The extraordinary story behind Hireup
Growing up with a brother who required round-the-clock care gave Laura and Jordan O’Reilly unique insight into Australia’s disability support sector. They decided to change it for the better.
Read the full article on news.com.au
Laura O'Reilly will never forget hearing the thump, thump, thump of footsteps as her dad and brother Shane walked up and down the corridor in their childhood home. Shane had a profound disability and his dad, David O'Reilly, was determined to give Shane the very best start in life – including helping the little boy to exercise.
"He and my dad were thick as thieves, and they used to do a lot of things together," Laura says. "Dad was always building things and designing equipment to help Shane walk. Many of my early childhood memories are my dad supporting Shane to walk with the support of a frame he had built, or with a piece of foam between his legs while doing therapy."
Other contraptions enabled Shane to do whatever he set his mind to. On one occasion, his parents constructed an apparatus in the backyard so he could mow the lawn.
"Shane was very determined," recalls Jordan O'Reilly. "He wouldn't let it rest, until he and my parents went out and found this old wheelchair, and they worked out how to rig up a system for Shane to mow the lawn.
“There's a photo of Shane gleefully mowing the lawn, pushing along the lawnmower with his knee block on his wheelchair, and it was just an amazing moment. And it's just one of many examples of my family thinking outside the box, thinking more creatively and allowing Shane to be the leading role in his own life."
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