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Below: Va Filemoni, pictured with her dance teacher Alex Prykhno, is loving life as a teacher aide and ballroom dancer. OUR LIFE Leon’s story: Opening doors for Leon Prenter I am fortunate to live in Palmerston North, a city with a council committed to social housing to the extent it built 85 new flats in Papaioea Place, including some which have been specifically designed for wheelchair users like myself. In November 2023 I moved into one of these flats. While I have lived in an accessible flat for many years, my new flat is much more accessible, and I can tell accessibility has been considered in the design of these flats. The halls and doorways are wide, making getting around the flat easier in my wheelchair and the bathroom is well- designed with a wet area shower and a handrail by the toilet. For some so-called “accessible” flats accessibility stops here. However, my new flat has a very well-designed kitchen with the bench at a good height for wheelchair users with plenty of clear space under the bench to get close. Rather than a stove, part of the bench is a hot plate and because of the clear space under the bench I can help with the cooking. As this is something I haven’t been able to do previously, my occupational therapist is giving me cooking lessons. So far I’ve made macaroni cheese, pizza, chocolate chip biscuits and waffles. Above: Leon Prenter enjoys the benefits of living in a truly accessible home. Photo: Renata Kotua Va says the Cerebral Palsy Society has helped her a lot since she became a member in 2010. She takes advantage of the getOutThere funding, which means she can get taxis to her ballroom dancing lessons. “I’m blessed,” she says. “It goes a long way for those who can’t drive.” She has a simple wish for her fellow Kiwis living with Cerebral Palsy – Hōkai Nukurangi. “My hope is that people will be ok to be themselves, to try something newwithout holding back,” the 32-year-old says. And she can speak from experience – there is not much holding Va back. The full version of this article was published in The Review Sept to Dec 2023 . Just before Christmas my mother and a friend of hers came around and I cooked waffles for them. It was the first time in my life that I had served my mother something I had cooked, and I was so proud. The full version of this article was published in The Review Jan to April 2024 . 2023-2024 ANNUAL IMPACT REPORT | 17