Atwood and Zay
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Atwood was born with a rare genetic condition. He has physical and development issues and a nasogastric tube provides nutrition.
At 12 months, his mum, Zay, needed to return to work.
She contacted several childcare centres, but they either ignored her or refused to enrol Atwood.
Atwood’s therapy service provider made some enquiries, but wasn’t optimistic.
‘A social worker told me that children like my son don’t usually go to childcare. Their mothers usually have to give up work to look after them.’
Zay felt she had no choice and resigned. She was unable to pursue her career and the family had to rely on one income.
Atwood missed out on important social interactions with his peers.
‘As I was new to the world of disability, I accepted that my son didn’t belong at day-care … He was segregated from his community, and so was I.’
Zay told family and former colleagues about her resignation.
‘Everyone was disappointed. But unfortunately, nobody was surprised given exclusion of children with disabilities in our society,’ she told the Royal Commission.
‘It would be wonderful to have some kind of a mentoring service for new parents of children with a disability, to help them find support … It’s just so hard to know what to do in those early days … It’s hard to also feel rejected by your community.’
Two years later, via word of mouth, Zay found a childcare centre ‘willing to go above and beyond’ for Atwood.
‘But it was too late to save my career, and my son’s developmental delays had regressed.’
The childcare centre is ‘wonderfully inclusive’. Staff encourage all the children, helping them learn to play with Atwood.
‘I hope that by teaching very young children about difference, we not only improve the outcomes for children with disabilities and their families, but we create an ideological foundation for all early childhood development, leading through to education, then into the workforce, and finally by setting the groundwork for a healthy inclusive society for the future.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.