Victor is a curious, resilient child who loves the beach, camping and exploring nature. He lives with Down syndrome, autism (level 3), cortical vision impairment, ADHD and hearing loss. While these shape how Victor experiences the world, they’ve never limited his love for adventure. Access, however, has been the biggest barrier.
As Victor grew taller and heavier, getting him safely onto sand, bush tracks and uneven terrain became increasingly difficult. His family relied on a second-hand transport chair and sheer determination – carrying, pulling and pushing wherever they could. Over time, this became unsafe and unmanageable, forcing the family to pause many outdoor experiences.
Despite Victor’s very real challenges, his family was unable to secure appropriate mobility equipment through the NDIS. His vision diagnosis was not recognised, and their request for a standard wheelchair was declined. Like many families, they did their best to fill the gap themselves, but specialist all-terrain equipment was simply out of reach.
Being outdoors is especially important for Victor. He is currently homeschooled following difficulties at school, and nature plays a vital role in supporting his wellbeing, confidence and sense of belonging. For this family, time outside isn’t optional, it’s essential.
That’s where Variety Queensland stepped in. Through a $5,950 Variety grant, Victor now has an all-terrain wheelchair that allows him to safely access beaches, bush tracks and campsites once more, alongside his family, support workers and friends.
“We have used it a few times with incredible success! It’s making life so much more enjoyable,” said Victor’s mum, Divina.
The family has already spent long days back at the beach, including Rainbow Beach over Christmas and The Spit on the Gold Coast. “It’s made our beach outings so much happier… He actually asks for the beach now.”
Perhaps most powerful of all is the sense of possibility this support has restored. “We are making some truly happy memories because of this chair and can now plan uninhibited.
“No destination is really out of bounds anymore.”
This is the power of Variety’s support – stepping in when others can’t or won’t – empowering children like Victor to participate fully, build confidence and reach their full potential.
