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Defying the Myth A photographic journal of love, resilience, and survival

Carol Allen-Storey

Defying the Myth is a decade-long personal project that chronicles the often-unseen experiences of families in the United Kingdom raising children with severe disabilities—families who refuse to be defined by stigma, bureaucracy, or despair.

Parenting a child with profound disabilities is a journey few can fully imagine. Every decision—regarding surgeries, therapies, schooling, or housing—can shape a child’s future. Many parents, often single mothers, must navigate complex systems of bureaucracy, repeatedly required to “prove” their need for support. Too often, they are perceived as burdens or opportunists rather than recognised as dedicated advocates for their children.

The reality can be overwhelming. With limited access to meaningful support, many families are pushed into poverty, living in unsuitable housing and lacking childcare, employment opportunities, or respite. Exhausted and isolated, they are forced to contend with systems not designed to accommodate their needs, simply to secure education, medical care, and dignity for their children.

Yet amid these challenges, something enduring remains: love. These mothers speak of lessons learned from their children, of joy found in small moments, and of hope that persists despite adversity. Their strength and compassion are rarely reflected in public narratives around disability.

This work seeks to challenge those narratives—revealing not only struggle, but also resilience, care, and the profound humanity of these families.

Nicola: “When Kallan was diagnosed as autistic, it felt as if my son had died.”
Annalisa: “Maria enriches our lives with the love and beauty she brings.”
Shoulana: “Caring for my child ended my career dreams, but love keeps me going.”