Family hopes NDIS can come through to help young Harri

Something as simple as new tapware in the bath could help eight-year-old Harri with independence, only lengthy NDIS delays mean his Kingston family find daily bathtime a struggle.

Beck Copeland with daughter Willow, 5, and Harri ,8. Beck has been waiting for more than two years for building modifications to make their home safer for Harri who has trouble balancing and walking. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

FOR a little boy who can’t walk without help, a small step into a shower is a big hurdle.

The slippery crossing is so dangerous for eight-year-old Harri Copeland he has taken several heavy falls – even with the constant firm arm of his mum Beck.

“He knocked out his front tooth from a fall four weeks ago,” Ms Copeland said.

The family, from Kingston, applied to the National Disability Insurance Agency in 2017 to have a builder undertake bathroom modifications to make their bath and shower safer for Harri.

“None of the work has been started yet,” Ms Copeland said.

She said the NDIA keeps rejecting the work, and she keeps reapplying.

“They say the builder’s quote is not detailed enough, or it’s not meeting regulations – even though builders say it does meet regulations.

“It just goes on and on … it goes off to review, then they send it back.

“It’s just a joke.”

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Ms Copeland has submitted – and resubmitted – building quotes to have her shower made level and accessible for Harri, as well as changes to the bath and taps. “He has major falls where he smashes his head on taps getting in and out of the bath,” she said.

“It is definitely a dangerous situation.”

She said new tapware for the bath would allow Harri to turn the water on and off by himself.

“The NDIS is supposed to be about fostering independence, but this is hindering him,” Ms Copeland said.

Harri has a rare condition called pontine tegmental cap dysplasia, a non-progressive neurological disorder. Harri lives with significant disabilities, including low muscle tone which results in the need for a walker.

Ms Copeland said the need to resubmit quotes for the home modifications meant builders were becoming tired of quoting on NDIS work which they knew would not amount to anything.

“Builders won’t even quote anymore for me because it takes them hours and then they know the NDIS will never fund it,” she said.

Another mother, who spoke to the Sunday Tasmanian and asked not to be named, said her primary school son faced daily danger because she could not get approval for their shower to be modified.

She said her son, who lives with physical and intellectual disabilities, has trouble walking and often stumbles.

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The single mother said she had also applied to have a ramp to access their home, but gave up on waiting and borrowed money for the work.

“I ended up getting a mortgage and fixing the access to the house myself,” she said.

“I’m a single parent on a low income, and now I’m in debt because I had to fix that.”

The mum said she gave up on the process after the NDIA kept asking her to resubmit more quotes, until builders simply stopped quoting on the work.

“It’s so frustrating,” she said.

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