Sharing care for my son is hard. But I'm learning

Dimity, a 67-year-old mother of four, is learning to share care for her autistic son Stu. Stu, who requires substantial support, moved into his own home with 24/7 care almost two years ago. While this transition has helped Stu crave independence, it has also placed an invisible caring load on Dimity. Despite having other family members, Dimity still recruits, trains, and oversees Stu's support program, advocating for him and acting as his nominee.

Stu, who is perfectionistic, determined, and has a passion for cooking, crafting, and creating, struggles with being non-verbal, illiterate, emotional regulation, sensory overload, and has an intellectual disability. Despite these challenges, Dimity is working to share care responsibilities with others. She is developing a working document detailing her role as Stu's mother and advocate, planning for a future where Stu can be supported without her direct involvement, and involving his care team and family in the process.

Dimity acknowledges the immense effort required to care for Stu, but she remains committed to her role as his mother and advocate.