Hi, my name is Vicky and i am a disabled mum to 3 children aged 12, 7 and 6.
I was left disabled 12 years ago after suffering from sudden onset paralysis ( transverse myelitis ).. since my paralysis the council have moved me on a number of occassions to new more suitable properties because the older i get the worse my condition becomes. 2 years ago the council moved me to my current house because it has a bathroom downstairs which would make things easier for me. Recently though i am really struggling to get upstairs to my bedroom so i contacted social services to ask them if i could have a stair lift fitted to make things easier.. my house is a 3 bedroom family house and it has a kitchen, bathroom, dining room and living room downstairs, because of this social services have told me that they will not fit a stairlift to the property because they said i should turn my dining room into a bedroom for myself and my partner. We are really struggling for space has it is without making things worse by turning our dining room into a bedroom! I have begged and pleaded with social services to reconsider because my only other option is to move yet again ( into a bungalow ) which i really don`t want to do because i love living here and my children have only just settled since the last move.. i really don`t want to uproot my children again because it isn`t fair on them! The council have said that i don`t need planning permission to fit a stairlift and if i was able to buy one myself i could have it fitted but they are too expensive and i simply cannot afford to do that...I have enquired about a community care grant but apparently i won`t be able to claim one for a stairlift! Can anyone please offer some advice has to how i can fight the descision made by social services? Does anyone know who i should contact to fight it? Please help, i am so very desperate! I simply would like to be the one who continues to tuck my children into bed at night.