“I was broken. I felt so heartbroken.” 💔 What happens when you receive a diagnosis you never expected, while already navigating the challenges of raising a child with profound autism? In this powerful and emotional episode of We’re Not Your Typical, Jenni opens up about the reality of raising seven children, including her son Bertie, who has Down syndrome, and Ronnie, who is profoundly autistic and non-verbal. Jenni shares the shock of discovering Bertie’s Down syndrome diagnosis after birth, the eight-day wait for answers, and the fear, grief and uncertainty that followed. She also speaks honestly about the reality of being a special needs parent, from ADHD burnout and mental health struggles to the relentless anxiety, exhaustion and isolation that can come with caring for children with additional needs. In this episode, we discuss: - Receiving a Down syndrome diagnosis after birth - Raising a child with Down syndrome alongside a profoundly autistic, non-verbal child - The reality of special needs parenting that social media doesn’t show - ADHD burnout, anxiety and parental mental health - The impact of additional needs on siblings and family relationships - The challenges of respite care, sleep deprivation and constant hypervigilance - Navigating mainstream education and specialist schools - Learning to advocate for your children and trust your instincts - Finding acceptance, strength and gratitude in the unknown This is an honest conversation about the realities of raising children with additional needs: the heartbreak, the exhaustion, the love and the moments that change your entire perspective. If you’re a parent navigating autism, Down syndrome, SEND or neurodivergence, we hope this episode helps you feel seen, understood and a little less alone. 👉 Join our Patreon for more support, community and behind-the-scenes content: https://patreon.com/NotYourTypical?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink 👉 Subscribe for weekly episodes on autism, SEND parenting and real family stories. Sponsored by B&W https://www.blackandwhitebridging.co.uk/ #Autism #ADHD #SENDParenting #NeurodivergentFamily #AutismParenting #AutismAwareness #DownSyndrome #SEND #SpecialNeedsParenting #Neurodiversity