GOAL: $25,000 for an All Terrain Wheelchair

STRETCH GOAL: $35,000 to fund additional accessories that will give Arlo further independence

All money donated will go to Arlo's mum Ally, for purchase of the wheelchair and accessories. Anything above the stretch goal will be donated to: FND Hope

Hi Friends, family, strangers! Thanks for coming to support.

As you may be aware, disability funding in Australia is a tedious, sometimes insufficient support to those such as Arlo when needing life changing equipment. Because of this, we're looking to raise funds for the Mountain Trike eTrike, an all-terrain wheelchair. As a person with autism who suffers from Functional Neurological Disorder, Arlo’s sensory disturbances and social anxiety prevent him from accessing most areas a “regular” wheelchair can go. The eTrike will transform Arlo’s ability to adventure into nature and dramatically expand his world!

Recently Arlo was able to trial the eTrike at a local park that we take our dogs to all the time. Normally Arlo is restricted to staying nearby the car but with the eTrike was so excited to be able to go further than he had ever been able to go before and with the dog running happily beside! Arlo's smile was enormous!!

(Photo above).

We spoke to Arlo about his experience as a person with a disability in Australia, and what this would mean for him.

What is FND (Functional Neurological Disorder) and what does it mean for you?

Arlo has suffered with FND since 2016, though not diagnosed until 2020. He says "Not a lot of people have heard of FND and there are a lot of barriers facing people with this disorder to gaining access to disability support and medical assistance. FND can impact anything your brain controls. Because of this symptoms can be extremely different for each person and can vary from one day to the next (or even one moment to the next). "

((c) stuffthatworks)

For some people FND is only a temporary condition, for many if the disorder lasts more than 3 months it is considered a permanent disability.

FIND OUT MORE AT FND HOPE AUSTRALIA

Arlo has suffered symptoms from all of the possible categories of the disorder and has been repetitively told by Doctors that "this is the most extreme and complex case of FND we have ever seen!", closely followed by “Sorry but there is nothing we can do”.

Arlo says: "The last few years I haven't felt like a person - I wasn't capable of wanting to do anything, no memories, no goals, no emotions! Now I AM A PERSON! Because I have no memories (from before 2022) everything is new! I can feel things, I have friends, and I want to DO things. It's amazing that I can feel that now, but its frustrating that my body is not always my friend. For example, recently I got "too" excited about starting to go out more and do things with friends and then my legs stopped working for over a month...they still aren't working".

Why can't the NDIS provide this wheelchair?

"Because of my disability I am reliant on a wheelchair but my current plan does not include funding for a mobility aid. My current wheelchair is only suitable for hard surfaces, is only manual, and is also needing replacement. But that's not what we are here for. NDIS will be able to fund the everyday chair as a low cost assistive technology item, but to apply for funding for the eTrike could take anywhere from 12-18 months for approval, with a small likelihood of being approved."

What's different with the new chair vs your old chair?

Its amazing now I can start going out but the wheelchair I have is not great. Its hard to manoeuvre, so I get easily fatigued and need someone to push from behind (which I don't like - its very anxiety inducing having to put your trust in someone else). It also is only meant for hard surfaces, so I'm mostly inside or going 2 metres outside to the traveller (car) to another hard-floor place.

The eTrike wheelchair is all-terrain; with suspension in all 3 wheels that will let me go on all different surfaces with low sensory impact, so not only can I go to new places but it won't be bumpy! It is electric, so I don't need anyone pushing me, but can be switched to manual when I want to and am able".

>>More information about the eTrike

What are you most excited to do with your new chair?

"EVERYTHING! I want to be free and move independently. Nature is so amazing, I can't wait to experience more of that. I can play with the dogs in the park, I can go see the snow. I'd love to go and watch the stars. I'm excited about so much - I'm a full on person now and I just want to experience and enjoy life, do cool stuff. Not to try to remember what I can't from before, but create new memories.

Is there anything you want to say?

"To those who can donate, thank you so much this will change my life! To those who can't donate thanks for reading, I hope you have learn't something about FND".