Disabled man in plea for a helper (From Ilkley Gazette)

Desperate struggle to fill post

10:16am Thursday 23rd August 2012 in Local news By Amanda Greaves

A young man with a rare disability is desperately struggling to recruit the helpers he needs to live his life as normally as possible.

Owen Walker, 21, of Colbert Avenue in Ilkley, says life will be “extremely difficult” if he is unable to find support locally when his current personal assistants return to university.

A Warwick University graduate, Mr Walker was born with Dejurine-Sottas Syndrome – a neuro-muscular condition that has deteriorated over the years and now confines him to an electric wheelchair.

Despite the current state of the jobs market, as well as a busy care sector in Ilkley, domiciliary help provider Care Dynamics says it is proving a challenge to find suitable recruits.

Mr Walker needs a team of personal assistants to help him both at home and to get out and about.

The job involves at least four daily visits, and the company has been trying to recruit men of a similar age to him.

Mr Walker said: “I need people to help get me up in the mornings, prepare my lunch, cook my tea and put me to bed, as well as help-ing with various social acti-vities, including going to the cinema, theatre, shop-ping and enjoying a pint at the pub with my mates.”

“We’re looking for people about my age, and male. It’s just a question of how many of those people fit into that category and live in the local area.”

A lack of assistants could also hold up his own career.

Mr Walker, who is look-ing for work in radio or television, presents a weekly music, chat and local interest show on Drystone Radio, which he records at home.

Care Dynamics director, Cheryl Dibbin, said the company had comparatively little difficulty recruiting care staff in Bradford.

“It’s crucial we get more people on board as soon as possible to avoid Owen’s care being disrupted,” she said.

Care Dynamics can be contacted on (01274) 307533.