Helping SEND people thrive is easier than you think

As part of SEND Takeover Day 2026, we're asking children and young people across Hertfordshire a simple question: what helps you thrive?

In this guest blog, Dom Harvey, one of our Experts by Experience, reflects on his own journey and explains why accessible, timely and judgement-free support can make all the difference.

About me

Hi, my name is Dom and I’m 25 years old. I’m one of the Experts by Experience at Hertfordshire County Council, and I have ASD and OCD, diagnosed later in life.

Like a lot of people diagnosed later in life, I spent a lot of time developing coping strategies, and feeling burnt out before I tried accessing support. When I did, I realised first-hand how needlessly difficult that process can be. I try to focus my work with Experts by Experience on making decision-makers aware of the barriers that many disabled people face.

What helps me thrive?

What struck me about the question of ‘what makes me thrive’ was how difficult it was to answer. As a disabled person, so much effort must be spent on just navigating barriers around you, it feels like you just don’t have the energy to thrive.

Then I thought of my experience starting university, where I had a meeting with the disability and learning support team on arrival. I expected the usual uphill battle, but instead was given a list of support arrangements and told to select any and all that I needed! No lengthy assessments, no screening, no decision-making processes, just support available at the point of access purely because I needed it.

Asking for help isn't cheating

In truth, it took me a while to make use of these accommodations. My own doubts, mixed with that voice of stigma and the guilt of asking for help, made me reluctant to use them. But there isn’t anything noble or deserving about suffering for suffering’s sake. It finally occurred to me that I wasn’t receiving an unfair advantage, I was starting with a disadvantage, and this was levelling the playing field. Unsurprisingly, making use of the accommodations I needed for my disability improved my experience massively.

Making support easier to access

My experience at university changed the way I thought about support. Too often, disabled people can find themselves having to justify every request for help. Systems can be unneccessarily complicated, time-consuming and difficult to navigate. Even when support exists, barriers can prevent people from accessing it.

What stood out for me about my experience at university was how reasonable and easy it was, and that I wasn't made to constantly prove my needs. The approach recognised that accessibility isn't a finite resource and that disabled people shouldn't have to justify every request for support.

Why listening matters

So for me, I thrive when I am given the opportunity to pursue my goals and ambitions with help if I need it. I’d go so far as to argue that isn’t even SEND specific! Everyone benefits from being listened to, understood and supported. What adds value to support and helps people with SEND to thrive is to listen to their needs and provide support without judgement. That’s it.

You don't need to be a large organisation with unlimited resources. Creating a welcoming environment where people can talk about their needs, and responding to those needs as best you can, helps people to thrive.

SEND Takeover Day 2026

On Thursday 3rd December 2026, from 10am to 6pm, the Voices of Hertfordshire team will be hosting the SEND Takeover 2026. This is a chance for all children and young people across Hertfordshire, with or without SEND, to share what helps them to thrive, and to let us know what they think, feel, and experience in schools, hospitals, and other settings. It’s a day for young voices to be heard, loud and clear.