roonee It’s hard to believe that it’s been a full year since my children started at their special needs school.
I remember so clearly the almighty fight I had with the council to secure those places. It was exhausting, stressful, and felt never-ending at the time — but standing here a year later, I know without doubt it was the right fight, and the right decision.
Over the past year, both of my children have been safe, cared for, and, most importantly, have started to truly flourish. The specialist environment has given them space to grow in ways I wasn’t sure we’d ever see.
- Violent meltdowns and severe dysregulation are far less frequent.
- Communication — even on a non-verbal level — has improved.
- Empathy and awareness of the world are starting to bloom.
These are not small changes. They are life-changing. And I am so proud of my children for everything they’ve achieved in such a short time.
It’s not always perfect, and living with autism and very high care needs will always be challenging. But having the right school — a place where they are understood and supported — makes the load just a little lighter, and the future feel a little brighter.
I’m sure I’ll share more about our school journey in time. For now, I just want to pause and mark this milestone: one year on, and things are, on the whole, positive.
