Lina’s story
Lina (name changed) was in hospital for over a year.
Lina has a condition which leaves her permanently disabled from the chest down and restricted to her bed; she was also battling cancer and cognitive impairments.
The situation was urgent: she could not be discharged from hospital until she secured a safe, accessible home that met her functional needs and supported her personal and lifestyle choices.
Vera Living worked with Lina’s brother and guardian, Isaac (name changed) to find a suitable home. Location was a big factor: the home needed to be close to amenities as well as Lina’s family. Lina had established supports in place and bringing those supports with her to her new home was a key decision maker.
While most of Lina’s family lives in Sydney, Isaac lives in Perth. During a trip to Sydney, Isaac visited one of Vera Living’s inner-city apartments. After viewing the apartment and speaking with the Vera Living team, Issaac knew this place would be ideal for his sister.
Isaac and the entire family were thrilled that Lina could finally be discharged from hospital.
Located close to her family, Lina’s new home offers 24-hour care and the ability to choose her own supports. Isaac and his family feel reassured by the safety and stability this home offers.
Lina has now settled into her new home, embracing the independence of living on her own – something she has always wanted to experience.
Ryan’s story
Barry and Cathy O’Sullivan’s search for a specialist disability home for their adult son, Ryan, began several years ago – they felt a deep desire to find somewhere that would truly feel like home.
Ryan, who lives with high support needs and communicates non-verbally, required a space that would not only meet his physical requirements but also provides safety, dignity, and stability for the long term.
After years of navigating a complicated housing landscape, the O’Sullivans were introduced to Apollo SDA.
Adopting a participant-led approach, the Apollo team worked to ensure Ryan’s daily needs and comfort were central to every design decision. They involved the O’Sullivan’s and son Ryan in every step of the process – from early design discussions to the smallest functional details.
Ryan’s family and support team have seen how Ryan’s new home has changed his life.
One of the most meaningful, enjoyable and therapeutic inclusions for Ryan has been the magnesium hydrotherapy pool. The pool has quickly become part of his weekly routine, offering both physical and emotional benefits.
“The magnesium pool has been incredible for Ryan,” Cathy says. “It’s not only calming for him, it’s something he truly looks forward to every week.”
These details demonstrate the difference that participant-led design can make: homes that work for the person who lives in them. The O’Sullivans speak candidly about what that means to them as parents.
“As we get older, one of our greatest fears has always been what happens when we’re no longer here,” Barry explains. “Now, that fear is eased. We know Ryan’s safe, supported, and surrounded by people who care.”
“It’s not just a house,” Cathy adds. “It’s Ryan’s home, and it’s changed our lives.”
Liam’s story
Liam (name changed) was on the verge of losing his home.
A young man in his twenties, Liam was renting a private property in Adelaide for two years. However, without essential accessible features, the house was unsafe for his needs, especially as a wheelchair user.
To make matters worse, rising rents made the home unaffordable – and Liam’s past experiences with discrimination in the rental market limited his options.
Liam faced the very real threat of homelessness. When Liam and his family were introduced to Access 2 Place the urgency of his situation was clear.
Access 2 Place began working with Liam and his family to co-design a purpose-built home that catered to his specific disability needs. The three-bedroom home was designed with accessibility features throughout and provided space for his family to live with him, ensuring 24-hour support when needed.
“We loved collaborating with the team at Access 2 Place and watching this [home] materialise,” Liam’s mum says.
Liam’s new home provides stability and long-term security. With 24-hour care and the ability to choose and control his support services, Liam now lives with greater autonomy in a home that supports both his current and future needs.
“Liam no longer needs to grapple with the private rental market and all the challenges that come with it,” his mother says. “We are so grateful that he now has a space where he can live with dignity and independence, surrounded by family.”
Zach + Amal’s story
Zach (name changed) is in his early twenties and lives with two friends in an SDA home developed and managed by Illowra. All three young men live with cerebral palsy.
Zach and his mum, Amal (name changed), were intricately involved in the design and build process (as were Zach’s housemates and their families). Illowra consulted with the families prior to purchasing a block of land to ensure it met their needs: namely that it was close by to family (and therefore the community in which the three young men all have established long-term connections) and near amenities.
Once the land was secured, the families met with Illowra staff, the architect and builder: they discussed home designs including custom features required to cater to the needs of the three young men. Support providers also offered advice on design features.
“I am so grateful that we could be involved in the design process right from the beginning – it is so important to get it right,” Amal says. “For example, Zach is a wheelchair user and really enjoys looking out the window, so the positioning and height of the windows needs to be right.”
Zach and his two friends were given a copy of the building plan (Zach put his on his bedroom wall). Every Wednesday, the three friends visited the building site to watch their home come to life during the construction process. Once completed, Zach and his friends were given the keys to their new home during a moving in ceremony.
The three families chose their support providers – Illowra made it clear this was their decision to make. Amal is adamant that the separation of housing and care supports offers safety for people with disability as it ensures housing security (irrespective if there is a change in care support providers). Amal meets regularly with the care support providers to discuss relevant issues relating to Zach’s support (and the home). Quality providers is very important, and for Amal, something that is critical is employee attitudes: “Staff do not think the house is their workplace: their attitude is, this is Zach’s [and his housemates’] home, and they work in their home. They respect this.”
Zach and his housemates have now settled into their new home and are embracing their new chapter in life.
Noah’s story
Noah (name changed) is 16 years old and lives in an SDA home in QLD with his family.
Prior to moving into the SDA home, Noah and his family lived in a private rental property. This property was far from ideal for Noah: the cramped space made it very challenging for him to navigate the house without causing damage to the doors and hallways (given his mobility equipment).
When the Vera Living team met the family, they worked swiftly to help them find a home that catered to Noah’s needs.
Since moving into their new SDA home, the family’s living conditions have significantly improved.
The spacious layout of their new home means that each family member now has their own space, ensuring comfort and privacy for all.
The home is close to Noah’s school and friends, allowing him to continue his academic pursuits and benefit from his friendships without disruption. This continuity in his routine has been a source of stability and support for Noah.
Noah’s new home has provided the family with security and peace of mind: they no longer have the burden of searching for a suitable rental property. Their new home, tailored to Noah’s needs, provides a safe, fit-for-purpose and nurturing environment where the entire family can thrive in the long term.