“YOU need a helping hand - you can’t do it on your own and you need someone to fight your corner.”

Julie Hunny’s son James was born with complex health issues, including severe joint and muscle pain and sensitivity to touch, leaving him anxious and affecting his confidence.

An intelligent boy, he has met his challenges head on and is currently studying for A-levels at Leeds City College in subjects including physics and law. He has also passed his driving test and is making new friends.

Julie is immensely proud of her son and his achievements, which, she says, have been possible thanks to the help and support they received from the charity Barnardo’s.

Since the age of nine Julie, 53, and James, 18, of Idle, have been supported by Barnardo’s, latterly through Bradford SENDIASS (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Information Advice and Support Service).

The service is aimed at parents and carers of children and young people across the district with special educational needs and disabilities, and those children too.

It helps them to work with schools and the local authority so that they have a good understanding of what support is needed and to make sure that it is put in place.

SENDIASS services include help in explaining reports and letters, making telephone calls and arranging meetings with schools and other professionals.

Says Julie: “The difficulty for parents like me is to get people to sit up and help - to have someone say they are going to do something and do it. Out of all the agencies that I have worked with only Barnardo’s have done exactly what they said they’d do.

“It really helps to have Barnardo’s help you understand how the system works and what you can and can’t ask for.”

James has been diagnosed as on the autism spectrum, with severe anxiety disorder. However, these aren’t terms he likes to use.

“I don’t like the autism label,” says James. “I used to have serious anxiety issues and I can see it fitted the bill with autism, and there’s nothing to be ashamed of there, but as far as I am concerned I was just shy and anxious and I spent a lot of time in my room. So I don’t feel comfortable with the autism label.”

Julie says, “From birth James was anxious and he had physical medical problems which affected his confidence. They originally thought he might have muscular dystrophy but he was diagnosed with Joint Hypermobility Syndrome.”

Also known as double-jointedness, the symptoms, include pain and stiffness in the joints and muscles. This led to James suffering chronic pain from an early age.

As James was hypersensitive to touch Barnardo’s helped Julie engage with social care and get support to adapt the house with grab rails and a wet room.

“When I think back to how things were when we first came to Barnardo’s, I used to despair that I’d just be a woman stuck at home forever with this eccentric kid who stayed in his room and wouldn’t speak to anyone.”

“He had to take medication every day and his motor skills meant it was like he was doing everything using oven gloves,” says Julie. “At school he was bullied and he couldn’t do things like play football with the other kids. Ultimately James wouldn’t leave the house and couldn’t engage with anyone.”

Says James: “I was bullied and I just locked myself away. It’s a been a slow re-integration, but Barnardo’s has been there all the way along the line.”

James did not want to go to the school to which he was allocated, so was home tutored. “The year of my GCSEs was spent trying to get me enough home tuition,” he says. “My confidence was at rock bottom even six months ago - had Barnardo’s not supported us I know I would never have got into college.”

Adds Julie: “We’ve had to fight but we’ve had fantastic tutors and he did get a place at a specialist school for children taking medication.

“I know so any people who have been in situations like mine and I've said you need to ring Barnardo’s - nobody knows just how valuable this type of service is. When you are in the situation it really helps to have Barnardo’s help you understand how the system works and what you can and can’t ask for.

“I can honestly say that of it wasn’t for them he would be off the radar - and he’s a clever kid. Barnardo’s support worker Nick has really motived James and given him encouragement to allow him to achieve so much.”

Adds James: “Barnardo’s has just always been there. I don’t remember when it wasn’t. I wouldn’t be in college now if it wasn’t for their support”

Young people can access the services alongside their parents or independently.

Team Manager with Bradford SENDIASS Debbie Jowett says: “Our advice covers a range of topics, including exclusions, queries about support in school, transport issues and a specific service to help families applying for an education, health and care plan.

“Most importantly, our support is tailored to the individual needs of the person. We have specially trained workers who have a wealth of experience working with children and families. They will help you to get your voice heard and make sure that your views and wishes are taken into consideration when it comes to decisions about your education or that of your child.

“You can call us, email us, or come along to a drop-in in your local area.”

Independent advice and support service case worker Nick Smith says: “Many of the families we work with struggle to navigate the education system. Sometimes they find all the jargon really confusing and this just adds to the stress of dealing with their child’s additional needs.

“I try to make sure that things are explained in a clear way so parents and carers know what to expect and what their options are. I was able to build up a positive relationship with Julie and James which was important in helping James find an appropriate college placement.”

*T: 01274 513300 W: barnardos.org.uk/bradford-sendiass E: BradfordSENDIASS@barnardos.org.uk