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Caitlin Raven ✨💞

@caitlineraven

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📧~ [email protected]
💉 Type one diabetes advocate
📸 @catwalkmodelagency
👑 Top 6 finalist MissIreland 2023
💞 Miss Kilkenny 2023✨

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Couldn’t be prouder ❤️ Watching Kayla( No 5 )make the U18 volleyball team and getting to wear the Irish jersey 🇮🇪🏐 All the hard work, commitment and determination paying off. What an achievement to represent your country. Go smash it, Kayla we are beyond proud of you! ☘️🇮🇪

#ProudMam #TeamIreland #IrishVolleyball #VolleyballIreland #U18Volleyball Ireland IrishJersey RepresentingIreland ProudMoment GirlsInSport WomenInSport VolleyballLife HardWorkPaysOff GoKayla MakingMemories 🇮🇪

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Abuse cases involving disabled or non-verbal children can still be investigated and prosecuted even where the child cannot give a traditional verbal statement. Evidence can include:

* behavioural indicators,
* medical evidence,
* psychological evidence,
* witness evidence,
* safeguarding reports,
* patterns of behaviour,
* video/CCTV,
* expert assessments,
* and contextual evidence

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This is exactly the problem.

When it comes to vulnerable children — especially those with additional needs — safeguarding cannot rely on what can be proven easily.

Because many children cannot tell you what happened.
Many cannot explain fear.
Many cannot give a “perfect” account.

And too often, that becomes the gap.

This is why Silent Voices Ireland exists.

We support families where:

* A child cannot speak for themselves
* Behaviour and distress are overlooked
* Concerns are minimised or dismissed

Silence should never be mistaken for safety.

Every child deserves to be protected not just the ones who can explain what happened.

#SilentVoicesIreland #Safeguarding #ChildProtection #Autism #DisabilityRights ProtectChildren

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Tuesday. Leinster House. This matters.

I’m bringing Kayleigh’s voice where it belongs to the Oireachtas Éireann.

Some children cannot tell you what happened to them.
Some cannot speak, explain fear, or describe pain.

And too often, because of that they are not heard.

That is where the system fails.

I’m going to Leinster House to fight for change. Real change.

My reform asks:
▪️ A specific safeguarding offence for harm against non-verbal / disabled children
▪️ Automatic appointment of an independent advocate or Guardian ad Litem
▪️ Safeguarding that does not rely on verbal disclosure
▪️ Mandatory disability-informed training across all agencies

Because when a child cannot speak — the responsibility to protect them should be higher, not lower.

This is not just about Kayleigh.
This is about every vulnerable child who has been overlooked.

I won’t stay silent.
And I won’t stop.

Silent Voices Ireland — giving a voice to children who cannot speak for themselves.

#KayleighsVoice #SilentVoicesIreland #ChildProtection #Safeguarding #Oireachtas LeinsterHouse DisabilityRights ProtectVulnerableChild

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Ireland is bound by these rights.
But are they being upheld?

We see.
We hear.
We believe.

Now we speak up for those who cannot.

Follow our page. Be part of the change. 🤍

#SilentVoicesIreland #DisabilityRights #UNCRPD #Advocacy #ChangeIsComing

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Warning emotional mom moment———
Happy 20th Birthday Matthew ❤️

Watching you grow into the man you are today fills me with so much pride. Life hasn’t always been easy for you, but your strength, your heart, and your kindness never change.

The way you are with Kayleigh means more than words will ever be able to say. Your patience, your gentleness, and the love you show her… it’s something truly special. You understand her in a way not many can, and that makes you incredible.

I am so proud of you not just for what you’ve overcome, but for the person you are. You have the kindest soul, and I’m so lucky to be your mom

Love you always,
Mom
#HappyBirthday
#20Today
#ProudMam
#MySon
#carersibling

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Next week, I’m speaking out.

There is an ongoing case, so there are things I cannot say but what I can say is this:

My daughter is severely disabled and non-verbal. She was failed by the systems meant to protect her.

As her mother, I watched her suffer, regress, and lose parts of herself , I watched my family suffer and I couldn’t get the help they needed, I needed.

I am now sharing our story on radio. Details will follow when it will be aired ❤️

Not just for her… but for every child who cannot speak for themselves.

This is bigger than us.

This is about safeguarding.
This is about accountability.
This is about change.

For those who failed her, failed us. You have given me a strength I did not know I had in me… It’s never too late for change, Here’s to change for Kayleigh and every other vulnerable disabled child in Ireland 🙂

#JusticeForKayleigh #SafeguardingChildren #DisabilityRights #SpeakUp

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This week marks a very important step in our fight for change.

What began as a mother trying to protect her severely disabled child has now reached Leinster House, where discussions about legislative reform and safeguarding gaps affecting non-verbal and severely disabled children will take place.

I’ve been invited to speak to the All-Party Oireachtas Group on Autism about the failures families can face when systems are not designed to protect children who cannot speak for themselves.

I’m deeply grateful for the support I’ve received from advocates, organisations, and public representatives,and now a respected Dublin TD who intends to raise these safeguarding concerns in Dáil Éireann and supporting my proposed legislative reforms

This is about more than one family.
It’s about ensuring that vulnerable disabled children are properly protected and never left without a voice in the systems meant to safeguard them.

I will continue to advocate for meaningful reform so that no child like Kayleigh is ever ignored or failed again.

Thank you to everyone who has supported us along the way. This step forward belongs to all of you who believe every child deserves to be safe.

#DisabilityRights
#Safeguarding
#AutismAdvocacy
#ProtectVulnerableChildren
#JusticeForKayleigh

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On National Women’s Day we march for those who were silenced.
For survivors of abuse.
For children who cannot speak for themselves.

We march for Kayleigh

#JusticeForKayleigh
#MarchForKayleigh
#InternationalWomensDay
#ProtectDisabledChildren
#BelieveSurvivors
EndAbuse
HerVoiceOurFight

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Rare Disease Day 💜

Kayleigh lives with hypogammaglobulinemia — a rare immune deficiency that means her body cannot produce enough antibodies to properly fight infection.

What many people don’t see is the reality behind the scenes: weekly immunotherapy at home, constant vigilance, and a child who is medically vulnerable every single day.

Rare does not mean invisible.
Rare does not mean less deserving of protection, support, and understanding.

I will always use my voice for Kayleigh — because she deserves to be safe, seen, and supported.

#RareDiseaseDay #RareButReal #Hypogammaglobulinemia #PrimaryImmunodeficiency #KayleighAndMe ProtectTheVulnerable

Kayleigh lives with hypogammaglobulinemia — a rare immune deficiency that means her body cannot produce enough antibodies to properly fight infection.

What many people don’t see is the reality behind the scenes: weekly immunotherapy at home, constant vigilance, and a child who is medically vulnerable every single day.

Rare does not mean invisible.
Rare does not mean less deserving of protection, support, and understanding.

I will always use my voice for Kayleigh — because she deserves to be safe, seen, and supported.

RareDiseaseDay RareButReal Hypogammaglobulinemia PrimaryImmunodeficiency KayleighAndMe ProtectTheVulnerable

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Why do I feel like the failure?
When does every other person in the system take accountability for knowing what happened to her and letting this monster amongst the population and other children?

#kayleighsvoice #justice #ireland #carer

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I walk into court tomorrow for my daughter.

Kayleigh is a severely disabled, non-verbal child who depends on adults to keep her safe.

What happened to her matters.
Her voice matters.
Her life matters.

I will not stay silent.

#JusticeForKayleigh #ProtectDisabledChildren #HerVoiceMatters

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