579" class="wp-caption-text">(Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure>
Programs are offered online and in-person and vary from online school tutoring, playing online games and Dream Experiences which are similar to ‘Make a Wish’, for young carers. They can include hotel stays, time with animals, some pampering or tickets to a show.
Over the last couple of years, awareness of Little Dreamers has skyrocketed through The Young Carer Advocacy Project that visits schools and talks to students about young carers and during the pandemic, Little Dreamers reach has increased due to more online availability and accessibility.
<figure id="attachment_580" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-580" style="width: 312px" class="wp-caption alignleft"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-580 size-full" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/01/Little2.png" alt="Little Dreamers Activity" width="312" height="468" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-580" class="wp-caption-text">Little Dreamers in action. (Image Supplied)</figcaption></figure>
They also have a school holiday program that is held across regional and metro areas of the country. The program involves a series of workshops for carers who are aged 18 – 25 to help them get a hold of moving into the world of adulthood and, there’s a Dreamers’ Hub which features additional support, workshops and webinars.
Little Dreamers continues to broaden their reach. They now have access to State and Federal Government funding – which covers 50% of costs – and have a ‘Giving Program’ and hold fundraisers. In the last 12 years, they have grown to have 52 staff across the eastern states and their need is only rising.
At Carer Solutions, we love the that Little Dreamers recognise the wider community and acknowledge the awesome siblings and children who work in their own families to help those living with disability.
Learn more about the amazing work <a title="Little Dreamers website" href="https://www.littledreamers.org.au" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Little Dreamers does here</a>.

Matt Skerrit, Founder of Every Human with 5 people.

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Matt Skerrit, Founder of Every Human (Images Supplied)

<h4>Fearless. Optimistic. Candid. Humans.</h4>
It’s a clear, supportive message that <a href="https://everyhuman.com.au/pages/about-us" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EveryHuman</a> puts upfront on their website and weaves through the narrative of all they do, and we love it!
If you haven&#8217;t come across them yet, EveryHuman is an inclusive and adaptable online fashion site that was established in 2019 by Sydney-based, Matt Skerritt, whose family owned and operated nursing homes. Matt saw first-hand the challenges the ageing and differently abled population face when getting dressed. He had a corporate job; a job where he could put on a suit to face his working day and choose his own style on weekends. He wanted everyone to have the same experience and choose their own style.
So, he started EveryHuman to initially provide uncompromising and stylish fashion and footwear solutions for people with disabilities and in just two years, it has grown to also include lifestyle products like beauty, books, wheelchair accessories, and more.
At Carer Solutions, we love the purpose and passion of EveryHuman. Their inclusive, adaptable and welcoming approach aligns with our purpose and what we strive to achieve every day.
Fashion is a great way for all of us to express who we are. It is a tool that can make every human feel confident, comfortable and most importantly, themselves.
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The work that the team at EveryHuman has done is logical and practical – while retaining the freedom to find one’s own style. They have found brands who have made subtle adjustments to mainstream fashion, perhaps buttons replaced with magnetic closures, one-handed zippers on shoes, designed Ankle Foot Orthoses (AFO) friendly shoes and clothing for the seated position.
While also repurposing fashion pieces to suit individual needs; perhaps a large Tommy Hilfiger or other designer t-shirt can become a cool over-sized look on the wearer.
Approximately 1 in 6 people across Australia and New Zealand have a disability which is around 5.5 million people who need and want adaptable and stylish lifestyle pieces.
As the team at EveryHuman says, “The future is inclusive and we’re here for it. Our products empower and empower people to be proud of who they are &#8211; inside and out!”
We’re with you EveryHuman and with every human.
Check out the latest in inclusive, adaptive fashion on the <a title="EveryHuman website" href="https://everyhuman.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">EveryHuman website</a>.
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Close up photo of Emma Price, CEO & Founder of Source Kids and Source Mama (Images Supplied)

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<h4>Meet Emma Price, Founder and CEO of Source Kids, long standing friend of Carer Solutions and all-round wonderful human.</h4>
If you haven&#8217;t yet heard of Source Kids, it is Australia’s first (and only) magazine for parents, carers and professionals of children with special needs, that has expanded to encompass an energetic national Expo and event series and most recently Source Mama— a platform dedicated to Mums.
When Emma&#8217;s daughter, Charlotte was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder, Angelman Syndrome in 2013, struggled to find any information, support for her.
“We couldn’t find products or services to help Charlotte and this is what drove me to set up Source Kids,” says Emma, from her home-base in Noosa, Queensland. “I have a background in marketing and communications and decided to start a magazine.”
The first edition, published in 2014, was met with great support. “It was all very positive,” says Emma, “a lot of people said, ‘About time!’ and told us that they’d been looking for information for so long. Many older parents also shared that they wished something like the magazine had been around when their kids were little.”
The free magazine, distributed nationally, set the foundation for a community of support that now also connects through social media, online and Source Kids Expos.
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“When we started in 2014, our total reach was 55 000 people per year,” says Emma, “and now we reach 400 000 people per month.”
This exponential growth shows the strength of the community that Emma has built through Source Kids.
“So much of it is about building connections and community,” she says.
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“Our families walk into our Expos and feel comfortable and supported amongst their own community. This can be challenging in other social settings where they may be stared at or made to feel awkward.”
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It’s this authentic and heartfelt connection that has seen the relationship between Source Kids and Carer Solutions also grow.
“Carer Solutions is one of our partners and we have a great relationship with them and in connecting our community with the services that they offer,” she says. “We have a lot of synergy in the way we operate our businesses and a shared intention to help people with disabilities find the assistance they need to live a great life. Carer Solutions is unique in their tailored and personalised approach to what they do.”
&nbsp;
<figure id="attachment_529" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-529" style="width: 540px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-529" src="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/app/uploads/2022/01/SKPerth.png" alt="Source Kids Expo Perth" width="540" height="275" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-529" class="wp-caption-text">Source Kids Expo Perth</figcaption></figure>
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Emma looks forward to holding Expos again as the country’s Covid restrictions ease and will continue her work as part of Charlotte’s legacy.
Charlotte passed away in 2019 and Emma acknowledges there would be no Source Kids without her.
“Families get so much out of what we do at Source Kids, our own daughter did and having her encouraged us to be able to do what we do and help other people with disability,” says Emma, “Charlotte has left a strong legacy.”
Learn more about <a title="Link to the Source Kids website" href="https://www.sourcekids.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source Kids here</a>, and <a title="Link to the Source Mama Website" href="https://sourcemama.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source Mama here</a>
(Images Supplied)

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