After having both her hands and feet amputated when she was only 39, due to sepsis, Mandy had to learn a whole new way of life.
Not only did she have to come to terms with what she can and cannot do as an amputee, she needed to navigate the incredibly complex world of disability supports, funding and modifications to her home.
After leaving hospital and moving back home to her family, Mandy was desperate to chat to someone who lived locally to find the answers, but unfortunately no one was out there.
So, she created Get Started Disability Support Australia, a charity that supports locals who are newly navigating life with a disability or chronic health condition.
Coming to Shepparton in mid-October, the Get Started Disability Workshop series will cover everything from how to find the right funding, connect to disability support providers, get your house and car modified, through to acknowledging the impact a new disability can have on your relationships.
They will also look at how planning for an emergency when you live with extra complications is quite different to most residents, and how you can prepare for when things go wrong.
The workshops run weekly for 6 weeks, and with lunch provided it is a great chance for locals to connect with others living with similar situations.
“The peer support is what was really missing for me.” Mandy said.
“If only I had someone who knew how confusing this can be, then together we could have worked it all out. That’s what we are aiming to bring to the Greater Shepparton community.”
Supported by the Greater Shepparton Council, the workshops are free to anyone who has a connection to disability, be it yourself or someone you care for.
And you don’t need to be on the NDIS either, Mandy and her team will help you find the right supports for you.
Plus, she is asking for local providers to get in touch so they can include local support organisations and accessible sporting groups in the information shared with her participants.
“By bringing together our communities, we can make this transition easier for everyone.”
Weekly, beginning Friday 17 th October, 11am – 1pm.
Shepparton Uniting Church, 134/140 Fryers St, Shepparton.
To register, go to their website or call Mandy on 0411 130 577
Get Started Disability Support is proudly delivering programs in partnership with the Peer Support & Capacity Building Grant for the NDIS, and with support from the Australian and Victorian Governments in response to the October 2022, December 2023 and January 2024 flood and storm events which impacted Victorian communities in Greater Shepparton.
10°C