Dear SeeAbility supporter,

As a parent we always want to see our children happy and as a mum you have unconditional love. 

When our son, Daniel was diagnosed with autism at 2 years old, we didn’t even know what it was, but we knew he deserved happiness and the freedom to do the things he loved.

Daniel’s journey to achieving this hasn’t been easy for him, or any of us, and it has taken a long time to find the right support for his needs. Daniel had become withdrawn and anxious, and his eyes weren’t sparkling anymore. But that was before he moved into his supported living home in Didcot where he was supported by SeeAbility. Since then, Daniel has grown in confidence.
As a family this has had a big impact on our lives.  We feel part of the team at Didcot, and they are part of our family too.

Now, we don’t feel anxious or worried and we completely trust Shireen and her team. Daniel’s father and I have even started to go away for the odd weekend which we haven’t done since Daniel was born. There is finally a light at the end of the tunnel.

Where it all started...

When our son, Daniel, was younger, he liked being outside, and going to the farm. He was always very active as a child.  At 2 years old, when his speech began to stop, we got the diagnosis that Daniel was on the autistic spectrum. Back then, we didn’t even know what autism was.

“There wasn’t the support and the understanding that there is now.”

When he moved out of our family home into a residential home, it was nearly two hours away from us. It was tough to do, but it was the only place we could find at the time. He was there for 12 years and I would cry every time I left him.

Finding the right support

Daniel is now 30 and when he moved to his home in Didcot, we realised just how brilliantly his needs could be met.  Shireen, the manager, has always been on the same wavelength as us and it helps so much.

“Shireen wants what we want; it was a relief that someone was actually listening to us after all this time.”

We hope that Daniel can stay here for as long as he is happy to, this feels like his forever home. There is finally light at the end of the tunnel.

The team at SeeAbility have spent time to get to know and understand Daniel. Shireen, Lorrain and the support workers are all working together to provide the best care for our loved ones. I didn’t ever think others could provide care like me, his mum, but at SeeAbility they really care and support Daniel just like I would. As Daniel doesn’t speak, his team find ways to communicate using symbols and sounds – always checking in on how he’s feeling.

Growing in a new home

SeeAbility Didcot is Daniel’s home, and he invites us in. He isn’t as anxious now, which makes us so happy.

Daniel used to do things, supported by us, like putting washing in the machine or using the toaster. He is doing it all again now at Didcot with the support and encouragement he needs. It is giving us energy, and it is like having our son back again.

Daniel has always liked walking in the woods and I look forward to when he can start enjoying the freedom of going out again. Daniel’s support workers help him take his time to do the things he loves and we have seen a lot more smiles and giggles!

SeeAbility is person-focused, which really makes a difference to Daniel. Please support SeeAbility’s appeal this summer. You will help more people with disabilities live, love, thrive and belong as part of their families and in their communities.

If you can, please do support SeeAbility’s work. Every penny you give will help SeeAbility continue to provide specialist support, that will enable more people with disabilities to live, love, thrive and belong. 

Yours sincerely

Suzanne & David 
(Daniel’s Mum & Dad)

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