Introducing Ourselves

Professional Experience:

I would like to introduce myself - my name is Sarah and I have been a qualified Primary School Teacher since 2007.  During my teaching years I worked hard to ensure all children could access the curriculum.   I learnt what worked and what could be tweaked to enable the classroom to be accommodating.  The last 8 years I have been employed with the local authority supporting families with children who have additional needs.  The majority of my work has involved supporting Neurodivergent families that are heading into crisis.  I have supported families to implement strategies and adjust strategies when needed.  I worked consistently with both families and schools to secure the right support was implemented to ensure the young person can access their education.  I also supported many families through the EHCP and DLA process. Every family I worked with was individual and I would tailor the support to their individual needs so that they could thrive moving forward. 

Personnel Experience

I am a mum of two diagnosed autistic children aged 9 and 14.  My eldest has an EHCP and attends an alternative provision. I am going through the EHCP process with my youngest who is currently struggling to attend school.  I have experienced many of the challenges that you yourselves have or are challenging and I am very aware how exhausting and lonely it can feel at times. I have experienced first hand how hard it is to get the right support that a young person needs and how many hurdles we have to overcome. 

Professional experience:

I would like to introduce myself - my name is Ruth and I have 27 years of working with children and adults in various roles.

I have been a manager of a Pre-School, a TA in a mainstream school, a HLTA is a Special School and for the local authority supporting neurodivergent children and parents when heading into crisis because of the challenges around neurodivergence in a neurotypical world.

I have a degree where everything I studied was based around autism and I continue to read extensively around autism and neurodivergence.

Personal experience:

I have children and grandchildren and one way or another many of them have had, and continue to have, challenges living in a neurotypical world.

I wish I knew then what I know now as I know my children would have had a happier and healthier life growing up and would have had the strategies to support them. 

As a parent I understand the challenges of daily life that parenting a neurodivergent child/children brings.

As a granny I am more equiped and understand the heartache of seeing grandchildren struggle.

As an adult with neurodivergence I appreciate the overwhelm of juggling everyday life and I implement strategies to support myself so that I can get through the days and weeks. I would really like to share these with you if you think you would benefit from them too.