Shannon's Story
From personal battle to a lifeline for others
This journey is the very reason All Things SEN & More was formed. Shannon’s fight for her child is the foundation of our commitment to yours.
A precious, preterm beginning
Shannon is a mother to two children, Maison and Graham. Her journey into advocacy began with Maison’s challenging start to life. He was born prematurely at 29 weeks, weighing just 650g. Maison spent 2 months in a high dependency ICU and a further 4 months in special care at Liverpool Women’s and Whiston Hospitals.
For a while, there was hope. At 18 months, Maison could say “mum,” “dad,” and “nan,” and was eating oral food. But just six months later, he lost his words and stopped eating. This was the beginning of a frightening and isolating battle.
A mother's pleas ignored
Maison’s journey, like so many others, was marked by concerns that weren’t taken seriously. Despite his complex health history and a team of professionals, there was no communication between services. Important signs were missed. 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 was told to wait, to give it time, that “he’ll catch up.” But he didn’t.
The act that changed everything
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 single, brave decision changed everything. But to truly challenge the professionals who had failed her son, she knew showing them the reality wasn’t enough. She had to learn their system.
Becoming the expert
She dedicated herself to studying the SEND Code of Practice inside out, educating herself on the law and the language of the system so she could advocate for her child from a place of strength, not desperation. Her hard-won expertise led to a defining moment: at just 22 years old, she sat across from 13 professionals in one meeting and won every single request she made for her son.
Maison today
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.