Jude’s Story

Jude is an adventurous and curious 8-year-old boy, who lives within a loving family with his mum, dad, an older sister, and younger brother. Jude has profound Autism, Global Development Delay as well as hypermobility, which affect many aspects of his daily life.

He also lives with PICA, a condition often associated with autism, where individuals crave and consume non-food items. This means Jude’s family is constantly on high alert to ensure he does not eat anything dangerous or inedible. Jude never feels full, so food must be stored away to prevent him from overeating.

Jude was a bubbly baby and met all his milestones until the age of 2 years, when he began to regress. He stopped talking and became overwhelmed by everyday life. As an adventurous young boy, has no awareness of danger, and requires constant supervision and one to one care.

Jude has a love for water, and the family has had to make adaptations in the house due to taps being left on, causing floods.

Despite the challenges, Jude has shown incredible resilience. He has adapted well to his hypermobility, and his communication skills are steadily improving. He especially enjoys sensory play, singing, swimming, and splashing in water.

Beams first supported Sophie, Jude’s mother with a place on the Cygnets programme. This 6-week course is for parents with children with Autism, providing coping strategies, reducing isolation and helping develop a parent support network. This has been life changing for Sophie, helping her understand Jude’s needs and adapt family life in a positive and supportive way.

Jude also loves attending Beams short breaks activities, where he can meet other children and feel a sense of belonging. These short breaks have also given his parents valuable time to recharge and focus on their other children.

Most recently, Beams have provided Jude with an adapted pushchair, which has allowed the family to go out on outings, which they stopped doing, as Jude gets very tired and is unable to walk. This has made a real difference to the whole family’s wellbeing.

Sophie is so grateful to have found Beams:

“Thank you so much to everyone at Beams, from home visits with Family Advice and respite care, to the payroll service and most recently Jude’s pushchair. The support we’ve received has made such a positive impact not just on Jude, but on our whole family.”

We Are Beams remains committed to supporting Jude and his family, ensuring he can reach his full potential and live the happiest life possible.