Mobility Blog

Like many Australian boys, Justin Eveson grew up living and breathing sport and dreamt of one day playing basketball for Australia.

Then, in 1993 at the age of 12, Justin was involved in an accident with a lawn aerating machine. His right leg was amputated below the knee. But instead of quashing his dreams, the traumatic experience gave Justin the resolve to overcome any obstacles thrown in his way. Staying active was initially an important part of Justin's rehabilitation. Over time, Justin's natural talent and perseverance lead him to competitive swimming and wheelchair basketball.

Today, Justin is the main man in Australia's wheelchair basketball team, the Rollers, who he led to a Silver medal in the Athens Paralympics and to the pinnacle of Gold in Beijing. Justin is currently preparing for the 2012 London Paralympics, plays for the Perth Wheelcats and works fulltime as Membership and Participation Officer for Wheelchair Sports WA.



In-between this hectic schedule, Justin caught up with Bluesky to describe how courage and determination can lead you wherever you want to go in life — regardless of your age or any physical limitations. 

Justin: The main barrier was people telling me I couldn’t do something just because I had a disability. This never sat very well with me (and still doesn’t). In high school, sports teachers would tell me that I couldn’t participate in the athletics carnival as I was on crutches. I ended up running the 400 metre race on crutches just to prove I could do it — although I came dead last! I also entered the high jump which I did without crutches — basically hopping up to the bar and hopping over it. I actually won that event!

I understand now that it wasn't really the teachers' fault for trying to exclude me. It was more to do with their lack of education and understanding. I now devote a lot of time to community education about disability awareness issues, particularly in my role as an ambassador for the Disability Services Commission ‘Count Me In’ program.

Is there a favourite story that you like to share with people about how you have overcome a specific setback in your life?

I do enjoy telling people about when I was first learning to walk again once I was fitted for my first prosthesis (which was very primitive when compared to today’s standards). I worked with Steve Smith, a highly regarded ‘guru’ in the fitness industry and we basically used to walk around the old East Perth footy oval, slowly at first, building up from a ¼ lap to a ½ lap. Every time that I dropped my shoulder and limped, he made me do 20 push-ups. I quickly learnt not to limp and now walk very well with a prosthesis!

Staying motivated and continually reaching for new goals is a challenge for everyone. How do you keep yourself motivated and constantly aiming higher?

There are always new goals and new challenges after you reach any pinnacle you have set yourself. I don’t think there is a ceiling to the level of performance I can give and this is what motivates me to keep striving: to be better the next time than I was the last time.

What words of encouragement would you give to a young person who suddenly has to deal with a loss of mobility?

That there are always challenges in life and you always have a choice in how you deal with them: you can get down on yourself and only see the negative side, or you can pick yourself up and keep going the best you can with a positive attitude. It's how you resolve to react and deal with challenges that define you as a person, and that resolve will help you to be successful in business, sport and family life.

It's also important to realise that you are not alone and there are many organisations that can provide financial, personal and moral support. For me, Wheelchair Sports WA has been instrumental in giving me the opportunity to get involved in sport and to reach the elite level.

What words of encouragement would you give to an older person who is struggling with being less mobile than they once were?

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Below are some interesting further videos about Justin's story and career.

After plenty of thinking and talking with family and friends, you've finally decided the time is right for you to invest in a mobility scooter. You're ready to enjoy all the benefits of staying mobile or becoming more mobile.

But you have suddenly entered a whole new world where people are talking about load, terrain, battery capacity and suspension. So where do you start in choosing a scooter that is best for your needs?

Firstly, don't let all the technical talk bamboozle you! Your choice really comes down to where, when, how often and how far you want to use your scooter. For example, if you plan to spend a lot of time going on longer shopping trips, visiting friends and using your scooter to get to picnics, golf and fishing trips, then what you need in a scooter will be quite different from someone who plans to mainly use their scooter in their home and local shopping centre and for zipping to the post box or local deli.

Here are some of the questions to think about and how their answers might affect your scooter choice:   

Indoors, outdoors or a combination?

Where you want to ride your scooter is one of the most important factors to consider because it impacts on many of the features you will need.

If you mainly want to use your scooter within your home and shopping centres, then its size, turning circle and ease of manoeuvring will be top priorities. A compact 4-wheel model might be the best choice for you. You will probably enjoy the smoother ride that comes with pneumatic tyres (rubber tyres filled with compressed air).

