Family Spotlight #1

Mary and Rose’s journey shows the power of perseverance, early intervention, and parent empowerment through the Can Do’s transformative support.

Family Spotlight: Mary and Rose’s Journey with The Home of Can Do

This month, we are delighted to feature Mary and Rose as our Family of the Month. Their inspiring story highlights the power of perseverance, early intervention, and the incredible transformations that can happen when parents feel empowered to support their children. Here is their journey in Mary’s own words:

Recognising the Need for Support
"When Rose was about 12 months old, I started noticing that she wasn’t making any noises. By 18 months, there were still no sounds. If you weren’t in the same room as her, you wouldn’t even notice she was in the house. She was a very quiet baby and an equally quiet toddler. I remember reaching out to my health visitors for advice, but they weren’t concerned. They told me she was developing normally and that there was no need to worry. I was also told that if she did need support, it wouldn’t be available until she was around two-and-a-half years old. That didn’t sit well with me."

Finding Jo and the Home of Can Do
"Frustrated, I began searching online for help and came across Jo on Facebook. Initially, I was skeptical. I hadn’t heard of her before. But I decided to take part in her five-day challenge, and I was really impressed. Still, I thought about it for a little while longer before finally joining her Bootcamp in May 2021. From that point on, I stayed in the Bootcamp, and it has been a transformative experience for both me and my daughter."

Rose’s Transformation
"When we first started, Rose was a child who lived in her own little world. She would quietly line up her blocks and showed little interest in interacting with me or the world around her. She made no attempts at verbal communication. But through the guidance and support of the Bootcamp, she began to change. Now, she chats with other children and adults!

Along the way, Rose was diagnosed as autistic. Like many autistic children, she processes language differently. She is a gestalt language processor, which means she doesn’t learn words one by one and then combine them. Instead, she tends to learn and use whole phrases or sentences. She went from having no words at three and a quarter years old to speaking in full sentences by the age of three and a half. She knew what she wanted to say and found a way to express it."

The Role of AAC
"During this journey, we also used AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication). We had an iPad with a programme that allowed Rose to press buttons to say words in a child’s voice. She could use it to build sentences. I’m sure this played a significant role in helping her develop knowledge, vocabulary, and confidence with language. It served as a bridge until she was ready to use her own voice."

The Power of the Bootcamp
"The Bootcamp has been hugely beneficial. It gave me the knowledge and reassurance that what you can do as a parent while waiting for professional help can be just as effective as the eventual professional support. Jo’s guidance gave me the confidence to trust myself and Rose and to let her lead the way.

I had always heard advice to narrate everything you do and fill every moment with language. But for Rose, that wasn’t what she needed. Jo’s approach taught me to give her space, to look for subtle cues of communication, and to allow her to blossom. It was less about waiting for professional support to arrive like a knight in shining armour and more about recognising that the best therapy happens in your home, day in and day out."

A Community of Support
"Being part of the Bootcamp wasn’t just about Rose’s progress; it was also about the journey with other parents. Celebrating each small breakthrough in other children’s development made us feel like one big family. My daughter is now four and a half years old and getting ready for school. Unless you know her well, you probably wouldn’t even realise she had language difficulties. Although challenges remain, the confidence and tools I gained through the Bootcamp continue to guide me."

To Parents Considering The Home of Can Do
"If you’re wondering whether this is genuine, I can confidently say it is. If you want professional, evidence-based guidance that empowers you as a parent or carer, this is the place to be. It’s a little, caring community and a wonderful, safe corner of the internet that you won’t want to leave once you’ve found it."

Thank you, Mary and Rose, for sharing your incredible story. Your journey is a testament to the power of early intervention, perseverance, and the difference that the Home of Can Do can make for families. We wish you all the best as Rose continues to grow and thrive.