As families across Angus prepare for the summer holidays, one mother has made a desperate plea to Angus Council to provide respite care for her severely disabled son.
Nicola Pearson, 34, from Forfar has tried for three years to get care over the summer break for nine-year-old Max, who has severe autism and aggressive behaviours.
He is non-verbal, has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and self harms.
He attends The Green Room at Langlands Primary School but, as the school breaks for the holidays today, his parents have no support network.
Nicola is preparing to quit her part-time job as she cannot take six-and-a-half weeks off to care for her son.
She said: “Max doesn’t get any support, apart from the school.
“We keep getting told by social work he is on a waiting list and we will definitely get help this year, but we have been asking for three years.
“I am just exhausted. I started a part-time job last year thinking something would be in place by now.
“We will pretty much be house-bound for six weeks. We dread the summer holidays, it is the hardest time of the year for us all. We find it difficult to cope but have no choice.”
Nicola and her husband Phil, who works 12-hour shifts at Don and Low in Forfar, have been told there are not enough staff to provide respite cover.
She said: “I love my job, I work from 10am to 2pm, Monday to Friday.
“I will have to hand in my notice as there is no way I can take six-and-a half weeks off.
“My work has been really accommodating.”
The couple, who also have a 12-year-old daughter, are at the “most desperate and vulnerable state” they have ever been in and “struggle every day just to cope with life.”
“We have begged social work for help, have screamed we can’t cope but have been forgotten.
“Summer holidays are great for families but families with special needs children are just forgotten – living a life of panic attacks, feeling worthless, losing my job, my child has no support.
“What is wrong with our system? Surely they need to start helping parents with kids who have severe disabilities?”
An Angus Council spokesman said: “While we won’t discuss individual circumstances, we do know this family and are making efforts to contact them to discuss the matter.
“Angus Council can provide support and home care packages following assessment – this includes respite care where there is an assessed need.
“A number of agencies, organisations and charities also offer summer activities and programmes in Angus that are available to children with disabilities.
“Parent-to-parent support can also be available.”
