We're hoping to start renovating Dexter's home in July 2015.
Dexter will need a wheelchair, and should get his first one this year. His home is not wheelchair friendly. There are stairs in two sections of the house, preventing him entry to the inside. Rooms are small, and a wheelchair will not fit through the kitchen doorway. Dexter will also an open plan styled home, to better enable him to access different areas of the house in a wheelchair. He will need sliding doors, as his cerebral palsy means he does not have the dexterity needed to turn a door knob. He will need wide, flat light switches and taps that are easy to flick. He will need a shower he can access, in a shower chair.
Dexter is getting tall. When he is carried through the bathroom door, through the hallway and in to the lounge room, to be dressed, his feet sometimes hit the walls. He's too long. He needs wider hallways... or the removal of internal walls.
The renovation plans are underway. Many people have already offered support.
These renovations would not have been immediately possible, without the support of our incredible community.
We have Rob from Coastal Windows and Doors and Lorenzo from Smith and Sons Renovations and Extensions Shellharbour supporting us.
We have some cafes offering to provide some lunches for out tradie mates.
The Doing it for Dexter project is getting ready to begin renovations. We're hoping for Mate's Rates and a little love. We want to reduce the cost of the renovations, to help Dexter's family. We want them to use their money on Dexter; his therapy and his specialised equipment. (Speech therapy and Occupational therapy each cost about $90 for a 30 minute session. A wheelchair has been quoted at about $14,000. We've applied for funding, so we will have a while before we can access one.)
There are a few things we still need for the house:
· Roof trusses, gutters
· lighting, fittings
· an electrician - labour & supplies
· Turf
· Fix Out (internal doors, architraves, skirtings, cavity sliders (870mm doors)
· Flooring
· Garage Doors
· PC items: taps, toilets, oven, hotplate,
· ducted air con
· Insulation
· Blinds/Awnings
· Fencing
How do we 'give back'?
There will be temporary fencing around the house, during the renovations and all supporting businesses can add signage.
We're giving shout outs on Dexter's webpage, mostly on the Doing it for Dexter blog. Posts on his facebook page (Doing it for Dexter) are linked to his twitter account @LoveDexter3 .
WIN News will do another story, once renovations begin.
If you would like to be involved email [email protected]
We're hoping to get back on the radio.
Help us spread the word?
#doingitfordexter #renovations #grateful
The Original Idea
Dexter's Fun Plans
Coastal Windows and Doors
Smith and Sons Shellharbour
Melissa
Dexter's 2013
Dexter's First Month
Dexter's Vision
Dexter's Cerebral Palsy
Dexter's Cancer
Who is Dexter?
Return to Home page
Find me on: facebook twitter instagram pinterest youtube