I'm Evie Jones

Along with my husband, Dave, I am the adoptive parent of two teenagers with multiple diagnoses and complex additional needs. And I’ll be totally honest…when we brought our toddler children home, we had absolutely no idea what we were getting ourselves into.

Our children have been now home for over 15 years. Every day I marvel at how far we have come, how they have grown and embraced their diagnoses, and what they can achieve. But, we struggled hard in the beginning. Even today we still face the daily challenges of post adoption and neurodiversity, just as you do. I know from often heart-breaking, experience how difficult, isolating and, sometimes, frightening parenting children like ours can be.

I was lucky. Unlike birth parents, I knew that there was a chance that my children would have challenges. Whilst it was clear that my son needed more support from the day he came home, my daughter was at primary school before we hit problems. And whilst they both have similar, multiple diagnoses, how that works in real life is different for each child.

As a result of my experiences early on with clinicians, social workers and school, I have spent the last 15 years learning about neurodiverse conditions, how they can present, and what help our children need to thrive. I worked, and continue to do so, with professionals in all fields to secure the best educational, psychological and medical support they need. Now in high school, both mainstream and a special education placement, they are flourishing.

Over these years I have fought hard to give my children the very best opportunities they can get. I know how difficult it is to find the support and information I desperately needed, and have seen first hand how traditional parenting advice often doesn’t work. I am now committed to ensuring that no other parent has to struggle in the same way.