Annas Story
Anna and her son first joined Early Intervention in May 2022 through our nature sessions.
These sessions were organised in collaboration with Aberdeen City Council Ranger Service and the Duthie Park Rangers.
Having recently moved to Aberdeen with her then five-year-old son, who had a diagnosis of Sensory Processing Disorder and was awaiting an autism assessment, Anna was looking for support.
Another parent recommended Early Intervention to her.
Finding Connection and Discovering Strengths
Through stay and play, outdoor learning and therapeutic opportunities, Anna and her son found a welcoming space where they could take part, build friendships and meet families who understood their experiences.
Music therapy helped her son discover a natural sense of rhythm, leading to drum lessons.
His enjoyment of outdoor learning has since grown into an interest in gardening. He now helps tidy elderly neighbours’ gardens, putting his interests and skills into practice within his own community.
Anna Shared
“I first heard about Early Intervention in 2022 after I had moved to Aberdeen with my then 5 year old son who was diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder and awaiting an Autism assessment. With no help or support from the professionals I asked on a local FB group what support there was locally for children and parents. Another parent suggested I contact E.I so I did.
Linda told me about the music and speech therapy sessions, stay and play and also some nature sessions run by Aberdeen Council Rangers for ASN children not in school that she organised.
Over the coming years I took my son along to various sessions and was immediately grateful to Linda for providing a non-judgemental and kind space where both my son and I felt immediately welcome. My son absolutely loved the stay and play and outdoor nature sessions and asked to go back each week.
He also tried Music Therapy where we discovered he had a great sense of rhythm which then led to him having drum lessons.
By Linda providing all these wonderful opportunities for the children means that children with ASN get to take part in activities like their mainstream peers.
Early Intervention provided myself and son a safe social space where we could both get to know others and for me the chance to speak to parents who just get it and understand life with a child with ASN even if their life looks a little different to ours.
Prior to moving away from Aberdeen I volunteered for a bit with Early Intervention because I really appreciated Lindas hard work and all the effort she puts in and I wanted to give something back to her.
I saw the hard work that goes into E.I first hand.
Without Early Intervention my sons opportunities in life would have been much less and I would have had zero support.
I am so thankful to Linda and Early Intervention and in sheer awe of her determination, effort and everything she has achieved for all the families she and the other volunteers have helped over the years and are continuing to do so.
Thank you!”
Giving Back and Creating Opportunities
During summer 2023, Anna stepped in to volunteer after seeing the work involved in running a rapidly growing group with no paid staff, just two volunteers and extremely limited resources.
She helped arrange visits to the bus station, fire station and train station, alongside outdoor learning opportunities, as part of Early Intervention’s contribution of 45 sessions to the council’s Summer in the City programme.
Anna moved to England in 2024, but she and her son still join us during the holidays when visiting family.
Since moving, she has established her own activity group for the local home-educating community, including children with special educational needs, creating opportunities for other families in her new area.
Why Their Story Matters
Anna’s story shows what accessible, welcoming opportunities can make possible: discovering interests, recognising strengths, building friendships and finding people who understand.
It also shows how families go on to contribute, both within Early Intervention and beyond it. Anna became a volunteer, helped create experiences for other children and now brings families together in another community.
Our provision is run entirely by volunteers. Practical support and sustainable funding would help these opportunities continue and develop, enabling more children and families to benefit.
Thank you, Anna, for sharing your experiences and helping us demonstrate the difference this community provision makes.