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It’s goodbye from Tiffany Heddes Tiffany Heddes ran Special Needs Solutions for 17 years. In October 2021, she sold her business to Think Mobility. She spoke to Link about how the company shaped her life in many ways.
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iffany Heddes wanted to make life easier for families by providing the correct assistive technology equipment for their child to achieve to the best of their ability. The business was born from sourcing suitable AT equipment for her son and recognising there were no paediatric suppliers in Queensland at the time. “Initially I began the business as a hobby and believed if I could make the journey easier for one other parent then I would be happy, but my personal journey was not easy. In the first year of business in 2004 I helped 20 families, in 2021 myself and my team helped 1200 families, beyond what I could have ever imagined. “There were many challenges along the way, not unusual when operating your own business and having to deal with various government agencies and constant red tape.” Heddes was big on education running education seminars for therapy centres, universities, government agencies, GPs, nurses and parents/carers. “Education is a challenge, there are so many unknowns in the disability industry, and I always encouraged parents and carers to be proactive, do their research, know their therapists capabilities and make sure all parties were on the same page. Parents must be their child’s biggest advocate. “I have met many inspiring families and it is those inspirational families that take the ‘bull by the horns’ and accept the challenge of raising a child with a disability,” she said. Asked what products really helped to change lives and she nominates two chairs.
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February/March 2022
The Jenx Giraffe Chair was a colourful tilt-in-space supportive seating system, and one of the first products she sourced for her son. “It was a versatile, non- medical, supportive seating system to assist children with different disabilities but is no longer available.” Another more recent favourite is the Rifton Activity Chair, a floor to bench height seating system, very inclusive, easy to use and adjust that allows children to sit up and interact with their peers on the same level. “I was always drawn to fun, functional and colourful equipment and there have been so many wonderful advances in paediatric equipment over the past five years. It is an exciting space to watch. As to why the decision to leave…she became a grandmother last year and
her grandson is growing up fast. “I felt it was time for me and my family and 17 years is a long time to be in business, particularly in an industry that pulls at your heart strings every day. “It has been an emotional rollercoaster and to be honest working under the NDIS model, as an individual company, was becoming increasingly difficult. “The paediatric industry is a tight knit community, and we all support each other. At the end of the day, it is all about the children having a quality of life no matter what adversities they may face.” And what next for Tiffany Heddes? “Sleep, chill and enjoy time with my precious family and be present in the moment and continue my charity work for Variety Children’s Charity.”