Empowering Every ALN Family in Wales: Beyond Autism and ADHD

For families navigating Wales’s ALN (Additional Learning Needs) system, getting the right support can feel overwhelming – especially if your child’s needs are less understood. Although the ALN reforms (Wales) emphasize a “needs led” approachresearch.senedd.wales, we often hear that help only comes after familiar diagnoses like autism or ADHD are given. Many families of children with Dyspraxia, Cerebral Palsy or rare genetic conditions find themselves overlooked. Here at Learn Without Limits CIC, we know how isolating that can feel. We are a parent‑led community interest company, and our mission is to support every ALN family in Wales, ensuring no one is left on the sidelines.

Welsh ALN Reforms and Neurodiversity Focus

In practice, however, autism and ADHD often receive the lion’s share of attention and resources. For example, the Welsh Government recently announced £13.7 million to cut waiting times for autism and ADHD assessmentsgov.wales. A Welsh Government survey also found that around half of ALN learners were reported as autistic and about one-third had ADHD, while only “smaller proportions” of families mentioned conditions like dyspraxia or physical impairmentsgov.walesgov.wales. These figures underline how the system tends to centre on well‑known neurodevelopmental needs, leaving other conditions under the radar.

Overlooked ALN Conditions: Dyspraxia, CP and Rare Disorders

For many parents, it feels like only certain labels matter. Conditions that are more visible or widely publicised often attract more funding and sympathy. For example, the Welsh Government’s recent £20m ALN funding was ring‑fenced for building and updating sensory rooms, specialist equipment and classroomschildcomwales.org.uk – upgrades that directly benefit pupils with sensory sensitivities or obvious physical disabilities. Meanwhile, families of children with dyspraxia, dyscalculia or rare genetic syndromes often have little tailored support in school. They may face long waits for a diagnosis or therapy in rural areas, and struggle to find resources geared to their child’s needs. We believe every ALN need deserves attention – whether or not it makes the headlines.

Diagnosis Delays and Rural Gaps

Long waits for assessment are a Wales‑wide problem. For example, by mid‑2023 67% of children referred for an autism or ADHD assessment had already been waiting more than 26 weeksnation.cymru. In more rural health boards, it was even worse: Hywel Dda (serving Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion) had an average wait of 75 weeks for a neurodevelopmental assessmentnation.cymru. This postcode‑by‑postcode variation can be stark. The Senedd’s Disabled Children’s Committee described Welsh provision as “patchy and inconsistent”, a “postcode lottery” for disabled childreneducationlawadvice.com. Families in under‑resourced areas tell us that referrals to educational psychologists or therapists can drag on for months, leaving children without the adjustments they need to learn. The law says support should start based on need, not a labelresearch.senedd.wales, but in reality families often must fight for every bit of help.

Learn Without Limits CIC: Support for Every ALN Family

At Learn Without Limits, we welcome every ALN family and condition. Our vision is that “Wales becomes the best place to grow up if you’re autistic, ADHD, or disabled”learnwithoutlimitscic.org – and by “disabled” we include children with dyspraxia, cerebral palsy, rare syndromes or any condition that affects learning. We understand families in these communities often feel left out, so we work to fill that gap. We provide clear guidance on the ALN law and IDPs, peer mentoring and support, plus friendly online Q&As and local meet‑ups – anything that helps you and your child get the support you deserve.

In addition, we’ve built a free Parent Guide App as a practical toolkit for ALN families. It offers printable IDP and letter templates, straightforward FAQs on Welsh ALN law, and links to community support and wellbeing resourceslearnwithoutlimitscic.org. It’s built on the real questions parents ask us, and we keep improving it with your feedback. Whether or not your child’s condition is well-known, Learn Without Limits is here for your family – every step of the way.

Share Your Story and Shape ALN Support

Parents and young people in our community: your experiences matter. We want to hear from you. By sharing what your family has been through, you help us improve our blog content, chatbot answers and app resources so that they speak to your needs. Together we can make sure future information and tools truly reflect life with dyspraxia, CP, rare conditions or any less-visible ALN.

• Share your experience: Contact us via our website or Facebook group to tell your child’s ALN journey. (You can be anonymous if you prefer.) Your story might inspire a future blog post or guide, and will show other families they are not alone.

• Improve our tools: Try our Parent Guide App and chatbot. Ask questions or suggest new topics. If an answer misses something important to you, let us know. We’ll use your feedback to update our app content and chatbot so they meet your real needs.

• Join the conversation: Follow Learn Without Limits on social media, attend an online Q&A or local meetup, and connect with other ALN families. When we share resources and advice, everyone benefits.

Join the Mission for Equal Support

Every child with ALN in Wales deserves fair support – not just those with the most visible conditions. By sharing your voice and experiences, we can change the system together. Learn Without Limits CIC invites you to get involved in our mission for equal support: whether by using our resources, contributing your story, or even volunteering. Together we can make Wales a place where no ALN family stands alone. Join us, and help ensure that all families navigating ALN in Wales have the guidance, care and community they need to help their children thrive.