For outdoor travel that includes varied terrain such as uneven footpaths, gravel, grassed areas and some hills, then a larger 4-wheel model will provide more power and stability and solid tyres will help you to avoid punctures. You will also want your scooter to have suspension to safely cope with uneven terrain and provide you with a smoother, more comfortable ride. These larger models are generally not suitable for use in places where there are crowds or many obstacles.

If you expect you will spend an equal amount of time using your scooter indoors and out, your Bluesky consultant can advise you on a scooter that will give you the best of both worlds.

If you are still driving or have friends and family to drive you, you may mainly want to use your scooter once you arrive at your destination. That's when it's really handy to have a light scooter that folds up quickly and easily into the car boot. There are plenty of lightweight models that fit the bill.

If you feel you could do with some further training, check with your local council to see if they run any sessions. Your council may even have a local scooter club, which is a great way of meeting new people and discovering new destinations on your scooter.

Warranty, servicing and insurance
Bluesky Healthcare offers a standard 12-month warranty which extends up to 5 years if your scooter receives annual servicing from Bluesky. The annual service keeps your scooter in top operating condition and helps to 'nip any problems in the bud'.

Your scooter can be dropped at Bluesky for free servicing or a technician can come to your home to service your scooter for a $99 callout fee. Remember to insure your scooter against theft and accidental damage. Check with your household insurer or contact your local automobile insurance club for a quote.

If you have physical limitations that make it difficult for you to walk long distances, a mobility scooter can open up a whole new world: where you can stay active in your community, enjoy shopping, visiting friends and running errands — all independently.

We want you to enjoy the independence and quality of life a scooter can give you, which is why Bluesky takes your safety very seriously. Unfortunately, scooter accidents do happen — but many are avoidable by making sure you choose the right scooter for your needs and following some simple safety tips.  

Is a scooter a safe choice for you?

To safely drive a mobility scooter, you need a combination of good hearing and eyesight (wear glasses if you need to), strength, coordination, balance and concentration. You also need to be alert to drive a scooter, so if you regularly take medicine that makes you drowsy, a scooter may not be a safe choice for you. That's why it's always wise have a check up with your doctor or occupational therapist before buying a scooter. Once you have bought a scooter, continue to have regular check-ups.

What about licensing or registration?
You don't need a motor car license to drive a scooter anywhere in Australia. Each state varies in its requirements for scooter registration. Please check with your state roads authority.

If you feel you could do with some further training, check with your local council to see if they run any sessions. Your council may even have a local scooter club, which is a great way of meeting new people and discovering new destinations on your scooter.

Please note that this article is not intended to be used as a legal document. If you require more detailed information about the legal requirements of driving a motorised mobility scooter, please contact your local state roads authority.

If you are one of the 3.85 million Australians living with arthritis, you'll be eager to find some simple, practical ideas to help relieve your pain, keep you mobile and make daily activities easier so you can live your best life.  

Keep moving. 
It's a fact: regular exercise is one of the most effective treatments for arthritis.

Being physically active can help to reduce the pain in your muscles and joints, strengthen muscles and bones and increase your flexibility.

Being active can also help you to sleep better, feel less tired and to lift your mood.

As extra bonuses, staying active is a good excuse to get out and about, meet new people and maintain a healthy weight. So which exercise is best? 

• Warm water exercises are soothing for stiff joints and sore muscles. Why not call your local swimming centre to find out about classes?
• Regular walking with a 2 or 4-legged friend is a great way to get out of the house and enjoy some fresh air.
• Chair-based exercise classes help to increase your strength and balance and are a good option if you are less mobile.
• Tai Chi is a gentle exercise that involves smooth, flowing movements that can help to reduce pain and stiffness and increase your feelings of well-being.

Get in touch with your local community centre or Arthritis WA / Arthritis SA office to find chair-based or Tai chi classes close to you.

Remember to chat to your doctor or physiotherapist before starting a new exercise program. A physio can also help you with exercises suited to your needs and health. 

Plan activities that need more effort so they are spread evenly through your day and week.
Sometimes it can be tempting to do many things in one day: you are already out of the house for a doctor's appointment and to have your haircut, so you decide to add in some grocery shopping and pay some bills at the post office. It seems like a great plan at the time, but the next day you are too tired and sore to get off the couch! It can often be more time-efficient to schedule only one or two main activities each day.

Perhaps you need a new interest or challenge in your life?
Spend some time thinking about hobbies that you have always dreamt of trying and find a class near you. It could be anything you fancy — from an exotic cooking class or ballroom dancing to croquet, Tai chi, a book club, flower arranging or picture framing. If you lose any concept of time when you are involved in your new hobby, you know you've chosen the right thing.