My name is Hilary, and I am just an ordinary Mum with a son with Aspergers Syndrome, AD/HD, Speech and Language Disorder, Hearing Impairment, and Moderate Learning Difficulties. I don't profess to be an expert in these disabilities, but I am passionate about getting what my son needs.


All of my sons life I have had to fight the system to get the best possible help, support and care for him. Sometimes I have felt totally isolated, frustrated and helpless, when faced by the continual red tape, intimidation, and prejudice I have come up against, throughout my many countless battles with various professionals. Many times I have felt like giving up, as the struggles were too much to bear. Yet each time I felt like this, I just had to look at my son and I remembered he needed me, that I was the only person who could fight for him, and most importantly I was the best qualified person to know what my son needed.


Unfortunately, due to lack of funding, and an understanding of my sons disabilities, my son was placed in a Mainstream school. This educational setting was not appropriate for him, and inclusion meant exclusion for my him.
Although the school in question had a provision for children with special needs, they failed to recognise that when all the disabilities that my son has, are rolled into one student, that it needs a high level of experienced staff to manage the level of complex difficulties that my son presents with.
The school continually sent him home when his medication had worn off, and his hyperactivity became too much for them to cope with. Daily calls from the school became part of the family routine, and my son was excluded for inappropriate behaviour. This was contrary to the schools insistence to the L.E.A that they could cope with his challenging behaviour, when they offered him a place there. The "ongoing individually designed programme to help him overcome his behavioural difficulties" as identified in his statement of special needs, meant in reality that my son was confined to working in a small room alone, isolated from his peers. He was therefore unable to learn to function effectively as a part of a group, and was not a fully active member of the school. His daily involvement with staff was more crisis management as he lurched from one difficult situation to the next. It is hard for staff in a busy mainstream school environment to be constantly mindful of the fact that my son was displaying inappropriate behaviour, out of frustration of being an outcast, and most importantly because it was indicative of the disabilities he was born with. I continually made my concerns known to the school that I felt their coping strategies for managing my son was not appropriate or realistic for his emotional and physical well being. Unfortunately my concerns were never heard or taken seriously, and as a result my son made little developmental progress, was emotionally damaged, and thus at times, displayed suicidal tendencies.

After many years of war with my L.E.A., social services, and the NHS, I have finally won my battle. I took the initiative and contacted an M.P at the House of Commons. I communicated my concerns for my sons future, if he was not given the opportunity of a specialist placement post 16. I immediately got a response and a promise that he would do all he could to help.Two weeks down the line, I have been promised L.E.A funding for the specialist college of our choice.

As i am sure you are all aware that young people learn and thrive when they are healthy, safe and engaged; and that educational achievement is the most effective route to keep young people out of trouble and poverty. Now my son has the possibility of having a happy, healthy, safe and positive future, with the chance of achieving economic wellbeing, and making a positive contribution to society.

If you are a parent who has a child like mine, and you live in the UK, you will have no doubt faced the same feelings, struggles and battles as I have. This website is dedicated to you, so I can pass on the knowledge I have gained throughout the last 15 years, and hopefully help, support and guide you to get what you want for your child.

Please email me at hilarytaylor4@yahoo.com with your story, let me help you, or just support you by listening, and sharing my experiences with you. You no longer have to feel isolated and helpless!!!