Hi
We had the same sort of problem. We lived in a terraced house that couldn't be adapted. The way we got our house(housing association) was through out OT she really pushed our case. Do you have housing associations in your area. May be you could approach them direct.
Good Luck

Hi Ami,

Does Ben have a Social Worker? If Ben doesn't have a SW you can contact your local department and ask or get your GP/OT etc to refer you and Ben.
If you've not had a 'Needs Assessment' carried out by social services you should ask for one, it should add extra weight to you argument for re-housing if it identifies your current property unsuitable for Ben and if it is identified as a need then they have a responsibility to action it.

The grant you mention which had been refused, was it a Disabled Facilities Grant? The information below is from the Citizens Advice Bureau on DFG's.

A disabled facilities grant is a grant available from a local authority to help towards the cost of work needed to provide facilities or adaptations for a disabled person in a house, maisonette, flat, mobile home, houseboat, and in the common parts of a building containing one or more flats. A disabled facilities grants is mandatory, so if a client meets the qualifying conditions, the local authority is obliged to pay her/him a grant.

In addition to a disabled facilities grant, or if a disabled facilities grant is not available, a local authority can give grants, loans or other types of assistance for adaptations, improvements and repairs. It also has duties under community care legislation to provide assistance and services, and, in particular, a duty under section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to provide aids and adaptations. Whether a disabled facilities grant is refused or not, a disabled person can contact social services for help under this legislation.

hope this is of some use to you and Ben.

Regards,
Forum Moderator

Just wondered if they told you why the Grant had been refused? Is it because they felt that your house was inappropriate, in which case I think they should have discussed what your options are.

I would try speaking directly to your council housing department, explain your situation and see what advice they give you. You can then compare what your OT comes back to you with - I just don't trust that they give you all the options, only the cheapest to them!!

Hope you get sorted soon.

My little boy has cp, he doesn't use his right arm or hand and the doctors don't know if he will walk yet. They say if he does walk he will struggle on steep steps and walking up and down slopes. He also suffers with epilepsy.

I want to go for a council property to try and get a flat or a bungalow as I can not afford to buy. My house is on a steep hill, its an old terrace house with extremley steep stairs and steep steps to get into the house. I am really worrying about Ben having problems getting around the house. I am tiny and have difficulty carrying ben up the stairs and getting him out of the bath etc..

I have applied to the council for grants to adjust the house and they have been refused. I don't know the best way to apply for a council house I have a community OT that has written to the council.

Is they anything I can do to help this along. I know it will take along time to get a council property but I don't want to leave it til the point where it is impossible to live in our house.

Any advice will be much appreicated