Sally McNiell Case Study
Sally is a 26-year-old, full-time wheelchair user with cerebral palsy. She lives with her mum, dad and grandmother. She can weight bare but not stand.
Sally plays wheelchair football for a club called ASPIRE, which is a mixed group of all varying ages and she has been playing since she was 12 years of age. She has won several trophies including the Semi Finals in the 2018 Regional league as well as having the opportunity to play in a Champions League final against Denmark. She really enjoys sports and has a GCSE in Art and PE which led her to take a teaching qualification in helping children with special needs to integrate into the local community from young ages. She has also enjoyed taking part in riding for disabled (RDA).
They purchased a bungalow in 2021 and moved in 2024 due to the time for the court case, plus relocation and Architect/planning stage and then product research selection and installation.
Their OT suggested Adam Thomas who worked closely with Sally and her family to design a kitchen tailored to their requirements. Adam recommended Tara Neil to assist with the door style and colour choices, appliances, accessories and worktop selection.
Sally also helped with other choices for their new family home including the App Control systems to operate lighting, doors, window blinds etc.
The family chose Urban Indigo and Pebble; the indigo colour was selected for the base cabinets and tall units in pebble for a contrasting finish.
Sally has a full-time Personal Assistant / carer to help her with everyday tasks around the home although Sally is able to use some accessible features such as the kitchen area.
Freedom Specific features:
Freedom Adjustable Height Straight Run Worktop
A superb feature allowing Sally, the family, and her carer to adjust the height of the worktop, making food/drink preparation enjoyable for everyone to take part in. Sally particularly enjoys baking chocolate cakes and buns.
Freedom Accessible Reduced Depth Sink & Tap
A great addition for Sally, allowing comfortable seated access beneath the sink thanks to the reduced depth base and front mounted tap allows sally to control water supply using the lever as Sally only has use of her left hand.
NEFF Slide & Hide Oven & Freedom Oven Housings with Heatproof Shelves
The slide and hide door underneath the oven allowing sally to lift baking trays / cooking pots in and out of the oven. Sally particularly benefits from the heatproof shelf directly beneath the oven within the oven housing as it provides an immediate safe place for food taken from the oven, especially as Sally only has use of her left hand.
Freedom iMove Pull Down Baskets / Pull Out Drawers within Larder Units provide Improved Access
The imove pull down baskets mechanism is fitted inside the cupboard and can be accessed via the extended handle allowing sally to be independent in her kitchen area so she can access things higher up / within larder cabinets more easily.