Member Article

Paralympic Champion Opens Region?s Largest Disability Showroom

A showroom designed to assist the elderly and people living with disabilities is due to be opened by multi award-winning Paralympic athlete Stephen Miller.

The Independent Living Showroom, created by Dolphin Stairlifts and Shape Adaptations, will become the North-East’s biggest interactive and accessible showroom when the Team GB star, from Cramlington, cuts the ribbon on the 6th December.

Based in Kingston Park, Newcastle, the new suite will house the largest range of living aids in the region and has been specifically designed to allow visitors of all ages and disabilities to experience and test home adaptation products in a real-life setting to assist with independent living.

Inspiring artwork displayed within the showroom has been especially created by disabled adults from the Percy Hedley Foundation’s CreateABILITY and iMUSE departments.

Gold medal winner Stephen Miller, who has cerebral palsy, said: “Not only is this a great place for people living with disabilities to come and have a look at what is out there to make life a little easier but it is a great boost for the North-East in terms of having such a showroom on our doorstep.

“I believe the Independent Living Showroom is setting a great example and hopefully it will help overcome some of the obstacles associated with having a disability. I can tell these guys know what they’re doing and understand how important it is to match the right products to the individual and their families. I’m really looking forward to the day and officially opening the showroom.”

Visitors will gain a greater understanding of the options available to them and can also receive free advice on how they can maintain and improve independent living.

Stephen Smith, managing director at Shape Adaptations, said: “We are thrilled with how spectacular the showroom looks; it has taken a lot of man hours to get it like this, now we can’t wait to see the reaction of the public. Having Stephen on-board is fantastic, he’s a great ambassador for the region and understands first-hand what it’s like to adapt your home.

“It is usually a very difficult transitional period in someone’s life and I personally can relate to that. With so many accessibility products to choose from it can seem quite daunting having to redesign your home to fit with your new life. We are solely committed to improving the lives of the end users, their families and carers, from the customer’s initial enquiry right through to the installation and maintenance; we try to make it all as seamless as we can.

“We will have everything here from ramps to hoists to stair lifts and even an accessible and working WC. We decided to partner up with Dolphin Stairlifts to provide customers with a complete service; people can now see the full picture of how their homes would look and feel after an adaptation.”

Independent Living Showroom is based in Kingston Park, Newcastle and will be officially launched on December 6th 2012. There will be an array of food and drink, presentations and entertainment taking place from 2pm.

Both companies specialise in creating adapted living areas for people with disabilities and the elderly.

For more information please visit: www.shapeyourworld.co.uk

And www.doplhinstairlisftsnorth.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Jodie Balmer .