A ‘Lifetime Home’ in Thurrock has proved the ideal location for a disabled young man to call home and follow his dreams of going to college.
Rubens Sabbarese (26) and his father, Ernesto have moved to Barratt Homes’ Maple Park development to enable him to attend a college course in London.
All of the homes at Maple Park are built to the ‘Lifetime Home’ standard. This means they are thoughtfully designed to be more accessible and adaptable. For example the home features level access through the entrance, stairs which are easier to climb and wide enough for a stair lift to be installed and an accessible ground floor cloakroom, which can be converted into a full bathroom.
Rubens was left with disabilities after a motor vehicle accident 10 years ago. He suffers from total paralysis down his right arm due to brain injuries after he was hit by a drunk driver. His injuries also resulted in conditions known as Aphasia and Apraxia, which have left him unable to read and write and with speech difficulties.
Ruben’s brain injuries did not affect his cognitive abilities and his family enrolled him in Newham College in London, who fully accepted Rubens and made arrangements for him to receive the assistance he needed to complete the course.
The father and son moved to the Maple Park development to be close to Newham College and give Rubens the safe and comfortable living space he needs with very few adaptations needed.
Rubens now lives with his father, Ernesto in a Chesterfield style home at Maple Park. The Chesterfield is a three bedroom home which features a large open plan kitchen, dining and family room with French doors leading out onto the garden. A separate living room and a cloakroom are also contained on the ground floor. The first floor has three bedrooms, with the large master bedroom featuring an ensuite and dressing room and a large family bathroom. The Lifetime Home only needed one adaptation of an additional bannister on the stairs in order to be suitable for Rubens to live in.
Ernesto, who cares for Rubens, said “The new home is great for Rubens. The master bedroom and living space are large and easy to get around and the large double shower means he can shower safely.”
Ernesto continued “Newham College is really important for Rubens, it allows him to keep his independence and work towards achieving his goals, despite his disabilities. Maple Park combines an easy commute to the college with the quiet countryside surroundings.”
Maple Park is located on Butt’s Lane in Stanford-Le-Hope. The development is surrounded by beautiful parks and open spaces but the historic town centre of Stanford-Le-Hope is just a few minutes’ drive away from the development. The town centre boasts a range of shops, restaurants and pubs as well as Stanford Le Hope train station.
Jason Colmer, Sales Director at Barratt Homes Eastern Counties, said “I am delighted that Rubens can now pursue his education in a home which is ideal for him. It’s great to hear that that the Lifetime Homes standard has allowed Rubens to live in the home with ease, especially as the move was so important for him and Ernesto.”
