More than mobility
Five-year-old Chelsea is smart, sassy, and unstoppable – and thanks to her adaptive gear and dream team of supporters, she’s taking on the world at full speed.
At five years old, Chelsea is already an unstoppable force. She’s clever, cheeky, kind-hearted, and fiercely independent – a firecracker, as her support team lovingly puts it. Diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type 1, Chelsea’s world involves more equipment than most parents ever dream of. But for Chelsea, each piece of assistive gear is more than just functional; it’s a gateway to greater freedom, play, and inclusion.
Chelsea has been working with occupational therapist Chloe from EveryKid in Western Sydney for several years. The relationship between them is more than clinical – it’s full of laughter, understanding, and deep trust. “She’s been a firecracker since I met her at 18 months,” says Chloe. “She’s had so many hospital stays, so many interventions. But she’s so resilient. So full of personality. And when she’s happy and smiling, it lights up the whole room.”
When it came time to find some new assistive equipment to give Chelsea more independence and freedom, Chloe knew exactly who to call. Lena and Leon from Dejay Medical have become known in the disability community for their generosity, responsiveness, and depth of knowledge.
“They know what they’re talking about,” says Chloe. “But it’s more than that. They genuinely care, and they’ll do just about anything to make sure a child has the right equipment for their needs.”
That’s exactly what happened with Chelsea. Chloe and Lena worked together to trial the Special Tomato Sitter, a supportive, adaptive seat which Chelsea quickly claimed as her own. “The second she trialled it, she loved it,” Chloe says.
Now affectionately nicknamed “Rapunzel”, the sitter is a staple in Chelsea’s everyday life. “It can sit at the dining table, have a tray on or off, or be a floor sitter,” says Chelsea’s mum, Caitlin. “It’s so versatile, and it’s given Chelsea more independence in how and where she sits – and let’s be honest, she’s got opinions about where she wants to be!”
At the same time Chelsea’s sitter was getting sorted, the team turned their attention to mobility. Chelsea needed something light and adaptable that she could use in her daily routines and outings. Her motorised wheelchair is a significant part of her life, but it’s not easy to transport. Enter “Tinkerbell” – that is, Chelsea’s new Ottobock Kidevo Wheelchair.
Designed for easy use and comfort, Tinkerbell gives Chelsea more freedom in the community – whether she’s heading to an appointment, going out with family, or simply exploring her world.
Perhaps the most exciting addition to Chelsea’s growing fleet of adaptive tech is “Ariel”, her Theraplay Terrier Trike. With its vibrant colour and supportive frame, Ariel gave Chelsea a new way to experience fun, movement, and inclusion. Caitlin explains, “Chelsea’s little brother got a bike for his birthday at around the same time the trike arrived, so we can take both bike and trike to the park and they can ride together. She used to watch from the sidelines, but now she can be a part of the fun.”
Leon from Dejay is known as the guru when it comes to adaptive sports equipment, and when he first trialled the trike with Chelsea several months ago, it was an immediate hit. “She wanted to keep riding,” Chloe recalls. So keep riding she did – Chelsea’s next move was to join the Summit Adaptive Sports Club (SASC), a monthly inclusive sports initiative run by physiotherapist Jasmin from Summit Rehab, who had worked with Chelsea in the past. “Children like Chelsea get really good benefits from being part of the club – not just physically, but socially and emotionally,” explains Jasmin.
SASC is a passion project, born from the Summit Rehab team’s frustration at the lack of inclusive, accessible sport opportunities for kids with disabilities. The club meets once a month, and all participants can engage in accessible, fun, sport-based activities using a wide range of adaptive equipment. Whether it’s a trike, walker, wheelchair, bike, handcycle, or frame runner, every child is encouraged to participate in a way that works for them. All games and activities are adapted by Summit Rehab’s physiotherapists, so no one’s left out. Parents often describe it as one of the only places where their children can play and participate on equal footing with their peers – and even with their siblings, who are encouraged to come along too.
“We wanted to take a step back from therapy and just make it purely about fun,” Jasmin explains. “You get to meet new friends and just enjoy being with others outside a clinical setting.”
In addition to supporting families like Chelsea’s through one-on-one equipment trials, Dejay plays an ongoing role in
the club itself. Leon attends the sessions, bringing demo gear, offering guidance, and even helping kids trial new equipment in the moment. “He’s just got this way of figuring out how to make anything work,” says Jasmin.
Dejay also sponsored the SASC uniforms – T-shirts for every child who attends – so that each kid could feel like part of a team. It’s the kind of detail that matters. “Having a club shirt might sound like a small thing,” says Chelsea’s mum Caitlin, “but it’s not. That kind of inclusion means everything.” Caitlin knows the emotional weight of parenting a child with high needs. There’s grief, joy, exhaustion, fierce love – and a staggering amount of admin. But watching Chelsea thrive, move with confidence, and make friends through sport has been worth every appointment and phone call.
“She’s been in hospital more times than I’ll probably ever be in my whole life,” Caitlin says. “But she’s so resilient. And when I see her and her brother riding together, both smiling, it just reminds me why we do it.”
Caitlin has some sage advice for other mums of disabled children. “All those hospital appointments, all the therapy appointments, the equipment, the trials, no matter what, they will look back and see you there,” she says. “Through it all, smiling. Being their biggest cheerleader.”
And although she once swore she’d never work in disability, Caitlin now dreams of becoming a paediatric physio herself.
“I want to give back the support that I’ve received to another family – because they deserve it.”
Rapunzel the sitter, Tinkerbell the wheelchair, and Ariel the trike aren’t just devices to Chelsea and her family. They’re freedom, fun, and friendship on wheels.
To find out more about Summit Adaptive Sports Club, fill in the enquiry form at form.jotform.com/241392521622046
