Hayden’s Story

Hayden is an Eleven-year-old boy who lives with his mum, Karen. Hayden has multiple diagnoses, including autism with a PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance) profile, ADHD, ADD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. These conditions contribute to severe anxiety, sensory sensitivities, and difficulties with communication, learning, and coping with everyday demands.

Hayden is an energetic, adventurous and creative boy who loves spending time at the skate park, exploring VR technology, swimming, and visiting theme parks.

Due to trauma caused by previous schools failing to meet his needs, Hayden has been out of education for over two years. During this time, Karen had to give up work to become his full-time carer.

The lack of suitable education and support left the family isolated, struggling financially, and under immense emotional strain. Hayden’s unpredictable needs required constant supervision and emotional support, which has taken a significant toll on Karen’s wellbeing.

Karen faced enormous barriers in navigating the system and securing the right assessments and referrals for Hayden. Despite her efforts, she found it extremely difficult to make her voice heard by professionals and to advocate effectively for her son’s needs. By the time she reached out for help, she was at breaking point.

Karen contacted We Are Beams in the hope of finding guidance. The charity quickly became a lifeline for the family. Beams Family Advice Advisors ensured that Karen’s concerns were heard, provided expert advice, and supported her in gathering the evidence and referrals required for Hayden’s case. Their advocacy played a crucial role in helping the family through a tribunal, which ultimately secured specialist support and the right school placement for Hayden.

With the right placement and specialist support now in place, Hayden has the opportunity to feel safe, understood, and hopeful about his future.

For Karen, the support has brought renewed confidence and relief. She no longer feels alone in her fight for her son’s rights and can focus on being a mother.

Karen describes how Beams support has had such a positive impact on her family:

“I know without a doubt that we wouldn’t have made it this far without the support from the Family Advice Team. They made sure Hayden finally got the specialist help he so desperately needs. For the first time in years, I feel like I can just be a mum again.”

Karen and Hayden’s story demonstrates the vital role that We Are Beams play in empowering families and ensuring children with complex needs are understood and have hope for a bright future