Mitchell and Tegan
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.
Mitchell, 14, is autistic, has muscular dystrophy and uses a wheelchair. Tegan, his mum, lives with depression and anxiety.
Tegan and Mitchell used to live in the city to be close to supports. But Mitchell’s school treated him in a way that ‘really appalled’ Tegan, so they moved back to a regional town.
Initially, the school wasn’t very accessible. But as soon as the occupational therapist and physiotherapist told the school they needed to modify the ramps and the doorways, ‘they were on to it,’ Tegan told the Royal Commission. The local community pitched in and built a ramp in two weeks.
Mitchell has a full-time teacher aide and, while he’s behind in maths and English, he’s made ‘fantastic’ progress.
The school includes Mitchell in everything. ‘He has been to camps … They took the wheelchair.’ On another trip to a remote location, the aide ‘went out on a limb’ and organised a golf buggy.
However the rest of the town isn’t ‘wheelchair friendly’.
To get to school Mitchell needs to drive his wheelchair across the train tracks. A couple of times the wheelchair stopped right in the middle of the tracks. It ‘freaked him out’ and he ‘lost his confidence’.
Tegan contacted the council to do something about the crossing, but it became ‘a big uproar’ between the council, main roads and the grain company that built the track. Eventually they smoothed out the surface of the crossing, but Mitchell ‘still won’t go through it’ because he doesn’t think it’s safe.
The town is divided by a busy highway.
‘[Mitchell] doesn't feel safe crossing … I think they should reduce the speed limit … There is a crossing for the school, but that is only working during school hours.’
Getting around the town is challenging. ‘Some footpaths are good, but other footpaths are just non-existent, and ramps that go onto the road are not safe.’
Tegan said it’s not just an issue for Mitchell but for older people with mobility issues.
The disability parking spaces in the main part of town are on a hill. ‘Whoever put that there has no idea. If you have a van, you've got a ramp down the back … A person in a wheelchair is going to take off down the hill.’ Since Tegan pointed out the problem council has added new parking spaces on safer ground.
Buildings are also inaccessible. There are very few ramps, mainly steps. ‘You always need a support worker with you.’
Tegan has raised the issue with council but they’re not willing to address the problem, saying ‘it’s down to the private owners’.
‘Working with the shire and getting them to acknowledge it more … is a work in progress, but it definitely wasn't friendly at all.’
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.