My son is four, a non-verbal autistic child who relies heavily on routine and sensory needs. He is easily overwhelmed, sparking meltdowns especially when he cannot communicate his own needs he will punch and bite his self also hit his head off the wall & floor, he will also will attack myself & others during the outburst. With zero awareness of danger, such as moving cars or crossing roads, he requires constant supervision and understanding - something an absent parent can't provide.

For over two and a half years now, my ex-partner has chosen not to see our son. Before this period of absence, visits were sporadic at best and always at his convenience. Every so often he contact’s saying he misses him & will pay maintenance, even false promise's to make FaceTime calls as contact aren’t followed through . It’s not fair to children, I call  them “window gazers” to be given false hope to sit looking out waiting when the adult won’t show up with no understanding why.

This story is not unique to us; there are countless special needs children who suffer from the inconsistent presence or complete absence of one parent in their lives. This inconsistency can be detrimental to their mental health - it's harmful physically and emotionally.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), consistency in caregiving routines contributes significantly towards positive developmental outcomes for children with disabilities (AAP 2018). The lack thereof can lead to increased anxiety levels and behavioral problems among these children.

We urge lawmakers to consider revoking parental rights from non-present parents of special needs children if they fail in providing consistent support or choose not be involved in their lives altogether. Furthermore, we propose that such parents should be removed from the birth certificates as an acknowledgement that they have forfeited their responsibilities towards these vulnerable individuals.

Please sign this petition if you believe that all children deserve reliable adults who understand their specific needs and provide consistent care – especially those with special needs whose wellbeing depends so much on routine.