Let’s talk about grit. The kind you find in mothers like Nicole—a woman who refused to accept that “this is just how things are.” Because when you’re caring for a daughter like Alice, who lives with the rare and complex CDKL5 condition, giving up simply isn’t an option.
Tasmanian based Alice is 19 years old. She’s non-verbal and has endured life-threatening seizures throughout her life.
Nicole was determined to give her daughter the hydrotherapy she desperately needed, making what she thought was the best move ever: she bought a unit with a heated, mineral saltwater indoor pool—a dream come true for her water-loving daughter. But life had other plans. Gaining funding to make the pool accessible for Alice was proving challenging. Their new home turned out to be riddled with mould caused by plumbing issues and was actively harming their health.
Alice’s seizures spiked to new levels suffering over 360 in the span of just a few months. Bed-bound, unresponsive and getting weaker by the day. Her mum, Nicole, was also struggling—her health declining and she was finding minimal support and even fewer accessible options.
Still, they pushed forward. They dreamed of water, of therapy, of some small return to joy and health.
For over two years, Nicole fought tooth and nail to get NDIS funding for something that seemed so simple, yet so essential: a Kingfisher Pool Access Seat. That one seat meant freedom, safety, and dignity—because lifting Alice into the pool required three people. It was dangerous, exhausting, and humiliating for them all.
And then, finally—the green light.
Nicole got the call that the Kingfisher was approved. Para Mobility wasted no time. The seat was installed faster than she could believe, and for the first time in two long, gruelling years—Alice was able to get back into the water. Safely. Comfortably. With pride.
The results were incredible.
Not only has Alice had no seizures since regaining access to hydrotherapy—but she’s now walking herself to and from the pool. Her therapists are amazed at the transformation. Even Cleo, their faithful dog, sits proudly by the poolside during sessions, taking it all in.
Alice has her sass back. Her humour. Her strength. She’s making choices. The transformation isn’t just physical—it’s emotional, social, and deeply enriching.
“The Kingfisher didn’t just give Alice access to the pool,” Nicole says, “it gave her freedom.”
At Para Mobility, we’re just honoured to have been part of this story. Because accessibility isn’t about equipment—it’s about empowerment.
So, here’s to Alice—who’s now swimming, smiling, and sassy as ever. And to Nicole, whose love, resilience, and refusal to give up gave her daughter a new lease on life.
