2016

2015Annual Report 2015 - 16

Solve Disability Solutions Inc.

C/o Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre1 Yarra Boulevard, Kew, VIC 3101

ABN 16 294 381 734

Telephone: 03 9853 8655 or 1300 663 243Fax: 03 9853 8098

Email: info@solve.org.au Website: www.solve.org.au

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Our VisionA community where there are no limits to participation.

Our PurposeTo solve equipment related problems faced by people with disability of all ages, through the design, construction or modification of equipment where the need cannot be met commercially.

Solve aims to ensure full and effective participation and inclusion in all aspects of society, in alignment with the UN Convention on the

Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Why people choose SolveSolve Disability Solutions is a not-for-profit organisation that offers customised solutions to people with disability living in Victoria. We provide specialist technical advice and information on assistive technology, and design, make and modify equipment that is not commercially available. Therapists can provide advice and assistance on the application of assistive technology.

Our project work is overseen by occupational therapists and we utilise technically skilled volunteers to design and make one-off pieces of equipment to achieve solutions. We work in a team led by the client to ensure their goals are achieved.

Solve is a well established provider in the disability sector, delivering high quality equipment solutions to people with disability for over 40 years. Solve is a Victoria-wide organisation with over 170 metropolitan and regional technical volunteers, 14 paid part-time staff and 11 branches.

A few words from the Chair & CEOWelcome to Solve Disability Solutions’ 2015/16 annual report. Solve has been busy this year providing custom solutions to people living with disability throughout Victoria, whilst ensuring our organisation can keep providing high quality services into the future. The National Disability Insurance Scheme officially moves from trial to rollout phase from the 1st July 2016 and brings to us new opportunities and challenges.

Over the next 3 years, we will see significant change in the disability sector, and our future success means positioning our organisation to adapt readily and effectively to reform. We will ensure we have the capacity, facilities and capabilities to accommodate change, pursue new opportunities and enable sustainable growth.

The organisation has prepared a new Strategic Plan that focuses of the development of services that will enable people with disability to have opportunity, choice and empowerment. The Board has formed working groups to provide governance oversight in the areas of Marketing, Service Development, Finance and Risk. We have been independently accredited against DHHS and Management and Governance standards and we are continuing to ensure Solve offers high quality and relevant services to people with disability.

This financial year, Solve has completed over 580 requests for assistance for more than 670 people with disability. These include:

• 141 completed requests that enabled people from throughout regional and metropolitan Victoria to explore cycling options through the Freedom Wheels Customised Cycling Program;

• assisting over 318 clients and carers in areas of personal care and completion of everyday household tasks;

• 124 clients who now have improved access to their community with successful modifications to wheelchairs, scooters and other mobility equipment;

• 217 projects to enable people to pursue recreational activities of their choice.

In this annual report we have highlighted the successes of our clients in the broad focus areas of our work. We hope you enjoy the personal stories of the people we serve and see the outcomes that have been achieved through the dedication of our staff and volunteers. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank staff and volunteers for their contribution and commitment in 2016 – we look forward to working with you all on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Fiona StillCEO

Felicity KotsiarisPresident

Thank you

GovernmentState: Department of Health & Human Services (Main Operational Grant) Federal: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

Our service is dependent on the funding of state and federal governments and the generosity of our corporate partners, private donors, foundations and trusts. Thank you for your invaluable support!

