Martin has experienced chronic pain in his limbs all his life, but it’s getting worse.

“I usually only leave the house twice a week,” the 26-year-old living in north-west Tasmania said.

“I’ve had to give up a lot of things, especially as it’s worsened over the last year or so.”

He now uses a wheelchair most of the time — he recently bought one for about $1,000.
A hand touching duct tape on a wheelchair lever.
Parts of Martin’s wheelchair are duct-taped where it is broken.(ABC News: Ashleigh Barraclough)

But it is second-hand, so some pieces are missing and other parts are wrapped in duct tape. It also does not fit him properly.

Martin is on a disability support pension and receives funding from the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) for his autism, but not his physical disabilities.