Purposebuilt homes guarantee independent living
PEOPLE living with a disability in Dubbo now have the opportunity to live more independently and stay connected to the community, thanks to local property developer Ryan Medley.
Mr Medley, who acquired a physical disability after a football accident in 2017, designed and managed the construction of 10, centrally-located, purpose-built villas which officially opened last week.
Located on Queen Street in the heart of Dubbo, the $2.2 million specialist disability accommodation (SDA) project was a partnership between Langford Regional and Livebetter, and will become home to 10 Sda-approved residents and housemates of their choice.
Mr Medley said a great deal of thought went into both the functionality and visual design of the complex to ensure it had a human
touch.
“We made a conscious effort to make the villas look aesthetically pleasing and meet the specifications,” he told Dubbo Photo News.
“It was really important for us to not look clinical.”
Each of the single storey villas is designed to offer high physical
support with features including a backup generator to ensure power in a blackout, step free entry’s, widened doors, non-slip flooring, touch pad control air conditioning, duress buttons throughout and contrasting door colours to aid vision impaired tenants.
The kitchen is also wheelchair
friendly, complete with a drawer dishwasher, side opening oven and adjustable meal preparation area.
Now five years on from his accident, Mr Medley is the proud father of almost two-year-old, Sonny, and has another bundle of joy due with his wife, Casey, in February.
Speaking of his physical and mental recovery, Mr Medley feels “very fortunate.
“I don’t have any pain whatsoever, I’ve got sensation below my injury, but I don’t have any pain,” he said.
“I’m so blessed, I’m not on any medication, so I’m practically pain-free and medication-free which is apparently pretty rare.
“Mentally I’m sweet too, I just try to keep positive and keep pretty busy and active, I don’t get bored, that’s for sure.”
Mr Medley is now working to recreate a complex, similar to the Dubbo project, in Orange.