A disabled parent says she can't be the mum she wants to be because of a shortage of vital social care.
Kate Van Dam, who has cerebral palsy, dreams of waving her eight-year-old daughter off at the school gates, or enjoying a trip to a park or museum with her.
Instead. Kate, who moved into an accessible property in Lemington at the end of last year, is barely able to leave her house.
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The 35-year-old needs the help of carers to be able to go out, as well as to complete personal and household tasks. But she only gets two brief daily visits, at the start and end of the day.
Kate shares custody of her eight-year-old daughter with her ex-husband, but says that when the child stays with her they can't enjoy the everyday experiences, like trips to the park, that most parents take for granted.
She said: "I've been left with the bare minimum of care, I get an hour in the morning for a shower and 45 minutes in the evening.
"Yes, I have a physical disability, but my limitations shouldn't stop me from caring for my daughter."
Kate believes her family "falls in the gap" between adult and child social care - she needs more help to care for her daughter in the way she wants, but because the eight-year-old isn't herself disabled, it's not being offered. For example, when she asked for transport provision so she could take her daughter to school, she was told it wasn't needed as her daughter can walk. But Kate says this robs her of the opportunity to parent in the same way as non-disabled mums.
Kate added: "I need more support to be the parent at the school gates - why should I miss out on parenting, on meeting other parents at the gates?
"I feel like I'm a prisoner because I haven't been given the same opportunities as everybody else just because I'm reliant on this care.
"I want people to realise that I'm not just a number in the system. Just because I live a life confined to a wheelchair, doesn't mean I don't want to be a role model to my daughter.
"I just need help and support to be able to get out and about, to take my daughter to the park or to a museum. She shouldn't have to miss out on that stuff because I can't do it on my own. Please give me the same opportunity to be a parent as everyone else."
She has been told staffing shortages and funding issues have made it difficult to give her the extra help she needs, but the mother insists it's not fair that she be "neglected" because of these problems.
The former ambulance service worker says being unable to go out has begun to affect her mental health - and the solution isn't antidepressants, but being helped to "have a life".
She said: "I've always dreamed of being a mum, I have a purpose in life and I can't fulfil it.
"I just want to be able to do things like go out shopping. Even dogs get taken for walks, but I have barely been out of my house since I moved in.
"I feel depressed because of the situation rather than something that can be fixed by pills, I don't want to mask the problem, all they need to do is provide this care and my life will be a lot easier. Now, I get up in the morning but to do what? There's nothing I can do, I don't go out, I don't see anybody.
"I'm sure there are more disabled parents out there screaming out for support."
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council said: “We are aware of Ms Van Dam’s situation since she moved to Newcastle approximately three months ago. We are working with her and providing her with care and support, and we are also considering her needs as a parent and are looking at all options and any additional support that may be required to assist her in her parenting role.
“There are issues around the availability of care at the moment, not just in Newcastle but across the UK. This relates to higher levels of absence due to covid, and the requirement for staff to self-isolate.
“We will continue to do all that we can to support Ms Van Dam’s situation.”
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