As one of Australia’s leading disability service providers, House with No Steps is dedicated to giving people with a disability greater choice, control, and freedom – empowering them to live life on their own terms across NSW, Qld, and the ACT.
Established in 1962 by Lionel Watts, CMG, MBE, House with No Steps has been supporting people with a disability for over 50 years. The disability sector has changed a lot in this time, but their focus has remained the same: enabling people with a disability to realise their personal aspirations and goals. In their eyes, having a disability should never limit the degree of choice and control people have over their own lives – so they work hard to make sure the people they support get a fair go.
There’s a world of opportunities and experiences out there, and we're here to help people with a disability make the most of it. We’re in a great position to support people in realising their dreams, whether that means moving out of home, finding a job they love, or becoming active members of the community.
For us, there’s nothing more satisfying than discovering where someone wants to go, and supporting them in getting there – bringing family members, friends, and carers along on the journey.
As well as making a difference to people’s lives, they are making a difference on a broader scale too. At House with No Steps we’ve always believed in challenging the status quo to create a society that’s fairer and more inclusive of people with a disability.
Relentless in their pursuit of inclusion and equality, we’re committed to ensuring people with a disability are given the respect and opportunities they deserve. Sometimes this means speaking out against injustice, sometimes it’s a matter of changing people’s perceptions and behaviour through education. We’re not afraid to ask the tough questions and have thought-provoking conversations – whatever it takes to inspire positive change.
In 1947, Frank Lionel Watts or “Lionel” to his mates was in the Navy stationed in Geelong Victoria. It was here at a dance in the Palais Ballroom that he met his future bride, Dorothy.
In 1956, Lionel Watts was 28, ambitious, enjoying life, and living in Sydney with Dorothy and their 2 young daughters, Nicole and Kerry. Employed by GJ Coles, he was a dynamic Junior Executive Manager with a promising career ahead. Little did they know, all this was about to change.
Later in 1956, Lionel contracted polio which left him with quadriplegia, weighing 32kgs. He spent the next 2 years recovering at hospital.
Once he had finally returned home, he made the decision to go back to work but soon found that he would be rejected at every turn.