TrustsChain Reaction Challenge FoundationCollier FoundationGive Where You Live - GeelongHonda Foundation Ian Potter FoundationJack Brockhoff FoundationMarian & EH Flack TrustPierce Armstrong FoundationThe Sentinel FoundationWilliam Buckland Foundation

Workplace GivingDeutsche Bank EmployeesGoldman Sachs Australia EmployeesJB Were & NAB EmployeesKarma Currency programsTelstra Employees

CorporateBrenald Pty LtdHorner Recruitment Goldman Sachs InternationalShabbadu Pty LtdTelstra

Community GroupsCommunity Clubs Victoria Inc.CWA ToongabbieFreemason’s MilduraRotary Club of Forest HillYarra Bend Ladies Golf Club

In-kind SupportersBunnings WarehouseFallshaw Wheels and CastorsGush CreativeLINAK AustraliaLME Pty LtdMasters Home ImprovementMelbourne Bicycle CentreNavascues UpholsteryPickering Transport GroupPlanet InnovationTotal Rush Cycling

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2015/16 Client age groupings

Other

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Client/Family

Health Professionals

2015/16 Source of referrals

Client/Family

HealthProfessionals

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2015/16 Project service areas

Enhancing Education

Sport & Recreation

Vocational & Economic Life

Connecting & Communicating

Enhancing Education

Getting Out & About

Freedom Wheels

Sport & Recreation

Connecting & Communicating

Vocational & Economic Life

Everyday Living

EverydayLivingFreedom

Wheels

Getting Out& About

Our Service

Barry AaronsAlan AitonMansour AmiriniaMichael AndersonOwen AndersonStuart AndersonChaitanya AnnamneediNeville ArmstrongDonald AuldFran BainbridgeGeoff BairdCynthia BarnesGeoffrey BearneGlen BellLeslie BennettMichael BentvelzenDoug BirchallMargaret BlairRobin BlairRichard BlinksYvonne BlinksAlan BoydJoy BrandPeter BrandGeoffrey BroadbentIan BrownRalph BrownWilliam BurnsDerek BurtonCharles CameraHarry Carlin-SmithDonald CarterJarryd CaruanaBrian CatchpoleKevin ChristiansGraeme ClareKerry CookeShirley CooksonMargaret CooperDon CooperRoger CornellTrevor CoulterMargaret CrockerTerry CrosbyIan CrossLarry Crowley

Judith D`AbbsPamela DaviesTom DaviesJen DavorenMargaret DeanMark DohrmannBill DooleyRay DownesBarbara DoylePeter DoyleChi-Wen DuanIan DuffDorothy DuncanStanley DuncanDenise DunnJenny EckhardtKevin EckhardtHarry EemanKen EndacottDouglas FaramWalter FawcettDon FergussonRobin FergussonMarylou FernandezMaree FeutrillPeter FodenAlex ForbesGrant ForestMike ForwoodPhilippa FraserRoy GaleyMarilyn GarnhamRobert GaultBrian GeorgeArthur GibsonMichael GlickmanGraham GoebyDiane GoetzeBrian GrayMichael GregoryAlan GrimesDoug HaigBruce HainesRobert HallBertil HallenrudBill Hallett

Barbara HamiltonJohn HansenJack HarriottRichard HartLeanne HassanMichael HassettGuorun HeAnthony HealyGraeme HemleyRichard HodgsonGeoff HookDuncan HopkinsBrian HoskingMark HowlettDavid HubbardElizabeth IrwinPeter KayLaurie KingDavid KneeboneRobert KnightonJo KnowlesFelicity KotsiarisJoanne KralKirk KratzmannMichael LaveryMaurice LeanMargaret LimosaniTony LimosaniMax LloydTrevor LloydPaul LucasRhoda LynchBryan MackenzieBarry MagnierRenate ManntzRobert MarinucciAndrew MarmincTom MartinBruce MathiesonLyn McAloneyLinton McDonaldPeter McGowanJohn McKeownDoug McKernMandana MehdizadehSunny Mellor

Maria MeroRobert MeroBarry MiddletonBrian MiddletonCatherine MillerJoe MitchellNicola MitchellSam MitchellClive MorganLynette MorganBill MorlingBruce MorrisonFrank MullinsPatrick NavascuesEvan NewnhamJohn NicholsonAaron NinedekJeffrey NockerBernie O`DeaRichard O`KeefeGeoffrey OliverKaren OrkibiGeoff PayneGeorge PaynterDavid PearceRay PeersIan PickenJill PickeringPhilip PilgrimVince PirrottinaAlan PreacherStan ProctorGlenn ReadJustin ReevesJacky ReisenhoferBeverley ReynoldsBruce ReynoldsSamira RichardsAnthony RichardsJanet RichardsEdmond RobertsLorraine RobertsLynton RobertsJune RobilliardMrs Corinne RobinKen Robinson

