Hi everyone iam new here i came across this site and have been reading it for days now it has so much information i was wondering if anybody could help me here goes .........

We live in northern ireland i have 3 boys aged 6,4 and nearly 2.My youngest child Ben has severe athetoid cerebral palsy,Gerd is profoundly deaf in both ears and is continuous tube fed ng currently waiting on him getting a peg tube. Ben cannot hold a toy in his hand clap his hands use his hands arms and legs in any useful way hecannot support his head sit crawl stand nothing.He hasnt had physio ot since july as his health was very bad and it was too much for him.We were told in september that ben would never walk and that there is only a tiny chance that he might be able to use a joystick on an electric wheelchair he currently has a panda x chair and also a powered bathing aid. We live in a private rented house which is not suitable at all for bens needs the living room is very small the bathroom is small there is steps out to the back garden which is a mess by the way and we have mould startimg in the bathroom in our bedroom.Ben is sick quite a lot and its getting a struggle to keep carrying him up and down the stairs to get washed even though he is nearly 2 he is very heavy especially when his body tightens up. The other thing is our landlord has stated he dont want any altercations to the house as he eventually would like to sell it . I would like to know if we can be rehoused by our local housing association /executive into a property but also one that could meet bens needs is ben too young at the moment for suitable housing? or because of his medical needs can they get us suitable accomodation? any advice would be great thank u kerry x

I don't think there is an age minimum to go on the housing list, if it works the same as England ( reading some of the rules it seems similar) you would need to fill in a medical needs form but also put on the form that the house is inhabitable due to bad mould that your landlord is not fixing as he is breaking the contract by not keeping the house in liveable condition, you should get the highest points with medical needs but it depends on what housing is available in your area and what type of property they think is needed by your family. A bungalow would seem best option if Ben is going to be in a wheelchair otherwise a house would need a lift eventually but bungalows are sought after so a longer wait.

Hi Kerry i'm also from northern ireland, i have been on the list now for 2-3 years, and we were just given the go ahead for a bungalow, (it may have been easier if it was a house). When i applied to begin with, my youngest Jessica was only 1-2 years old, and was accessed for her own needs. I had to contact the OT and the disability social worker for help with it after i had applied to the housing executive, and they passed it onto Oaklee housing when they agreed to do it.

Thank u very much Corinne and Stacy for replying going start and get the ball rolling with housing executive and ben goes to the child development clinic next tuesday so will be seeing therapists and consultant so will get them on the ball too.Congratulations stacy on getting the go ahead for a bungalow that is brilliant.

good luck!