About Our Founder - Shannon
Shannon's Story
Shannon has 2 children, Maison and Graham. Maison was born prematurely 29 weeks at 650g. Maison spent 2 months in high dependancy ICU and a further 4 months in special care in Liverpool Women’s and Whiston Hospitals. At 18 months Maison could say mum dad and nan. He could eat oral food, but 6 months later Maison lost his words and also stopped eating.
Maison’s journey started like many others: with concerns that weren’t taken seriously. Despite a complex health history due to prematurity and a team of professionals around him, there was no communication between services. Important signs were missed. And while his mum begged for someone to listen, Maison began to regress — silently slipping through the cracks.
She knew by the age of two that mainstream school wasn’t right for him. She didn’t yet know how to get him into specialist provision, but she knew it was where he belonged. She was told to wait. To give it time. That “he’ll catch up.”
But he didn’t.
What she now understands is that Maison has a form of autism that can cause regressions, where progress stalls or reverses. Milestones were lost. And while professionals dismissed her concerns, her child’s health deteriorated to the point that she feared he might die from malnutrition.
She wasn’t asking for the world — she just wanted someone to act before it was too late.
In desperation, she did what few would even think to do — she called social services on herself, requesting a Child and Family Assessment. That decision changed everything.
But to challenge the professionals who had failed her son, she knew showing them the reality wasn’t enough. She had to learn their system — their language — and their law. She studied the SEND Code of Practice inside out, educating herself so she could advocate for her child from a place of strength.
At just 22 years old, she sat across from 13 professionals in one meeting — and won every single request she made for her son.
Today, Maison attends a specialist SEN provision that understands his needs. He now eats orally after years of feeding difficulties, and has received a diagnosis of ARFID (Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder).
With the right support, the right environment, and specialist teaching, Maison has made progress that once felt impossible.
This journey — from being dismissed, to being empowered — is what led to All Things SEN & More being formed.