Where do I start... an introduction to this space

This blog centers on my eldest son and our journey through the madness that has become our parenting journey with him.  I realized a long time ago that support and resources for children with special needs, mental illness and a combination of both is almost non-existent in so many ways, the resources and help made available is either incredibly expensive (private sector) or requires long waiting lists and very little by way of finding a doctor/specialist whom you and your child can trust and depend on (government), in the end you are not guaranteed the help you or your child may need and most of the time there is absolutely no support or guidance.

Up until now we have navigated much of our journey alone, we have struggled severely to find the help that we have needed and thus have felt like we must be the only family dealing with these issues, this is not the case, I know this is not the case but where are these voices, where are these people? Where are these families, these children? The truth is that I think more often than not we all feel like we are in it alone, many of us are embarrassed, shunned, led to believe that we have no right to services, resources, help or support and quite frankly I have had enough!

I don’t want to stay quiet anymore, I refuse to allow other families and children to feel the way we do. For a period of time last year I helped run a special needs school and that experience was both the most heart-breaking and enlightening experience of my life, at that point I knew in my heart that I wanted to be a voice for others, that I wanted to do more and create a platform for those who feel alone in a path not so unlike our own, I have seen and supported families who are broken, families with nowhere to turn families who are desperate for answers and although we have finally reached a point in our journey where we have- answers as devastating as they may be, I know in my heart that our journey, our pain and our triumphs are meant for more than just our own insight and awareness.

I have met many incredible people, children and families along our journey and my hope is that I can do them justice in being a voice for those who have been silent in this regard, if I can help even one person navigate their journey or lend them the support that they deserve then I will have served my hearts purpose.

I invite you to follow us as we navigate this journey, I invite to share your experiences or to just seek comfort in the fact that you are not alone, help me be the voice where there is silence.