Mary Somoza is the parent of teenage twins, both of whom were born with cerebral palsy and high support needs, including multiple medical needs. In this article, she tells how she found it necessary to 'take charge', searching out and co-ordinating the multiplicity of professionals in her children's lives. Even more than that, she talks of the fight to obtain the services her children needed, and in doing so, she shares strategies that she has learnt over time, saying