What Makes Us Different, Makes Us Similar

Parents who have children with specific needs can sometimes feel isolated, lost and like nobody fully understands. Websites and social media can become their support as they go through difficult, puzzling and joyful times.

The Primary Learning Support Department strives to be able to support parents as well as students. Connecting parents with face-to-face meetings is such a valuable experience.

The school connected two parents, and the three of us shared experiences as parents and educators.

Mrs Joana Castro has a gorgeous son who has challenges related to Selective Mutism. This specific need is so very misunderstood and complex. Laura Vicente, who has taught Art at St Julian's for many years, is also a parent. Her lovely daughter also had selective mutism many years ago.

I asked Joana and Laura to reflect on the meeting.

“It was a wonderful experience for me to meet with Ceri Grünwald-Davies and Laura Vicente and to discuss the subject of Selective Mutism with them. I have learned a lot about it and feel very thankful for their help with both strategies and accommodations to help my son overcome this issue.” shared Mrs Joana Castro.

“I loved to help and share my experience with the selective mutism topic with another mother going through this problem. I remember when this happened to my daughter (13 years ago!), it was a very difficult time for me, and I wished I had someone to speak to who had been through the same difficulties. I am happy that now parents, teachers and the St. Julian’s School speak out about these difficulties in a very open way. I hope I could help a little bit with sharing my experience.” stated Mrs Laura Vicente.

Besides selective mutism, St. Julian’s would like to create connections between parents who have children with other needs, like ADHD, Autism, sensory difficulties, Dyslexia, Dyscalculia, Dyspraxia, anxiety, and self-regulation. 

Who better to advise, share, cry, laugh and learn from…….than parents?

If anyone else has had experiences working or living with children with Selective Mutism and the mentioned needs and would like to get in touch, please contact Mrs Ceri Grünwald-Davies.

We would like to share an enormous thanks with Joana and Laura for being so transparent, open and helpful, and we hope to hear from some other parents, too.

Mrs Ceri Grünwald-Davies, Head of Primary Learning Support