Over the years of having a child with a disability, I have come to understand that we are not, as first thought, the only unusual family out there.

I regularly cross paths with people who state quite openly that one or both of their children or friend’s children have additional needs. Mostly because ‘we have one at home’.

I know not one ‘condition’ is alike but most of us probably know someone now who does not fit the mould.

The ubiquitous question is, are we diagnosing more? For some reason, are there more people with ‘conditions’ than there used to be? Or are people more open and understanding of their atypical traits?

Regardless of the reason for all this change, one thing is clear – life has been made so much easier for us. For the families that have disability thrust upon them, who have to navigate hurdles that disability creates, these hurdles are decidedly fewer and fewer.

I met a mum the other day who said so confidently and positively about her child with autism, that the world is so different now, our children will be included.

Being an ASN professional, I’m not sure I believe that fully. There are still hard-won battles and prejudice but, on the whole, there is the desire to change. People are exposed to difference at a much earlier stage because of various changes to policy. There are even people with Down’s Syndrome on the telly! They are magnificent, strong role models for anyone who is different so that they can feel empowered to celebrate who they are and what they have to offer.

So, as we should rightly be cautious of being retrograde with our attitudes towards people who are ostensibly ‘atypical’, we should also acknowledge how far we’ve come and how ‘atypical’ is slowly and encouragingly becoming the norm.