Co. Tyrone mum spearheading support group for neurodiverse adults

Natasha McElroy’s voice bristles with determination when she explains why her family are establishing a support group aimed at providing guidance, resources, and a sense of community for neurodiverse adults in the Omagh area and beyond.

The catalyst for their initiative? Natasha’s son, John – affectionately known as ‘John-John’ – who was diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome at the tender age of three.

The family are particularly driven by John’s experiences navigating into adulthood, and the lack of support services for neurodiverse members of the local community.

Reflecting on the early days of John’s diagnosis, Natasha recalls a whirlwind of confusion and uncertainty.

“Asperger’s Syndrome was a relatively new thing 20 years ago,” she explains.

“We lived in America at the time that John was diagnosed. At first, I thought he was a bit high maintenance, but his teachers were noticing things that I wasn’t aware of.”

John’s preschool brought in an educational psychologist who diagnosed the ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’, which is essentially a high-functioning person with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

“I remember sitting on the stairs, typing ‘Asperger’s Syndrome’ into Google, wondering what we were headed for,” recalled Natasha.

A year later, the family moved to Omagh where John received received significant support during his primary school years at Omagh Integrated PS.

Innovative teaching methods and dedicated classroom assistants provided a nurturing environment for John, but as he transitioned to higher education, the landscape shifted dramatically.

“There were a lot of services available when John was young,” said Natasha. “He had a lot of help at school… he had classroom assistants, therapy groups and there were sensory rooms.”

However, it wasn’t until John finished his A-Levels that Natasha noticed a stark and frustrating drop-off in services and assistance.

“Once John went for a chat to discuss where his A-Levels would take him, there was nothing – no guidance.

“I sat back and thought, ‘Is this it? Where do we go now?’”

‘Struggle’

John’s transition to higher education was riddled with complications; nearly all of which boiled down to a lack of understanding.

The 23-year-old explained the challenges he faced as a neurodiverse adult pursuing higher education to study Engineering.

“Going from school to university was a massive change because I was just left to my own devices without a clear direction on what I should do,” John said.

“I felt strange because it seemed as though everyone else understood everything so quickly but I didn’t.

“The lecturers made me feel like I should understand what they were saying… I was sort of left to fend for myself.”

John’s experiences prompted the family to stand up to the situation.

“Unless we fought, John would have nothing,” said Natasha.

“But my problem is that there are others out there, like John, who are losing out. But they might not have the resources or the where-with-all to say ‘not good enough’.

“I do not take no for an answer and I think if we had of stood back, John would have just been written off.”

Support group

In response to the glaring gap in support and services for neurodiverse adults, Natasha and her daughter, Erin, are taking action.

They are setting up a support group to offer a lifeline for families navigating similar challenges, while providing a platform for individuals like John to connect, share experiences, and, crucially, forge friendships.

“We need to band together and support each other through these challenges,” said Natasha.

“We want to be a voice that tells people it’s going to be ok, we were there, we understand and we can help.”

For Erin, the motivation is clear: “We know there are people like us, almost living in silence,” she says.

“But it’s alright to ask for help.

“I feel like there needs to be more support – somebody to clear the clouds and say it’s going to be alright.”

If you feel like you could benefit from the support that Natasha and Erin are offering, you can message or call them on 07471 060801.