EAMONN DUFFY

TEACHER Una Herdman, 41, from Belfast is married to labourer-turned-carer Eamonn, 41. They have a son Eamonn, three, and a two-year-old daughter Aoibhinn. She says: ‘OUR son Eamonn, who will be four in September, has been at Mencap since last September. The children’s centre there is unique because they have all the therapies and systems and supports on one site. Eamonn was flagged up with developmental delay aged one and was diagnosed with autism in January of this year. At Mencap he had occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, he had his own key worker — they had an individual education plan.

Before his referral there Eamonn was on a lot of waiting lists, which was exhausting. I come from a primary teaching background so I have a good idea of who to contact, who to approach, yet still you felt very isolated and segregated. What I think is exceptional about Mencap is that any time you need help you can lift the phone and speak to a key worker or therapist. You never felt like you were intruding.

The amount of workshops and courses they provided for us as parents was fantastic. Sitting alongside other parents and discussing these issues, after feeling isolated for so long, was fantastic.

This time last year Eamonn met the therapist in the Mencap centre for the first time. At this stage, he was on the cusp of being nonverbal and it was very concerning for us. After a year at Mencap he is starting to speak, he is communicating more effectively. The support Rory has given the children’s centre is so generous.

By chance we were in the centre just before Christmas when Rory came to meet the children. We also went to the evening with him in the Waterfront. Jimmy Nesbitt was very funny and Rory was open and honest, so you felt at ease. Pep [Guardiola] was very good as well, even though we’re a big Man United household!’