Born To Be Different back tonight at 9pm, C4

[squalorvictoria]

I've watched it since the start, can't believe it's been ten years and the children are now 13!

This programme is such an eye opener. William's family should not be fighting for something so obvious. Bloody hell. I am privileged enough not to be familiar with these issues - it is just an outrage.

Oh good, William got into the school.

oh my goodness. HOw hard it must be to leave him.

The teachers at William's new school seem really nice

ooh naice

The netball game with Zoe brought a year to my eye :(

Tear

We recently got our child a place at a residential school. It is horribly hard, and the care package they had up till then was lamentably poor. You have to shout, shout, shout. We got a lawyer, our MP and all three of our councillors involved, for what was, like William's, an open Ann and shut case.

And yes, Shelbie is astonishing.

it was a good show tonight - me and dd went through sooo many emotional ups and downs.fantastic to see everyone again.

I sobbed when William was in his bedroom at school and said (exact words not coming to mind right now) "you're not leaving yet" in a questioning, sad sort of way.

Having worked with children who have severe SN, I obviously have some insight but this hammered it home a bit more. Fuck the system for not supporting parents more. They are one of the groups of people whom the welfare state is for!

William just breaks my heart. He has such expressive eyes and you can tell he's not understanding at all why he's the way he is.

Shelbie too when she was on the compressor (is that what it's called?). So tough and I don't know how her mum copes - she has 7 kids doesn't she? And am I right in remembering there was another wee girl with shelby's condition who died too?

Zoe is brilliant, so lovely and not precocious at all but very mature.

Hamish is doing very well, even if he has got te whole everything is a question intonation thing going on!

When is it next on?

BeaWheesht,

Vicki had a son called Charlie who she lost when he was 3 months old due to the same condition. That was about 18 years ago after her first son, Rhys. He also had partial trisomy 9p.

So glad they did a follow up.

Channel 4 really lucked out on choosing such incredible families. All of them are so articulate, honest and just get on and deal with all that life throws at them.

I think William's family are incredible. To have to fight for something so seemingly obvious for nine months, I hope the people responsible for the rejection were watching this! The scene where his Mum was talking him out of the car brought a real lump to my throat, so much love there from both sides.

Caught up with thison 4oD this morning.

So pleased they are continuing to follow the lives of these incredible children and their families. Zoe really is an amazing girl- so mature- seems like she has good support in school but it really saddened me that she seems resigned to stares and nasty comments- how can kids can be so cruel?

William's family are amazingly resilient- the school looked wonderful and just what he needs.

And Hamish- wow! We will be seeing him at the paralympics in a few years by the looks of it!

Shelby is such a fighter- every series she seems to be battling something- I really expected bad news after the advert break but no she's bounced back. So pleased for her and her lovely family.

Looking forward to the next episode.

Thanks everyone for watching. The kids are all amazing (but I may be a tad biased as Williams mum). The fight for schooling was horrific, worse and longer than could be fitted into the programme. Like many of you have noticed it was one of the hardest things ever emotionally - wanting Wills to be happy was what pulled me through. He deserves that, his life may be shortened due to his complex health needs so its sure as heck going to be as happy as possible. We drove away crying, but as you will see it was the right decision. He is now a scout and plays football, he has a 'life' like other teenagers and even more girlfriends... He is such a ladies man!! We miss him terribly, we speak a few words to him everyday and the fantastic staff fill us in on his adventures!! His old school was good too, but like many with severe learning difficulties and autism etc he just could not cope with all the daily transitions. He needed specialist provision for his total needs, mainly epilepsy. I'm off to see his neurologist from GOS at school now (that's so much better than going into London), then I bring my little man home for the weekend. Thanks again for watching and all your lovely comments xxxxx

Thanks for checking in, neverbored (love the name!) So good to hear William is enjoying life at his new school.

Neverbored - thank you for sharing your story and your family with us. I am sorry you have had to fight so hard, it is a shame "the system" makes it all such a battle. William is lucky to have such a loving and articulate family.

Best wishes to all four of you.

neverbored, I was in awe watching you last night manage everything. I'm so glad you agreed to go on the programme - you taught me something.

So glad William is doing well and is happy at that lovely school. I hope your lovely girl is doing well too.

Neverbored, thank you for posting. You have been a real inspiration to me. I know very well what a struggle it is to access residential placements, and I was shocked at the single hour of care you had at home too. Your speech in the programme about having to battle the very people who should be supporting you is one I've made myself plenty of times. I'm just so glad you won and that William is enjoying life there.

Thank you never bored and all the other families for agreeing to participate in the programme. It's particularly poignant to me as the first programme aired only weeks after my daughter, who has Downs, was born I can remember watching it avidly through my sobs as I really didn't know how my own life was going to be and I've watched it ever since, such amazing families thank you again

Been watching this since it starred and - as I am sure everyone is - simply bowled Iberia by these kids and their amazing families.
Neverbored...I can only add to the comments above about how inspirational you are.
So glad will is happy at school
X

I hope you are getting some balance in your lives too. The programme showed you both as so focused on your children's needs and that's obviously right but I do hope this new stage in all your lives has allowed you both a little more freedom.