Claires Story
Claire and Danny joined Early Intervention on our very first day of children’s in-person group services, on 3 March 2022.
With NHS speech and language support paused and families still feeling the effects of the COVID lockdowns, we secured National Lottery funding for a local private speech and language therapist to deliver small group sessions.
For Claire, life was stressful and isolating. As lockdowns eased, finding opportunities where both boys could feel safe, be themselves and enjoy activities together wasn’t easy.
Sharing Experiences and Making Memories
Harry and Danny have shared so many activities and experiences with our community, with opportunities to play, make friends and visit places with support around them.
From speech and language therapy and music therapy to messy play, community centre days, soft play and Innoflate, there are so many memories.
And how could we forget the day we went pond dipping with the city council rangers!
Claire Shared
“I first came across Early Intervention when my sons were 8 and 3. They are both autistic and non verbal. I was finding life stressful, isolating and very lonely at times.”
“Finding Linda and the Early Intervention community has been amazing, not just for my children but for me too. Having somewhere safe and non judgemental of my sons behaviours, letting them truly be themselves and giving them the chance to play with others, make friends and experience events and places I just couldn’t take them to by myself has been life saving. Amazing and happy times!”
Creating Opportunities for Other Families
Claire is also determined to help create more opportunities for Aberdeen’s ASN community.
Knowing first hand how few suitable opportunities are available, she set up ASN Stay & Play at Kincorth Community Centre and created a wonderful sensory room for the children.
Her work also includes developing opportunities for children aged 12 and over, helping address the need for suitable provision for older children and teenagers.
Claire brings a wealth of lived experience from parenting her boys, including navigating OCD and ADHD alongside autism. She understands the difference that accessible, welcoming opportunities can make and is helping other families find that same sense of belonging.
What Continued Support Means
“My boys, now 13 and 8, have loved attending early interventions various events and activities. They feel happy and safe with the Early Intervention team around them.
I have got to know Linda very well. What a woman she is, doing all of this voluntarily with a family and her own son with ASN herself, alongside all of her volunteers.
Without this service, my family would suffer and be limited in where we could go.”
Why Their Story Matters
Claire’s experience reflects a wider reality: parents are creating services themselves because suitable local opportunities are missing. That work makes a real difference, but it also takes substantial unpaid time and effort.
For her family, having a familiar, supportive community means the boys can enjoy experiences together, with people around them who understand and welcome them.
Families should be able to see how funding translates into accessible support and meaningful opportunities. Claire and Linda would both like to see greater transparency about how funding is allocated, clearer accountability for what it delivers and recognition of the gaps parent volunteers are stepping in to fill.
Thank you, Claire, for sharing your family’s story and for the opportunities you are creating for others.