David RobinsonHeather RobsonJohn RogersHayley RogersonTim RowleyHoward RowlstonGraeme SargeantLaurence SartoriNorman SaundersSalvatore ScaccoDeborah SchmetzerSaeed SeifmohammadiGarrick SheatherMark ShelleyViktor SheludkoMerrilyn ShepherdCraig SidebottomSam SirianniDavid SlaterRonald SpencerAndrew SteedFrederick SyerJohn TaggRobert TaylorTom TaylorMichael ThorburnVan TranClaudia TrasancosAdam TrudgenTroy UpfieldHenry van GinkelDon WakefieldMeryl WaldronNeville WaldronGraham WallisNorman WatchornAndrew WebbLen WilliamsJohn WilsonGeoff WiltshireBruce YoungRichard Ziegeler

Volunteers, members & Friends of Solve

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Everyday Living

Mel wants to independently pour herself and her friends a glass of wine when she has them over for dinner. This customised wine tipper made by Solve, enables Mel to be the ultimate host while entertaining her friends in her own home.

“ I can’t tell you how pleased I was to be the chief wine pourer on Saturday! My guests thought, wow, WOW and WOW!!!”

Wine tipper for home entertaining

Raised shower transfer benchMary’s goal was to shower independently. She has a lower limb amputation and is unable to stand in the shower, but commercial bariatric shower benches did not extend high enough to safely accommodate Mary’s height and weight. Solve extended and strengthened the legs of an existing shower bench to enable her to shower safely and without assistance.

Customised sleepwearThe parents of a child with autism spectrum disorder wanted their child to sleep comfortably and safely by ensuring the child’s pyjamas and nappy were not removed during the night. Solve made a set of fashionable, one-piece pyjamas which have several layers of security, including internal drawstrings and a secure closure at the top of the zip.

Mixing bowl tipperKathleen, who has the use of only one arm, wanted to be able to bake a cake without assistance. We made her a customised, locking bowl tipper that holds the mixing bowl at the correct angle over the cake tin so that Kathleen can scrape out the batter using only her left hand.

Wheelie bin trailerBrad’s goal was to be independent with tasks around his home, including taking his wheelie bins out on rubbish nights without relying on others to assist him. Solve constructed an attachment for the back of Brad’s scooter that tows the wheelie bin so that he can perform this weekly task independently.

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Getting Out & About

Brothers, Jules and James, who have Duchennes muscular dystrophy, wanted to travel around Europe. Solve made luggage trailers for each of them that attach to the back of their wheelchairs. The trailers are highly manoeuvrable and comfortably fit two large suitcases. These enabled Jules and James to negotiate airports, hotels, lifts and sightseeing attractions on their trip of a lifetime.

Luggage trailers for the trip of a lifetime

Connector for pram & wheelchairProud new father, Nick, wanted to be a hands-on dad and asked Solve to assist him with taking his new baby out for a walk in the pram. Solve constructed a mount that enables him to hitch the pusher to the front of his self-propelled wheelchair so that he and his baby can enjoy quality time together out in their local community.

Opera glasses holderRobyn wanted to watch her son performing with Opera Australia. She has muscular dystrophy and was concerned about her ability to hold her opera glasses for long enough to view productions. Solve made a flexible stem for the glasses that can be adjusted for both height and angle so that Robyn can comfortably support her arm in her lap as she watches her son perform.

Helping out on the farmJose wanted to take a more active role on his family’s hobby farm by helping out with some light manual work. Solve converted a wheelbarrow into a trailer that attaches to his 4WD power chair and enables Jose to carry light loads, such as kindling or gardening supplies.

