How Support Coordination helped young Samiya find joy

“Samiya is like a whole new person since she got the bike.”

Nine year old Samiya simply wants to be like any other child in the playground. Diagnosed with autism and severe receptive and expressive language delay, Samiya struggles with social interactions and communication. She loves going to the park where she sees other children ride their bikes.

Sadly, a standard children’s bicycle was not suitable for Samiya due to struggles with her balance. At the park, Samiya would often try to go over and take another child’s bike so she could ride too. When her parents tried to move her away, she would struggle to control her emotions. Samiya couldn’t understand why she didn’t get to ride the bicycle like all the other children. In despair, Samiya’s parents felt they could no longer take her to the park when there were other children with bikes.

Samiya receives a range of supports from her care team including occupational therapy, speech therapy, dietetics and behaviour support.

Samiya’s parents also access Support Coordination from Windermere to help Samiya link with the right supports. Keen to help Samiya enjoy going to the park and interact with other children, their Support Coordinator Danielle reached out to the care team.

“I spoke to Samiya’s care team and raised the challenge of unregulated emotions they experience at the park. I made a simple suggestion of finding a way for Samiya to ride the bike herself. As a two wheeler was unsuitable, the care team felt a three wheeler bike would be a more suitable and stable option,” says Danielle.

As a result of the discussion with the care team, Samiya’s Occupational Therapist wrote a recommendation letter to purchase a three wheeler bike through her NDIS plan. The request was approved by the planner and Danielle researched suitable options that would meet the criteria outlined in the recommendation.

Once the Occupational Therapist approved a selection, Danielle went ahead with the purchase. Samiya is now the happy owner of a three wheeler bike.

“Samiya uses that bike every day and it’s really reduced some of her challenges. She no longer tries to take other children’s bikes and being in community spaces is more enjoyable for her and her family,” says Danielle.

 Using the bike largely contributes toward meeting Samiya’s NDIS goal of participating in school and other community activities. Developing her gross motor skills through manipulating and balancing the bike helps her participate in a wider range of activities. She’s also better able to interact with other children and participate as she’s now able to ride alongside other children in the park.

“Samiya is like a whole new person since she got the bike. If she could, she would ride it every day, all day. We take her out to the park very often now and it’s had a very positive impact on her,” says Samiya’s mum.

*Details have been changed to protect privacy.

To find out more call our NDIS team on 03 8793 4267 or visit our Support Coordination page.