Lara is social and outgoing, she also has intellectual and mild physical disabilities that mean she needs support with many things, including meals and dressing.
Playdates, sleepovers without her parents being there weren’t possible, and that troubled her mum, Kath. Where would Lara make friends and have fun away from home? Surely all kids deserve that. And what would happen, Kath wondered, if she became ill and couldn’t care for her.
Together with friend Tina Graham (whose son Tom has Down Syndrome), Kath searched for something stimulating, supported and fun for kids with special needs to do on weekends and holidays. Kath investigated emergency respite, but couldn’t contemplate sending Lara to stay with strangers. The care (though competent) was impersonal. No one would consider it for a mainstream child so why should it be good enough for Lara?
