Sudbury man left stranded in electric wheelchair for 2 1/2 days

CTV News

5 hours ago

Pictured are Shelley, left, Dan and Orville Wikiruk. Dan Wikiruk is able to live independently with cerebral palsy, but was left stranded when his wheelchair broke down last weekend.
Dan Wikiruk, a Sudbury man who lives independently with cerebral palsy, was stranded in his apartment last weekend when his wheelchair stopped working.
His family is sharing his story in hopes of shedding light on the gaps in services and funding for people with disabilities in the province.
Wikiruk, 65, can live on his own thanks to ICAN in Sudbury, his service dog Molly, and his electric wheelchair.
Dan Wikiruk
Dan Wikiruk, a Sudbury man who lives independently with cerebral palsy, was stranded in his apartment last weekend when his wheelchair stopped working.
(Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News)
But his wheelchair failed him over the weekend.
'Saturday morning at seven at 7 a.m., his wheelchair broke down,' said Shelley Wikiruk, Dan's sister.
'His ICAN staff member had no choice but to leave him. He left him in the best situation.'
While he had access to drinks, a urinal and a cordless phone, his sister said he was left for 2 ½ days 'without access to his washroom, without access to his kitchen, and without safety practices in place.'
'Had there been a fire in his building, how would Dan have escaped?' she said.
Repair service not available
A company called Motion Sudbury services Dan's wheelchair. Its service hours are until 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to noon on Saturdays. But no service is available overnights, long weekends or Sundays.
As the July long weekend nears, Shelley Wikiruk said Dan could face a similar situation again.
'Dan just has a temporary fix for his chair right now,' she said.
'Motions did what they could -- they put in a temporary motor for now. But this chair is less than three years old and it has not been reliable for Dan. It has broken down continually.'
Complicating matters is the fact that he's now 65 and no longer eligible for ODSP.
'He has to pay out of pocket when this chair breaks down,' she said.
'He can't afford it.'
A statement from Motion Sudbury to CTV News said depending on the nature of the repair a wheelchair requires, and whether parts are available, a same-day fix may not be possible.
Dan and family
Pictured are Shelley, left, Dan and Orville Wikiruk. Dan Wikiruk is able to live independently with cerebral palsy, but was left stranded when his wheelchair broke down last weekend.
(Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News)
It said the company is happy to help clients navigate funding applications to pay for repairs, but they are 'not involved in determining funding eligibility or coverage related to equipment repairs under manufacturer warranty.'
'We are committed to providing the best possible client experience in support of our vision to make life accessible for everyone,' the statement said.
'We continually identify opportunities to advocate on behalf of our clients related to system advancements as well as work directly with our clients to understand their experiences in support of ongoing operational improvements.'
'It's great if the private sector establishes some repair services, but if the private sector can't cover all the needs on its own, that's a situation where there's a powerful need for the government to intervene.'
— David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance
David Lepofsky, chair of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act Alliance, said while the Ontario government has a program to help fund the cost of things like wheelchairs, if the service isn't available, it doesn't really help.
'We've got to make sure these services are available -- these are essential services,' Lepofsky said.
It's not enough for the province to pass laws, he said, when people who truly need services can't access them.
'People with disabilities … are reliant on these mobility devices … and this is an area where government has a role to play,' he said.
'It's great if the private sector establishes some repair services, but if the private sector can't cover all the needs on its own, that's a situation where there's a powerful need for the government to intervene.'
Lost eligibility
For his part, Dan said his situation could have been helped if he were still on the direct funding model that allowed him to have a worker help him for five and a half hours a day.
But he lost eligibility in 2018 because, he said, he made an error when hiring a worker.
He currently receives three bookings a day that range from 15 to 45 minutes through ICAN. On most days, he said he only gets 15 minutes due to cutbacks.
In a statement to CTV News, ICAN CEO Jessica Bertuzzi said they are committed to tailoring services to each client's unique needs.
'We believe that equitable access to equipment and supports is not just about logistics, it's about dignity inclusion and health,' Bertuzzi said.
'That's why continued investment in disability supports is not only necessary, it is critical. Protecting and strengthening these investments ensures that we are not taking opportunities or independence away from those who rely on them most.'
Dan's family said they know that he isn't the only one facing these types of situations.
'There are many, many people living with a disability who have a lack of services and a lack of funding in the Greater Sudbury area and beyond,' Shelley said.
'Sharing Dan's story, we hope that funding will be increased where it's needed.'