My name is Oluwashola Otuniyi, and my world begins and ends with my four amazing children. I have two boys, aged 14 and 11, and two girls, aged 8 and 6. I’m also a full-time carer for my two sons, both of whom are autistic and attend special schools. Our life is a mix of joy, exhaustion, breakthroughs, and moments that test my strength in ways only other SEND parents truly understand. Some days are tough, especially when my eldest son struggles with change or when the world feels too loud and too fast for him. But our family always finds its way back to love, humour, and resilience. The good days shine brighter because of the hard ones, and that keeps me grounded. Beyond Boundaries Rise CIC was created from a real moment in my everyday life. One Saturday, my younger son happily went to a play centre. My 14-year-old sat quietly and told me he wished there was somewhere for children like him — older autistic young people — to go. A place where they wouldn’t be overlooked or excluded because of their age. His honesty stopped me in my tracks. I knew I couldn’t ignore it. That moment became the spark. But this isn’t something I’m doing alone. I’m building Beyond Boundaries Rise CIC with other mums and professionals who are living through the same challenges and victories. Women who understand the school meetings, the meltdowns, the advocacy, the love, the fight. Professionals who see the gaps in our system every single day. Together, we’re shaping a space we all wish existed years ago. Our mission is simple: to create a warm, inclusive, empowering environment where older autistic children and young people can feel seen, supported, and celebrated. A place to learn life skills, build confidence, make friends, and actually belong. My journey as a mother and carer is what drives me. I know how lonely it can feel and how heavy the responsibility can be. That’s why this work matters so deeply to me. Beyond Boundaries Rise CIC is my promise to my own children and to families across the UK who deserve better, kinder options. We’re here to show that with the right support and community, our children can rise beyond every limit placed in front of them — and so can we.