Jason Apps: Quadriplegia, Resilience, and Driving Independence

Early Life and Canadian Adventure

• 👨‍🌾 Jason Apps grew up as a fifth-generation dairy farmer in Bega, Australia, enjoying a childhood filled with sports and coastal life.
• 🏙️ At 14, he moved to Newcastle, later completing a carpentry apprenticeship by age 19, which fueled his desire for overseas travel.
• 🇨🇦 He moved to Canada for a snow season with a friend, securing a 2-year residency visa and winging it without pre-arranged work or accommodation.

Life-Altering Snowboarding Accident

• 🏂 In March, at 20 years old, Jason suffered a snowboarding accident at Grass Mountain, Vancouver, catching an edge and landing on his back.
• ⚠️ The impact resulted in a C4 Asia A quadriplegia, meaning no motor or sensory function below the injury level, and initially left him unable to breathe or speak independently.
• 🏥 He was hospitalized in Vancouver, then medi-backed to Australia, spending nine months in hospitals like Royal Northshore and Prince of Wales, learning to communicate by blinking and eventually to breathe and speak again.

Recovery, Adaptation, and Family Support

• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Jason credits his supportive family and friends, especially his brother Will, for helping him adapt and maintain a positive outlook during his extensive recovery.
• 💪 He underwent intensive rehabilitation, including training in the US and using functional electrical stimulation, to regain movement and strength, particularly in his arms.
• 🧠 Mentally, he chose not to dwell on his injury, focusing instead on moving forward and accepting his new reality to proactively pursue opportunities.

Regaining Independence: Driving & Daily Life

• 🚗 Years after his accident, Jason learned to drive a highly modified van using a joystick for steering/acceleration and head controls for other functions, calling it the "best thing I've ever done."
• ⏰ His daily routine involves a minimum of two hours of morning care from carers, assisting with personal tasks, highlighting the full-time job of managing a spinal cord injury.
• 🗺️ He emphasizes the constant forward-thinking required for everyday activities, such as planning for accessibility when traveling or going out.

Building a Legacy: Build Care & Community

• 🤝 Jason co-founded Build Care, a not-for-profit charity that leverages construction industry networks to create accessible housing for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
• 🎯 The charity's goal is to establish a circular model to fund spinal cord research, aiming to improve outcomes for future generations with similar injuries.
• 🫂 He actively participates in a rehab community where individuals share tips and tricks, fostering a supportive environment for adaptation and independent living.

Embracing Life & Inspiring Others

• 🚀 Despite his injury, Jason has engaged in adaptive sports like skydiving and surfing, demonstrating that many activities are still possible.
• 💡 His message to others facing challenges is to persist, get out of your comfort zone, and seize opportunities, as things do get better.
• ❤️ Jason's journey is a testament to resilience, perspective, and the power of choosing to keep moving forward, inspiring many with his positive mindset and dedication to helping others.