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Vocational & Economic Life

Michael’s goal is to complete his studies in landscape gardening. Solve adapted some of his landscaping tools to cater for the reduced mobility and strength in his right arm caused by an acquired brain injury. This included adding a rotating handle to the side of his wheelbarrow, modifying the handle of his shovel and constructing a magnetic nail holder.

Landscaping equipment modifications

Worktable and desk for wheelchairMark, who is recovering from paralysis associated with ‘locked-in’ syndrome, wanted to continue running his cartography business from home.

He was unable to access the workstation set up on his desk from his wheelchair, so Solve made him a removable and fully adjustable desktop that can be mounted to his wheelchair armrest and accommodates his keyboard, mouse and mousepad.

Adapted mouse and keyboard standMujahid wanted to be able to work on the computer at the call centre where he is employed. He was not able to use a mouse in its standard operational position or comfortably access a keyboard.

Solve customised and rewired an optical mouse so that it loops over his hand and can be used resting on his leg, and provided a customised shelf to raise the keyboard to a more comfortable height.

Rotator for dismantling PC boxesLiam’s aim was to work independently at the e-waste company where he dismantles computer boxes for recycling. He has no function in one hand and was reliant on work colleagues to reposition the boxes for him as he worked.

Solve made a rotating benchtop jig to hold the computers, with a handle that Liam operates to reposition the boxes so that he can reach all the components independently.

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A comfortable learning environment

Sol

Jessee’s goal was to compete in the seated discus and shotput at the Australian Junior Athletics Championships, where competitors must provide their own seats and position them themselves. Solve made Jessee a light and portable chair that meets all the strict requirements of his sport. Jessee has gone on to represent Australia at the Rio 2016 Paralympics placing 4th place in the Men’s F33 Shot Put.

A competitive advantage

Sport & Recreation

Camera handle for left-handed operationAndrew’s goal was to resume photography after an acquired brain injury left him without the use of his right arm.

To enable Andrew to hold and operate his camera, which is designed for right-hand use, Solve made a handle that attaches to the left side of his camera. From this he can reach the zoom and flash buttons located on the camera lens. We also provided a cable release device on the handle that enables Andrew to operate the camera shutter.

Modified ski poleLiam’s goal was to learn cross-country skiing. He was born without the lower part of his left arm, so Solve customised a ski pole that could be strapped to Liam’s forearm. It is strong enough to stay attached when Liam plants the pole, but releases quickly and safely when he falls.

Not long after, Liam was able to join his school friends on the slopes when they went cross-country skiing during their winter camp.

Modified creeper for car maintenanceDavid, who has a spinal cord injury, wanted to participate in an activity that he could share with his teenage son. After David expressed interest in car maintenance, Solve modified a rolling mechanic’s ‘creeper’ by adding flip-up grab handles, a tool tray, extra padding, an extended foot rest and wheel locks.

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Scan to listen to Anthony’s story

Mini golf putting armAnthony, who has no movement below the neck as the result of a spinal cord injury, wanted to enjoy a game of mini golf with friends. To enable him to do this, Solve constructed a swinging putting arm that slides onto a mount on his wheelchair, and is controlled by a button switch on Anthony’s headrest. The chair’s hi-lo feature is used to get him in the optimal position and the putting arm enables Anthony to execute a variety of strokes, which he demonstrated when he challenged our staff to a ‘putt-off’.

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Connecting & Communicat

Renate wanted to socialise with her friends at the local cafes. Renate’s powered wheelchair does not fit under the average cafe table and she has limited arm reach and strength to hold a coffee or cake plate.

Solve made Renate a small wooden tray that she slides on or off her wheelchair independently. It is mounted on a turntable so she can swivel it away when she needs to access her handbag on her lap.

A tray for coffee and cake

Scan to follow Renate’s story

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Adjustable phone holder for wheelchairHelen wanted to use her cordless phone to catch up with friends. She doesn’t have the strength to hold the phone for any length of time so Solve made her a phone holder that clamps onto her wheelchair.

