Compassion and understanding are powerful attributes.

As a parent and complex needs teacher it’s my ambition and responsibility to have that compassion and strive to understand what is really being communicated , to hold that space and experience with.

Labels can act as catalysts for this , a means of gaining knowledge to support and help thrive , but only when accompanied with the understanding and acceptance that everyone has the right to live their own version of life.

Not everyone can or will understand that ; they have their own reasons and experiences, and I’ve came to accept that. No label , ‘awareness day ‘ or even the most passionate advocating will change this.

For those of us with that understanding comes responsibility ; a responsibility to advocate for and walk alongside those that cannot easily communicate or access what they need to thrive in life.

As long as enough of us have that courage and are installing this in our young people then we have progress over perfection.

I have labels ; autistic , ADHD, C-PTSD, they are my identity and have helped hugely in developing self compassion and understanding , however in an ideal world they are irrelevant.

When others lack understanding these labels become very real , for me and those I need to advocate for. In these situations the ability to mask is crucial , I’m privileged to be able to do this , but this survival mode comes at an emotional cost that isn’t sustainable.

The contrary to this is safe places- where emotions , responses and communication are accepted in diverse ways . In these contexts labels don’t matter.

We can all think we we are open minded , but are labels being used to promote understanding of diversity: or as a way to ‘justify’ or try to ‘fix’ different ways of responding, communicating and experiencing life and each other.

For now we need to advocate , to encourage understanding that all lives are lived differently – labels or not.

Not everyone shares this sentiment and that’s ok , for now my greatest power is the ability to understand myself.

Labels aside ; understanding ourselves and our neurology allows us to love and accept ourselves – whether or not others understand us.

Only then can we truly advocate for others.