A Parent’s Story of Support
We’re incredibly grateful to have parents in our community who are willing to share their stories so openly and turn their experiences into hope for others. One of our amazing parents will be running the Paris Half-Marathon this March to raise funds for our work, and she has written a reflection about why this matters so deeply to her and her family. We’re honoured to share her words with you.
“On March 8th, I’ll be running the Paris Half-Marathon to raise funds for Therapy Links, an organisation that stepped in to support my son with speech, language, and occupational therapies when I had nowhere else to turn.
Discovering my son’s disability was the most anxious and isolating period of my life. I felt lost, confused, and utterly alone, trying to navigate a diagnosis I barely understood. As I slowly made my way through fear, heartbreak, and eventually acceptance, I chose to fully embrace autism as part of our lives. I took each day as it came, hoping to do better the next, even when I stumbled.
I constantly wondered how I would make it through, how I would find the strength to raise my little boy into an independent adult. Questions filled my mind: What will become of him when I’m no longer here? Will he be loved the way I love him? Will people have the patience and kindness to support him, or will he be met with frustration and rejection? Accepting the diagnosis was one thing. Finding the right support was another, like looking for a needle in a haystack.
When Covid hit, the little hope I had crumbled. The world paused with services closing their doors and waiting time growing longer. We were left alone with a non-verbal child who couldn’t express even his basic needs. The few faces he saw were behind masks, depriving him of the vital cues he needed to learn and connect.
The NHS offered little therapy sessions and a handful of printed strategies to go away and implement. Desperate, I turned to the internet and came across Therapy Links, a not-for-profit organisation offering support to children with special educational needs. Their promise to support seemed almost too good to be true. But to my surprise, they acted swiftly. Our application was reviewed quickly, and therapy began online soon after. For the first time, I felt seen. I felt supported. I wasn’t alone anymore.
We saw results almost immediately. After just two sessions, Zenou began speaking. I will never forget the first time he said “fraise” (strawberry) or “biscuit.” My heart burst with joy. Within weeks, he was forming sentences like “Maman, je veux framboise”, “Mum, I want raspberry.” We were filled with hope.
As Zenou grew older, his needs evolved. By age six, he developed complex sensory needs and began experiencing frequent meltdowns. Once again, Therapy Links was there. This time with occupational therapy. They helped us understand Zenou’s unique needs, develop tailored strategies, and create a safe and nurturing environment for him and his younger sisters. They taught me how to better understand and accept my son. They guided me through school placement battles and difficult decisions. They have stood beside me through it all, and for that, I will be forever grateful.
Running this half-marathon is more than a fundraising effort - it’s an act of gratitude. Each training day, each mile on March 8th, will be a tribute to the journey of embracing autism, the resilience we have built, and the hope we carry for the future.”
Stories like this remind us how much difference support and understanding can make. If you’d like to help, we’d be so grateful for any donations to support this fundraising effort. And if you’ve ever thought about fundraising or getting involved, please reach out, we’d love to hear from you!