Let me begin with a question every parent will relate to: What is the biggest challenge of motherhood today? It’s not just balancing a demanding career with the responsibilities of home, nor raising high-performing children. It is the increasingly difficult task of raising good citizens — resilient, kind, and mentally sound human beings in a world that seems built to trip them up.

Adding to the complexity is adolescence, when children are in a precarious and vulnerable state. It is a period of significant transition, with challenges related to physical, emotional, social and behavioural development. This includes peer pressure, substance abuse, mental health issues and navigating complex social dynamics. It is an equally challenging phase for mothers, who have to balance work and family, manage emotional and behavioural changes and provide significant support and guidance during this critical period.

Amidst such tests, one of the worst nightmares for any mother is discovering her child lives with an intellectual disability. Many of these conditions are the result of genetic or prenatal complications — what we often call “an act of God.” But a more........

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