My name is Kiara Weerasekera and I’m a 17 year old student at Mount St. Joseph’s Girls’ College. My younger brother’s best friend, Vincent, is 13 years old and has a diagnosis of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).
What is that I hear you ask? Yes, my point exactly!
Vincent started high school this year at a boy’s school in Melbourne’s western suburbs and is the only student at his school in a wheelchair. Many students are curious as to why and at times they are unsure of his capabilities or how to interact with him.
This is something I can relate to as for the 7 years that I have known Vincent, I have been aware of his Muscular Dystrophy, but I never really understood what the term meant. When some of the boys at Vincent’s school began asking me about Vincent I got to thinking that I should find out more and run an awareness campaign.
He is just like any other teenager and wants to be treated as such. He wants to participate, be seen no differently to anyone else and do things that other teenagers do. But, some things can be tougher for Vincent to do because his muscles don’t work like ours.
ABOUT:
To support Vincent to more easily complete his school work I am raising funds for an iPad. This will make note taking and homework a lot simpler, increase his participation in school and help Vincent to achieve his best. Any remaining funds will go towards any assistive technology that he will require in the future to help him live an independent life.
