My son lives in an ordinary house in an ordinary street, enjoying an ordinary life like any other. Paradoxically it’s taken extraordinary efforts by his family over many years to make it happen. Given the state of adult social care we regard this as the safest option for him.
Behind the scenes of my son’s life it’s me who makes his support happen. Services never think to ask what that involves. They don’t make it easy. Over the years, hundreds of well-meaning professionals have drifted in and out of our lives, and still we have to fight for funding.
It’s easy to lose sight of who you are, drown in a sea of bureaucracy, disagreements, challenges and gaslighting.
But my son is where he’s meant to be, enjoying a life not a service, because of his family, his rock.
Creative response to the ‘Shush Snip Rip’ exhibition, by an anonymous Unpaid family carer, 2024.