Mikaela is a well-spoken 21-year-old who loves going to concerts, festivals and social events, just like anyone else her age. She also has Spinal Muscular Atrophy Type Two, a condition she says is so rare it’s like winning the lottery backwards.
Mikaela used to have movement in her arms, but her condition has now progressed. She now uses a motorised wheelchair to get around and has a support worker with her at all times.
The Youngcare family first met Mikaela as an artistic seventeen-year-old, who simply craved equality in her young life. She received a grant to modify her family home with a wider door and ramp to stop ongoing injuries, plus, to provide her the same opportunities as her graduating classmates and some well-deserved respite, some funding to help her travel to the Gold Coast to attend Schoolies.
Since then, the Youngcare community has embraced bubbly Mikaela wholeheartedly and she has become a passionate advocate for the organisation, as well as for disability awareness in general, even going on to speak at multiple Youngcare events.
“That’s something I’ve been wanting to do since I was quite young, advocate for people like me, people who are too shy to speak for themselves,” Mikaela said.
“To have someone out there actively saying what needs to be said, it really helps a lot.”
Mikaela also received a grant for modifications to her parents’ home for a semi-automated door, wide enough to allow for her wheelchair, as the previous door was causing injuries.
More recently, she moved into one of Youngcare’s gorgeous Chermside Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) apartments, after a prolonged struggle for funding to live alone, rather than in shared accommodation.
“People like me seem to not have that choice so much, and that is really sad. I think it’s really important for everybody get a say in what they do, because at the end of the day, it’s your life, it’s your choice.”
“You should lead a life that you lead yourself, not with people whispering in your ear saying ‘do this, do that’,” Mikaela said.
“My mum was the greatest support system for me, she helped every step through, and so did Youngcare, of course. Just having Youngcare in the background was very helpful, and when I finally got here it was such a relief, because I had been working so hard for it.” Mikaela said.
“I’ve got a really good relationship with my parents now, which has always been the case, but they were sometimes my carers as well, which isn’t fair, so now they can just be my parents,”
Mikaela says moving out has emphasised how lucky she is to have her parents and sister supporting her and within visiting distance. She is also easily able to have her first pet, her Maltese x Shih Tzu, Bella, over to visit any time she likes.
Mikaela and her family celebrated her move and newfound independence by going to a local pizza shop for her first dinner in her own apartment.
Mikaela said it was a memorable occasion, which made her especially excited about how easily she could access restaurants, shops and other outlets around her new community.
This year will also mark Mikaela’s first Christmas in her new apartment. Her family has longstanding traditions of prawn salad and pool parties at her parents’ house, but she is excited to have the opportunity to start some Christmas traditions of her own.
“I’m having my godson here at Christmas for the first time,” she said. “It will be lovely to have him around and watch him explore everything.”
Mikaela will still attend her parents’ annual Christmas Day celebrations, but says she is excited for the newly strengthened family dynamic.
“I look forward to being able to go over there and have my parents be my parents, my sister be my sister,” Mikaela said. “They can just be my parents and I can bond with them.”
The grants, housing and support Mikaela has received through Youngcare over the past few years have provided her with the choice and independence to experience so many ‘firsts’ she may not have been able to access otherwise, and she emphasises the importance of these opportunities being afforded to all young people with disabilities.
“Living in a place like this— I feel like I’m my best self when I’m living here because I’ve got my own space and I can visit my parents when I want without being smothered or having them be my carers,” Mikaela said.
“Just having Youngcare in my corner, I feel like it helps a lot. It doesn’t matter whether you are rich or not, if you can spare a few dollars, it can make all the difference for somebody else like me.”
