Addilynn
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
‘There is no legal protection for the aged and disabled living in a strata home.’
Addilynn, late 60s, was diagnosed with a rare form of muscular dystrophy about 12 years ago. She is prone to trip and fall and uses a walking aid.
Addilynn has owned a ground floor unit of a strata complex for more than 20 years. Support workers help her live there independently.
Addilynn can only access her unit through the garden because she can no longer use the stairs to the main door. The garden is poorly maintained and, until recently, Addilynn had to navigate broken sandstone blocks, mud and water to get to her unit.
Over the years she has repeatedly asked the building’s strata committee to maintain the garden and common areas of the building so she can access them safely.
‘For disabled and the aged, the garden is a place of refuge, relaxation and sanctuary,’ she says.
As part of Addilynn’s NDIS funding, an Occupational Therapist (OT) conducted a safety assessment of her home. The OT recommended the NDIS pay for a concrete slab to be laid in front of the unit.
Because it is common property, the strata committee would only approve the works if Addilynn signed off on the creation of a by-law requiring her to personally maintain the slab and obtain consent of all the other unit owners.
Addilynn thought this was too onerous and her relationship with the strata committee deteriorated further.
The concrete slab was finally installed, but only after she used her retirement savings and commenced proceedings in the administrative tribunal.
This took a lot of effort and caused Addilynn anxiety, stress and hardship.
Addilynn has been asking the strata committee to fix her gate and the broken intercom system for years. They keep fobbing her off, telling her they need more quotes.
A few months ago, her gate became ‘badly jammed’ because of the rain.
Her support worker arrived but couldn’t budge the gate and couldn’t get in.
Addilynn tried to open another door but physically couldn’t open it because of muscle weakness. She told the support worker to buzz unit 1 and ask them to let her in the main door. But the intercom was broken and the support worker couldn’t find anyone to help her.
Addilynn was trapped and had to call police for assistance.
She is ‘highly, highly stressed’ living in the unit.
‘What if it was at night and I couldn’t get out or nobody could come to me or I had a fall and nobody could get to me?’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.