‘He’s been zooming up and down like a lunatic’: Boy, 9, with cerebral palsy who was forced to use a WHEELBARROW to get around is finally given a new wheelchair
- Angus Hopkins, 9, had to use a wheelbarrow after growing out of his wheelchair
- The young boy from Toowoomba finally received his new set of wheels this week
- NDIS had told mum Jody Ezzy her son may have had to wait two years
A nine-year-old boy with cerebral palsy who was forced to use a wheelbarrow to get around has finally been given a brand-new wheelchair.
Angus Hopkins, from Queensland, made headlines in May after his mother revealed her son had to resort to using a wheelbarrow after his new wheelchair was delayed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
The family was told it could take up to another two years before the $26,000 wheelchair could get approved.
Angus Hopkins, nine, (pictured with mum Jody Ezzy) was all smiles this week after finally receiving a brand-new motorised wheelchair
The young boy from Queensland’s Toowoomba region was forced to use a wheelbarrow after his new wheelchair was delayed by the NDIS
The young boy from Nobby, in the Toowoomba region, finally received his new custom-built motorised chair this week and was all smiles as he was seen getting around his farm.
‘He’s been zooming up and down like a lunatic. We’re going to have to put speed limit signs up everywhere, I think,’ mum Jody Ezzy told 9News.
‘The difference has been incredible. It’s basic things like he went to the mailbox this morning and got the mail and went and caught his horse himself.’
Angus had been waiting for nearly a year for a new motorised wheelchair after he outgrew his old one and it became too difficult and dangerous to use.
Angus had been waiting for nearly a year for a new motorised wheelchair after he outgrew his old one
Angus’s mother was told by the NDIS in May her son’s new wheelchair could take up to another two years before getting approval
Ms Ezzy had to push him around on their farm using a cart on two wheels with a handle that was used to feed their horses.
After going public with her story, the family received generous offers from people willing to help, but turned it down to highlight the issues within the NDIS instead.
‘There are a lot of problems in the NDIS upper management to ground roots,’ Ms Ezzy said.
The family said they have yet to receive an apology from the organisation.