You know that feeling, don’t you? That heavy, sinking sensation in your chest when you’re out in public, and your child starts to struggle.
Maybe it’s a supermarket aisle, a busy park, or a "standard" play centre. The environment is too loud, too bright, or just too much. Your child reacts the only way they know how, perhaps by stimming, shouting, or having a meltdown.
And then comes "The Look."
You know the one. It’s that cocktail of pity, judgment, and confusion from passers-by. In that moment, you feel like you have to hand over a three-page instruction manual or a formal apology for your child’s existence. You start explaining. "He’s autistic," you mutter, or "She’s just had a long day," or "We’re working on it."
At Noa’s Place, we want to stop that clock. We want to delete the need for the apology.
As we approach Learning Disability Week (15-21 June), I’ve been thinking a lot about what it actually means to belong. Not just to be "included" or "tolerated," but to truly belong. To us, it means belonging without explanation.
A Message from Josh: Why Noa’s Place Started
Hi, I’m Josh Barnes. I’m the founder of Noa’s Place, but if I’m being honest, my most important job title is "Noa’s Dad."
My journey with Noa is the heartbeat of everything we are building here. When you’re a parent of a child with SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities), you quickly realise that the world isn’t exactly designed with your family in mind. You spend a lot of time "knocking on the door," asking for adjustments, or checking if a venue is "SEND-friendly" (which usually just means they turn the music down for an hour on a Tuesday morning).
I got tired of knocking. I wanted to build a door that was already wide open.
Noa’s Place is a community-led organisation. Right now, we are in the process of applying for charity status (our CIO application is in progress), and while we are currently an online presence, the vision is so much bigger than a website. We are building a movement in Halifax and beyond to create a space where neurodivergent and neurotypical children don't just exist near each other, they play together.
The "No Masking" Policy
If you’re new to the world of neurodiversity, you might have heard the term "masking."
Think of masking like wearing a heavy, uncomfortable suit of armour every time you leave the house. You wear it to try and look "normal," to hide your tics, to suppress your need to move, or to force eye contact when it actually feels painful.
A lot of our kids, and a lot of us parents, mask every single day just to get through. It is exhausting. It leads to burnout, anxiety, and a feeling that the "real you" isn’t good enough for the world.
At Noa’s Place, our core value is Belonging Without Explanation.
This means when we eventually open our physical hub in Halifax, there is a strict "No Masking" policy. We don't want your child to hold it in. We don't want you to feel the need to explain why they are flapping their hands, using a chew-toy, or wearing ear defenders.
In our community, those things aren't "behaviours to be managed." They are simply ways of being. You don't need to explain your child's disability to us. We already get it. We’re already on your team.
Learning Disability Week: 15-21 June
This June, Learning Disability Week is all about showing the world what people with learning disabilities can do and highlighting the barriers they still face.
One of the biggest barriers isn't a flight of stairs or a lack of signage, it’s the social barrier of "othering." When we separate "SEND kids" from "typical kids," we inadvertently teach both groups that they don't belong together.
That’s why our vision for Noa’s Place is different.
We aren't building a "disability-only" centre. We are building an inclusive community hub. We want an indoor playground where a neurotypical child and a neurodivergent child can climb the same frame, share the same sensory space, and learn from a young age that different is just... different.
By creating a space that is built for the most sensitive sensory needs first, we actually create a better environment for every child. Who doesn't want a play area that isn't ear-splittingly loud and chaotic?
More Than Just a Playground
While we work hard behind the scenes on our CIO application and finding our physical home in Halifax, we are already supporting families online.
We know that the "explanation" often starts with paperwork, DLA forms, EHCPs, school reports. It can feel like your child is just a list of deficits on a page. We want to flip that narrative.
We’ve developed a range of interactive tools designed to help you and your child navigate the world with confidence. Instead of focusing on what’s "wrong," these tools help you communicate what’s "right" and what’s needed.
For example, our All About Me profiles are a game-changer for parents. Whether you have a child, a teenager, or you’re an adult looking for better ways to communicate your needs, these tools allow you to create a beautiful, clear snapshot of who you are.
They cover:
- What makes me happy.
- What I’m struggling with right now.
- How best to support me.
- My sensory preferences.
Imagine handing that to a new teacher, a football coach, or a grandparent instead of having to have that awkward, draining conversation for the hundredth time. It’s belonging, empowered.
Lived Experience is Our Superpower
There are plenty of organisations run by people who have read a lot of books about disability. And that’s great, we need experts. But at Noa’s Place, we are led by lived experience.
When I talk about the frustration of a 2-year waiting list for an assessment, I’m not quoting a statistic. I’ve lived it. When we talk about sensory overload, we aren't just describing a clinical term; we’re describing why we had to leave the birthday party early last Sunday.
This lived experience means that Noa’s Place will never be a "clinical" feeling space. It will feel like a living room. It will feel like a community. It will feel like home.
Why Halifax?
Halifax is a brilliant, vibrant town, but like many places in the UK, SEND support can feel fragmented. You might find a great support group over here, and a sensory room over there, but there isn't one central "hub" where the whole family can just be.
We want Noa’s Place to be that heartbeat for the SEND support in Halifax. A place where you can find resources on life transitions, get help with bullying support, or simply have a coffee with another parent who isn't going to judge you if your kid decides to lie face-down on the floor for twenty minutes.
Join Our "Founding Family" Group
We are right at the beginning of this journey. Noa’s Place is growing, and we want you to be part of the foundation.
We aren't just building this for you; we want to build it with you. We are currently looking for parents, carers, and neurodivergent individuals to join our "Founding Family" group.
As a member of this group, you’ll:
- Have your say: Tell us what the physical hub needs. More quiet zones? A specific type of swing? Better coffee? (Definitely better coffee).
- Test our tools: Be the first to try out new interactive plans and transition tools.
- Community first: Connect with other families in Halifax who are walking the same path.
You don't need any special qualifications to join. You just need to care about building a world where our kids don't have to explain themselves.
Final Thoughts for Learning Disability Week
If you’re reading this and you’re feeling tired, tired of the fighting, tired of the explaining, tired of the masking, please know that you’re not alone.
Learning Disability Week is a reminder that our community is vast, talented, and incredibly resilient. But you shouldn't have to be resilient all the time. You deserve spaces where you can just breathe.
Noa’s Place is our promise to you. A promise of a future where your child’s differences are celebrated, where your expertise as a parent is respected, and where "belonging" is the default setting, not an extra request.
Let’s stop explaining and start belonging.
Ready to get involved?
- Check out our About Us page to learn more about our vision.
- Explore our Interactive Tools to start building your child’s profile today.
- Contact us to join the founding family group and help us shape the future of SEND support in Halifax.
Together, we’re making Noa’s Place a reality. One "unexplained" moment at a time.
