Wherever I go, it’s basically: wheelchair, dog, me. It’s a package deal.
Emma the Assistance Dog joined this package deal in 2019 when she was paired with Natasha. Emma is Natasha’s second Assistance Dog, so Natasha was already familiar with the impact their crucial support can have on day-to-day life.
Natasha likens growing up and getting older with cerebral palsy with car ownership. “I like to think of it as a car that’s been without a wheel alignment. You wear things out because you are using your body in a way that it wasn’t actually designed to be used.” The daily wear and tear means Emma’s support is needed more as time goes on.
Physical Assistance Dogs like Emma provide greater access to independent living that is so often taken for granted. For Natasha, that looks like: medicine and water bottles being brought to her, a steady place to rest her hand when standing up from the toilet before returning to her chair, having the shower door opened and a towel brought to her. These are moments of privacy that are so important.
Emma also brings in the mail, presses traffic light buttons and is learning how to put laundry in and take it out of their new front-loading washing machine. Natasha says of Emma, “She’s really enjoying the challenge.” Above all, Emma shines when she’s supporting Natasha emotionally and as her companion. Natasha believes if she had to choose between her chair and Emma, she’d choose Emma. “She’s that integral.”
Living in the small community of Launceston, Tasmania, Natasha feels like Emma’s a bit of a celebrity. “Emma’s the PR princess. People know you… or rather, they know the girl with the dog and the wheelchair. People tend to remember her name and not mine, which I’m totally cool with.”
I know that I need one to be as independent as I want to be and to be able to access the community as much as I like. And also to engage with people in a way that is positive and hopefully improves their days a little bit. Emma helps me do all of this. Even just if it helps one old person smile or one person walking down the street, at least I’m giving back something to my community. I think it’s really, really important that people with a disability are included in their community.