31/01/2026
None of us here get paid, equally abled is part time and voluntary, we would love it to go full time but for now it can only be done on a voluntary part time basis
We have been asked plenty of times “why do you do it?”
One of the parents at the SEND session just asked to speak to me as she wanted to tell me something she thought was important I knew
She has a 16yr old son with autism who has never wanted to celebrate their birthday or acknowledge it, that in itself is something most parents take for granted and as parents we want our young people to have the best time on the special days.
This year however without prompt he asked if he and a friend could come to equally abled / the pad for his birthday, this may seem a small step for most which is what was said to the lady when we discussed it and her reply was “for parents like us it is the equivalent of our child winning an Olympic gold”
When people ask why we do it, THAT IS WHY
I was fine chatting to her but genuinely hiding in the kitchen tearful typing this (yes I have emotions behind the scenes) we don’t big our self up or ask for praise etc but when things like this happen I just feel it’s something that needs shouting about, and I think I will start telling a few stories similar to this about what has happened in the past here because to most people they are just everyday things, but to a few of these lovely people in our community these little things are absolutely huge!
Much love people and thank you to all the other little helpers behind the scenes that make this place what it is
