Mandy McCracken was an active and busy young mum.
But suddenly, at 39 years old, her life was flipped upside down and she found herself in a wheelchair after losing her hands and feet due to sepsis.
She said her world stopped, but when she started rebuilding her life, she felt more frustrated about the lack of information available to newly disabled people rather than having to use a wheelchair.
So, she founded an organisation, Get Started Disability, to ensure that the next time somebody had a new disability arrive on their doorstep, they would have access to the necessary support.
“I had absolutely no idea what to do,” Ms McCracken said.
“I didn’t know anybody in the area who was disabled, I didn’t know who to call for advice.
“I couldn’t find anyone to tell me how to get my electric wheelchair on to the train.”
Ms McCracken said her experiences and lack of answers to her questions about accessibility made her frustrated and angry, which inspired her to start the organisation.
“Eventually, somebody said, ‘Well, you should start an organisation that tells people how to do this stuff,’” she said.
“I found that any other person who’s newly disabled has got exactly the same situation.
“They just can’t find the information. There’s nobody out there to tell them how to do it.”
Ms McCracken said information that was applicable in cities such as Melbourne and Bendigo might not be useful in regional towns such as Seymour.
On Friday, August 9, Get Started Disability held a workshop to cover things that newly disabled and disabled people will need to build a vibrant and well-supported life.
“It’s really important for somebody who’s newly disabled to be able to talk to somebody who’s been through it themselves,” Ms McCracken said.
“It’s not so much what the disability is, but more that you’ve lived through a life-changing event, and you don’t really know which way to turn.
“There’s nothing better than talking to someone who knows it and understands it.”
The workshop covered topics such as navigating the NDIS and other options outside it; planning for emergencies; getting back to work, studies or upskilling; where to find local support; improving one’s self-advocacy; and connecting with others.
“Often, people who are disabled have support coming out of big cities, and when they come home, the expectation is they should be happy to sit in front of the TV and live the rest of their life,” Ms McCracken said.
“There’s a lot of life out there to live, and sometimes you just need a little bit of motivation and support to take the first steps.
“Sometimes, that first step is really hard when you’re newly disabled.
“I completely understand what they’re going through, so this would be a very safe space for them to come.
“Together, we’ll support them through what is a really challenging time of their life.”
Get Started Disability will run five more session of this workshop for the next three months, happening on Fridays, August 30, September 20, October 11, November 1, and November 22 from 10am until noon.