After eight years at Currimundi Special School on the Sunshine Coast, Kimberly Norton is about to embark on the next chapter of her life journey, but unlike most 19 year-olds, Kimberly suffers from the debilitating Rett Syndrome and needs a truck load of support and care from her dedicated network of family, specialist therapists, volunteers and friends.

Kimberly's mum Debbie says that during her time at Currimundi, Kimberly has been stimulated by a personalised program of activities including, art, music, cooking, and a comprehensive range of targeted therapies. All this hard work is paying off with her bone density improving for the first time since 2006 and at 19 years of age, taking her very first assisted steps......12 in total!  This was a huge milestone achievement but, for Kimberly, the work is never done. Staff and volunteers are constantly working on new experiences to improve her quality of life. 

Spend two minutes in Kimberly's world and you can't help but be deeply touched by the light she shines on all those around her.  Debbie says that despite dealing with pain and constant discomfort associated with brittle bones, Kimberly is a happy girl who offers a welcoming smile to anyone who takes the time to connect with her.

Kimberly's favourite activities are horse riding at the Mooloolah Valley Riding Centre, joining the crew of the Sailability rescue boat out on the water at Mooloolaba and, of course, shopping excursions! Complete strangers find the presence of her high tech wheelchair and related contraptions no barrier to engaging easily with Kimberly when that big warm smile of hers breaks the ice.  But Debbie says that the expert planning, care and specialised equipment for each of these activities, that most of us would take for granted, requires enormous generosity of spirit; and that generosity is constantly on display in Kimberly's world. A specially quilted pressure saddle was donated by a local quilters' group and a Sunshine Coast saddler donated the unique belt arrangement that secures Kimberly and helps her maintain her balance.

"I am constantly amazed at just how giving our community is," says Debbie. 

However, Debbie has known that Kimberly's time at Currimundi was coming to an end. As a 19 year-old, where would she go after Currimundi? In researching her options for Post School services on the Sunshine Coast, Debbie found there wasn't anything suitable for young people with high needs who need individually designed programs.

Responding with energy and inspiration, and driven to believe there's always a way, Debbie and another parent approached Multicap asking them to consider establishing a Post School service on the Sunshine Coast.  This led to confirmation of Multicap's commitment and the appointment of a Coordinator to develop the service.  Two small rooms have been secured as temporary premises and a base from which to grow, but there are likely to be 12 families signing up in 2012.

Through their circles of support and with some great partnering, Multicap has received lots of practical in-kind assistance from several local community groups. However, the top priority is to locate suitable long term premises on the Sunshine Coast, so individual clients and their families have a place where possibility, opportunity and access are championed, and where there's security and confidence about what the future holds.

There's a host of ways you can help Kimberly and her mates take that next step. You can become a Multicap Member, donate, volunteer, buy a ticket, or leave a bequest. Help us get there in small steps, big steps, or in huge leaps and bounds. It doesn't matter how. What does matter is there are always more ways and that every act of generosity, no matter how modest, translates directly into a meaningful benefit that will make a lasting difference to Kimberley and others in her special circle.       

Talk to us and find out the best way for you to become one of our inspiring partners of support.