Living Without Limits to build holiday home for families affected by disability

A five-year vision to build a holiday home for families affected by autism and cerebral palsy will become a reality later this year.

(L-R) Novita employee Maha Ganesan, Sarah Constructions’ Terry Tsapaliaris, Novita clients David Weaver and Dion Musolino, Novita chief executive Greg Ward, Living Without Limits’ Steve Maras and Phillip de Pinto at Novita’s Regency Park facility. (AAP/ Keryn Stevens)

A FIVE-YEAR vision to build a holiday home for families affected by autism and cerebral palsy will become a reality later this year.

After years of planning and fundraising, children’s charity Living Without Limits Foundation (LWL) has acquired a block of land at Goolwa, where it will soon start building its House of Respite.

The project has been the primary mission of the foundation since it was established in 2012 by well-known Adelaide property developer Steve Maras, Universal Motor Auctions director Phillip de Pinto and BDO partner George Yatzis.

Since then, the charity has raised more than $750,000, and has contributed close to $150,000 on initiatives to support children with a disability.

Mr Maras, whose 11 year old son has a mild form of cerebral palsy, said the new home would support families struggling with expensive therapies and other costs.

“When we established the foundation we decided we would first help with small initiatives,” he said.

“We bought ten iPads for kids down at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital, we bought a bus for the autistic school at Ashford and we have put on the London Bus every year at the Christmas pageant.

“Then we wanted to do something a bit more tangible and we thought about the families that are hard up, got little to no spare money because their funds go on therapies – too many people out there are doing it really tough.

“What they don’t often get is a holiday so we thought, let’s build a house - this has been five years in the making.”

LWL has engaged Novita to operate the new home, which is expected to welcome up to 50 families for a holiday each year.

Designed to accommodate children with a broad range of disabilities, the large home will include a sensory room and a playground designed for children with special needs. It is expected to be completed by December.

Novita chief executive Greg Ward said many families affected by disability found it difficult to holiday due to reasons including lack of accessibility and cost.

“The LWL House of Respite at Goolwa will support many of our Novita families and others in need across SA to enjoy a well-earned break,” he said.

“Novita will manage the home, and with the generous support of the community we anticipate that using the respite house will come at minimal or no cost to our clients and their families.”

Mr de Pinto, whose 9 year old son was diagnosed with autism in 2011, said support from the South Australian business community had been “phenomenal”.

“CMI Toyota has donated a Toyota Yaris for our upcoming gala dinner and together with AP Eagers, they’ve been our two biggest donors over the journey,” he said.

“We’ve engaged Sarah Constructions to build the house at Goolwa and they’ve made it their graduate philanthropic project of the year, with 12 terrific graduates working on the design, tendering and supervision of the project.”

LWL’s Saturday Night Fever Spectacular gala dinner will be held at the Entertainment Centre on May 25. It is expected to raise $150,000 for the House of Respite project.