Benefits application support for families and carers of neurodivergent children
My Story
I'm Carly Cavilla-Hunt, the person behind this service.
Before working independently, I spent more than 12 years within the Department for Work and Pensions. I later joined Citizens Advice, where I continued supporting people to navigate complex systems and access support.
Alongside my professional experience, I have my own experience of disability benefits. Over the years, I found myself completing applications not only for myself, but also supporting friends and family through the process.
Time and again, I saw the same pattern emerge.
People knew their child inside out.
They knew what daily life looked like. They knew where support was needed. They knew the routines, the challenges, the adjustments and the impact.
What they struggled with was turning all of that into an application.
Knowing your child and being in a position to explain their needs on paper are two very different things.
Overwhelm, time pressures, exhaustion and the pure emotion involved in capturing all aspects of daily life can make that particularly difficult.
As more people approached me for support, I began to realise just how common that experience was. The issue was never a lack of knowledge about their child. The issue was finding the time, headspace and words to pull everything together.
That realisation was the starting point for this service.
I have dual sensory loss. I am visually impaired and hard of hearing, which means both accessibility and clear communication are vitally important to me. My aim is to weave this into all the work I complete.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, I am also neurodivergent and part of a neurodivergent household.
I have trained as a coach, something which has influenced the way I communicate and the environment I aim to create during our sessions.
My goal isn't to lead conversations or make assumptions, but to ask the right questions and create space for parents and carers to share what they already know.
My approach is simple.
I take time to understand the child or young person we are discussing, to gather the information needed for the application, and to translate that into a clear and detailed Child DLA application for your review before submission.
At the heart of everything I do is a simple belief: your child is more than a form.
My role isn't to tell families what their child's needs are.
It's to help them explain what they already know in a way that accurately reflects their day-to-day reality and supports the assessment process.
Prefer video? You can find a short introduction above. Captions available.
What others say about me...
Testimonials from some of the families I have supported.
As each person's experience is truly personal, I have kept them anonymous.
'S' - Bristol
"After initially calling up for a DLA application two years ago and still not able to get it done, my own lack of belief in myself, fear of rejection, feeling guilty for claiming but also really needing the support for my child. Carly was an absolute lifeline.
"She took all that away and just listened to what life is like day to day for us, before taking key information from that to use in the application.
"Carly’s validation and understanding of the parent and child’s needs is so helpful when opening up about the harder parts of life caring for your child who is struggling.
"I absolutely recommend Carly’s service to anyone who needs some support with these daunting forms."
'N' - Devon
"Carly was so helpful and knowledgeable.
"She made me feel heard and validated our experiences.
"She did a fantastic job of asking the relevant questions and summarising my child's care needs in the form.
"I know that Carly is truly passionate about getting families the support that they need - I would highly recommend her services."
'L' - Devon
"Working with Carly was a transformative experience.
"The DLA process is notoriously daunting, but Carly navigates it with a level of informed expertise and radical acceptance that is rare to find.
"She has an incredible gift for putting people at ease, even when she has to ask the most difficult questions with the most uncomfortable answers.
"She guided me through the complexities of the application with grace, ensuring every detail was captured without ever losing sight of the human element.
"What sets Carly apart is that she truly sees the best in your child.
"While the paperwork requires a focus on challenges, Carly holds space for your child’s strengths, which is exactly the kind of validation every parent needs.
"I am so grateful for her support; she turned a process that felt impossible into one that felt manageable and empowered."