An accessible holiday for Dilraj
After moving to Adelaide from Sydney in 2015, Dilraj and his family quickly became familiar with the Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
16-year-old Dilraj has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, a severe type of muscular dystrophy, and is cared for by the Hospital.
His family found out about our Laklinyeri Beach House through a disability group they are a part of, and were keen to visit after hearing that it was a fully accessible holiday home – something that is a rarity for them.
Dilraj’s mum, Manpreet, explains, “Most places are not accessible for holidays, and if you do go for an accessible house, it’s very expensive. We can’t afford it. So we were very lucky to get into the Beach House.”
The Beach House in Victor Harbor is purpose-built and medically equipped for families of children in palliative care, or with complex medical needs.
Dilraj and his grandparents at the Beach House.
The size and layout of the house allowed the family to invite others to join them, including Dilraj’s grandparents, and a friend who also has Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.
Despite visiting in summer, the group caught some bad weather but took the opportunity to make the most of the house, playing games and watching movies. The teenagers especially loved the excuse to video game.
In between the rain, they got out to experience Urimbirra Wildlife Park with the memory-making vouchers provided by HAS Foundation, and took a trip to the jetty.
The highlight of the trip though was just being able to get away to a place they knew Dilraj could fully enjoy.
Manpreet says, “Dilraj liked the room because it’s very big – he doesn’t have this much space at home!”
“Most of all he liked the bathroom because everything is accessible.”
Dilraj with his dad, mum and sister in the Beach House cubby house.
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