The holder combines a flexible LED reading lamp with a magnetic phone attachment, and provides hands-free phone use for Helen as well as a reading light.

Wheelchair attachment for oxygen cylinderSimon wanted to socialise independently with his school friends. His dependence on pure oxygen, however, meant that he was reliant on carers at all times to wheel his large oxygen cylinder alongside him.

Solve made Simon a small customised trolley for his oxygen tank that towed behind his wheelchair, enabling him to move around and socialise with friends at school without having a carer always by his side.

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Mounts for communication deviceBlake, who has cerebral palsy, uses a Dynavox electronic communication device to communicate. This needs to be available at all times throughout the day.

Blake uses a special adjustable chair on which it was difficult to mount equipment. Solve built a customised mounting arm for the chair so that Blake always has his Dynavox and its wireless switches within easy reach.

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Enhancing Education

Nathan wanted to read and study alongside his mother, but with multiple disabilities that require him to have lots of rest, he needs to be in a supported reclining position.

Solve’s lightweight portable workstation with two separately adjustable work surfaces, fits around Nathan’s body and supports his arms. This has enabled Nathan and his mother to sit and study together.

A comfortable learning environment

Ventilator mount for PhD studentSavant attends university and his goal is to complete his PhD. He has muscular dystrophy and needs to carry his ventilator with him at all times.

Solve made a ventilator tray that attaches to the back of his wheelchair, and a mounting device that strengthens and positions the breathing tube and mouthpiece more comfortably. This enables Savant to stay at university for the long periods of time it takes to conduct his study and research.

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Perspex tray for kindergartenGeorge’s parents wanted him to be able to access activities at kindergarten from his wheelchair without hindering his visual contact with the other children.

Solve’s solution was a transparent, adjustable easel which sits on the kindergarten table and brings activities close enough for George to access but still enables him to see the other children around him.

Sewing machine guardAmelia, who has mild cerebral palsy, wanted to study a textile subject at secondary school, but there was a risk her right hand might stray into the path of the needle as she sewed.

The custom-made, removable needle guard made for Amelia by Solve fits onto a number of different machines used at school and enabled Amelia to pursue a subject that she finds stimulating and creative.

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Lily’s family, all very keen cyclists, wanted her to join them on family bike rides. She attended a Freedom Wheels clinic, where our therapist assessed her cycling requirements. Lily has severe cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair but with the addition of our customised Freedom Wheels attachments, is now able to sit and ride her own customised bike with the rest of the family.

Lily’s turn to ride

Freedom Wheels Cycling

Hear more about Freedom

Wheels

Assistive technology solutions

An adult bike and outriggers for RhysRhys, who has an intellectual disability and low muscle tone, wanted to ride independently at school, home and on holidays.

When 12 year old Rhys attended a Freedom Wheels clinic, he was already the height and weight of an adult. After assessing his abilities, our Freedom Wheels therapist recommended an adult-sized low ‘step-through’ bike with Solve adult outriggers, which provide greater stability for Rhys than commercial options.

A bike with crutch holdersAfter Alesia outgrew her special tricycle, her parents wanted to rekindle her interest in cycling. When she took collection of her customised Freedom Wheels bike, her father happened to mention that carrying her forearm crutches was the only thing stopping her from riding to school independently.

Solve added some crutch holders to her new bike so she can ride to school rather than being pushed in her wheelchair. “Everybody in school loves her new bike,” say her parents. “It has really boosted her independence and self-esteem.”

Riding togetherMarco, and his little brother Lucas, really wanted to ride together. On his Freedom Wheels bike, with modified pedals and our customised outriggers for stability, Marco no longer has to settle for walking alongside Lucas. According to their parents, “Lucas is ever so thankful because as a sibling he and Marco can now do things together. The smiles on their faces are priceless.”

Service

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