If James could speak what would he say? Would be say Mum someone hit me I was really frightened they would shouting at me and they hit me...Mum I dont want to go back there...would he get angry and write a rap about the b.....s who hurt him? An angry rap against hatred against unjustness in the world?

Would he start wearing black like my daughters did when their father left? Would he watch violent movies to channel the pain and anger inside him? Would he take alcohol to drown his fears and pain and trauma? Or would he take drugs antidepressants and illegal drugs to take away the bad feelings he could not fight himself? Would he go out partying nights on end or drive a car fast until he crashed it? He hasnt even got the choice to do that.

Does he know I love him? Does he know he is safe with me here? I think yes he does, but he world is not safe out there...we must make it safe.

I said to the police if someone hurts my son they hurt me do you understand? The young policeman said to me why do you put him in respite? Incredulously I realized he didnt know what parents of special needs kids face - tiring relentless work, and a person who needs all kinds of help and demands which must be met not just by but by others and parents need these places of care for their kids and so they can continue to look afte them since those with disabilities to this extent cannot look after themselves ever.

I must be James's voice I must protect him dont you understand? He cant speak I told the young police guy. He nodded.

I sat with my son in the lounge watching a church thing on the Tv a few days later, when they were singing I said to him I wish you could talk James I wish you could talk and I started crying...for him...

I am his voice, no one else, he cannot speak for himself he is non verbal and he has a disability and I have so far tried to protect him from everything and everyone...

I was crying for my mother who had died a year or so ago and I thought how upset she would be to know her grandson had been hurt, hit in the head...she knew James couldnt talk she knew the struggles she knew that when I had divorced James's father wiped him because James had a disability and was too much work...how dare he...the world is unjust but we must do justice for our children. In the end we can lie down and curl up in a ball or we can stand and fight.

My son was put in a respite place for the day to be cared for and coming home with something like a king hit to the head made me crazy angy why did they do it...why? Because they could and not only that they could hide it. This should not be. For shame you will not get away with it...

When you hurt someone who cannot defend themselves you will face their vindication one day and maybe it will happen to you at the hands of someone less harmless, less helpless.

 To remain unaccountable for the harm done to a person who cannot defend themself is crime and we must not allow our disability children to have no protections.

 I am sick of seeking mothers crying on the Royal Commission testimonies lately investigating Disabilities...mothers staying their children had been abused at respite group homes and nothing was done about it, one had been abused at every group home she stayed at. Her mother was brokenhearted. I dont want anymore brokenhearted mothers. This world may be a cold heartless placed but no way will I let this continue we must have laws to protect children with disabilites and over 18 years old since the chid protection act finishes at 18 years old. There must be strong laws to protect our young. It was not so long ago the young had no protections and were forced to work in factories as young as five years old in the last century, parents were even allowed to put children to death for being naughtly. Such is the state of the human race, we must now not let wrong and harm happen to those who cannot speak for themselves. Literally, the non verbal child with disability.

We must be their voice.

 Anndrea Wheatley (mother and resilience psychologist)