The first day of school is always a milestone but for Buderim mum Amelia Liddy-Sudbury and her son Teddy, it will mark something much more significant.
Teddy suffers childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and she worried he may not be ready to start Prep alongside his fellow five-year-olds.
The rare disorder affects the ability to move the mouth to be able to speak.
“Apraxia has had a profound effect on Ted’s life, and that of our little family,” Mrs Liddy-Sudbury said.
“While he could fully comprehend the world around him, he was unable to verbally engage, despite his best efforts.
“This meant that we worried he wouldn’t be ready for Prep.”
But after enlisting the help of a Buderim-based early childhood intervention program, Teddy’s communication skills have improved to the point that Mrs Liddy-Sudbury says he is “thriving”.
“Ted struggled to make connections with teachers (at daycare) and friends until his verbal communication improved in 2022,” she said.
“Previously he felt isolated and lonely. He has been teased and misunderstood.
“I will never forget that pain, witnessing his struggle. It changed me fundamentally as a person; my priorities, my purpose, everything has shifted.”
The program was run by Early Start Australia, which uses professionals such as speech pathologists, psychologists and osteopaths to help young children with learning or physical difficulties before they start school.
“Ted’s therapists, Angelina and Brooke, unlocked Ted’s potential with their patience and compassion,” Mrs Liddy-Sudbury said.
“They took him as he was, took the time to understand what made him tick, what lit him up – then they created a therapy plan around his interests and personality.”
Now, Teddy is more than ready to start at a private primary school on the Sunshine Coast this week, alongside his siblings Freddie and Elizabeth, much to the delight of Mrs Liddy-Sudbury and her husband Neil.
“Ted is very excited about the idea of school, and incredibly proud that he will be attending school with his big brother and sister,” she said.
“He has worked so hard over the past two years and we are so very proud of him.”
But that first day of school might not be easy for everyone.
“You can only imagine my tears as he runs off to school,” said Mrs Liddy-Sudbury, who is a creator and influencer via @ameliashomeedit.
“The truth is that I am very protective of him – perhaps other parents of children with additional needs may empathise. So I need to let him go, to enter the world without me by his side, so he can navigate school as an independent, capable and confident child. I bet he won’t even look back!
“I’ll be a mess, and he’ll be thrilled.”
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