A Parents Comments
Only two weeks to go now before my darling William leaves The Lodge, and beforehand Hope Lodge School and the Community Resource Centre (CRC). Two weeks before he moves onto his new adult placement in Wiltshire.
I am full of sadness, gratitude and love towards everyone who has taken their part in caring, supporting, developing and loving William in his long, challenging and ultimately happy years at The Lodge.
Let me fill you in on the background leading up to this day. William, after much heart-searching and researching started his first day at The Lodge in January 1998 when he was only six and a half years old. It was the most difficult decision I have ever had to make in my life and hopefully nothing will again challenge my tenacity, dedication and courage to “do the right thing by William” and not bow down to the weight of my own emotions pulling me the opposite way to keep him close and safe in the confines of his bedroom for the rest of his life.
Those first weeks are a little hazy to me as the full weight of sadness fell upon me plus the fact that I had handed over responsibility to “strangers”. These so called strangers I was wise enough to trust completely turned out to be a godsend and rock of stability I and, most importantly, William needed.
From his initial days where he screamed so much with such alacrity, pitch and volume they actually measured the noise levels and equated it to noise levels if encountered by workmen using a pneumatic drill would have meant the enforced use of ear plugs of serious workman quality! William has lived within the loving arms of The Lodge, Hope Lodge School and the CRC for 13 and a half years now and has experienced things I never in my wildest dreams could have thought he’d manage namely - rock climbing, archery, kayaking, horse riding (when initially he was scared of animals) to name a few.
The people who work for Hampshire Autistic Society are incredibly special and have that elusive quality “empathy” which ironically is not always prevalent in the non-autistic community. The one key person who has pervaded everything throughout his years is the Family Liaison Officer, Barbara Saunders. And it is my eternal thanks I give to her now for all the times she has looked after me when I’ve been upset or agitated. She has shown an enormous capacity for an even-handed, even-tempered ability to “sort things out”. Her loyalty, experience, passion and empathy are not overlooked and she is the main stay of Hope Lodge School and to everyone who touches her in our everyday “autistic” lives.
All of his teachers have shown different qualities and each has developed Will as a consequence. Presently it’s Dynamic Dan who is his Teacher in the CRC and I thank him for his leadership, decisiveness and heart.
The carers over the years have been numerous – too numerous to mention by name but my thanks goes out to all of them, especially the ones who went that extra mile with Will.
William is an adult now and has just, to complicate matters, developed epilepsy. Again, everyone from Hampshire Autistic Society and his adult placement have pulled together to support him through this difficult time.
It’s time for me to look forward with Will’s interest at heart with hope and optimism for the future. The only one constant in life is change…… and with that in mind…..a final thanks to everyone from the last 13 and a half years and Will, Charlie (his brilliant elder brother) and I will miss you greatly and cannot be grateful enough for all you have done for both of us.
Will’s Mother
September 2011
