In this week's episode of The Autism Mums Podcast reflect on attending the peaceful protest Every Pair Tells a Story, led by The SEND Sanctuary.

• The Every Pair Tells a Story protest shone a light on thousands of children across the UK who have been left without the education or support they deserve.
• Each pair of shoes represented a child and the pain, resilience, and determination of the families standing behind them.
• Parents and carers united peacefully to demand accountability, compassion, and systemic change.
• The stories of children like Archie, Harper, Izzy, Lucas, and Jackson highlighted the devastating human cost of a broken system.
• Long waiting lists, inconsistent support, and poor understanding within schools continue to fail neurodivergent children.

The SEND Sanctuary

ASDivas & Dudes

Fix SEND Dorset

ASCape

The SEND Nurture Network

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Victoria Bennion:

Welcome back to the Autism Mums podcast. Thank you for joining us for today's

episode, which is both a bit emotional and I think quite historic.

Natalie Tealdi: Yeah,

I mean, last Monday across England and Scotland, parents and carers came

together for a peaceful protest called Every Pair Tells a Story.

Victoria Bennion:

Pairs of shoes were laid outside council buildings, and each pair represented a

child who's been failed by the education and support systems. Whether that's

been waiting for years for an assessment, missing out on a school place, or

being left without help.

Natalie Tealdi: This

movement led by the Send Sanctuary is about visibility and accountability. It's

about family showing through the quiet power of empty shoes. That our children

deserve better.

Victoria Bennion:

Yeah. And we went along to support the protest, didn't we? Nat, which was

outside Dorsett County Council at County Hall in Dorchester. And I dunno about

you, but I did find it really moving. [00:01:00]

I think there were more than 70 pairs of shoes laid outside those council

offices and each pair of shoes represented a child who's been let down by the

system in some way, which I don't know.

Victoria Bennion:

It's really sad. And I think thinking of the shoes as a symbol, they were

really powerful. They represent. The steps that our children should be taking

into school with friendships, with independence, and yet so many can't because

the system just keeps letting them down.

Natalie Tealdi: I

mean, it was so powerful sort of seeing them all laid out and thinking, gosh,

thinking about what that rep represents, like 70 pairs of shoes for 70

children....