How My Parents Shaped Who I Am

When I think about the person I am today, I realise just how much of that is down to my parents. They were both teachers before they retired, and education was always at the centre of our home. My dad eventually became a headteacher, and from an early age, I was instilled with the belief that learning was essential—especially for children. But beyond academics, my parents also taught me something even more important: the power of advocacy.

The Importance of Advocacy

From the moment I started school, my mum became my biggest advocate. I don’t remember this myself, but when I was seven, I was assessed for dyslexia. The results were inconclusive—not because there wasn’t evidence, but because I couldn’t read yet. Looking back, that should have been a clear sign that something was wrong, but in the 1980s, understanding of dyslexia was far more limited.

I also relied heavily on lip reading when I was younger, something that wasn’t always recognised in the classroom. When I was in Infant 1 (the equivalent of Year 1 today), my teacher would look at the class while speaking, allowing me to follow along. But when she told us to put our heads down to work, I would do exactly that—unaware that she was still giving instructions. Three times, I was told off for not listening, and eventually, my mum received a letter home.

She wasted no time. The next day, she went straight to the school to speak with the teacher.

“Laura is deaf. That’s why she’s not responding. You need to tap her on the shoulder or let her know when you’re speaking to her.”

The teacher’s response? “I don’t believe you. I will only believe it when I see a doctor’s note.”

That very day, I had an appointment with my consultant, and my mum made sure to get a letter confirming my hearing loss. The next day, she took it into school. The teacher barely acknowledged it—there was no apology, just dismissiveness. But my mum didn’t back down, and because of her, the school had no choice but to accommodate me.

Fighting for My Hearing Aids

Of all the times my mum fought for me, one of the most important was when I was nine and struggling in school. I had undergone numerous operations, and during an appointment with my consultant, he told us there was nothing more they could do. His exact words were, “You’ll just have to live with it.”

But my mum wasn’t willing to accept that.

“What about hearing aids?” she asked.

His response was shockingly ableist: “Oh, we didn’t think you’d want her to be different.”

My mum’s reply was simple but powerful: “She can’t hear. She’s already different. She’s struggling, and I believe that if she has a hearing aid, she’ll be able to catch up.”

And she was right. Once I got my hearing aids, everything changed. I could finally access the world in a way I never had before.

A Teacher and an Advocate

Although my mum was a maths teacher, she was also so much more than that. She was my advocate, my champion, and the reason I was able to navigate a world that wasn’t built with people like me in mind. She taught me the importance of standing up for what’s right, of pushing for the support that children need, and of never accepting “no” as the final answer when something can be done.

My parents shaped who I am—not just by teaching me the value of education but by showing me how to fight for myself and for others. And for that, I am forever grateful.

If this story resonated with you, I’d love to hear from you. Have you had to advocate for yourself or your child in education? Let’s keep the conversation going—like, share, and subscribe to my blog for more stories and insights on parenting, neurodiversity, and advocacy.

What were your parents doing at your age?