Gary Ablett Jr's wife Jordan launches a forum for parents with special needs children - after revealing their two-year-old son Levi has been diagnosed with a degenerative illness

Jordan Ablett announced the launch of her new project, a forum for parents with special needs children titled House of Hope, in an Instagram post on Sunday.

The wife of former Australian rules footballer Gary Ablett Jr., said she hopes to 'bridge the gap that can unintentionally open between those with special needs children and those without'.  

Jordan, who previously revealed their two-year-old son Levi has been diagnosed with a degenerative illness, added that the space is also welcome for parents without special needs children to ask questions and become better informed.

Announcement: Gary Ablett Jr.'s wife Jordan Ablett has launched a forum for parents with special needs children titled House of Hope - after revealing their two-year-old son Levi has been diagnosed with a degenerative illness (all pictured) 

Alongside a graphic of herself cradling son Levi, Jordan told her Instagram followers about House of Hope's mission.

'House of Hope is for special needs parents — with the unique daily challenges we face as we raise our little treasures — to connect and relate, to encourage and to be encouraged, to equip and empower,' she began.

Jordan said that it's also a place for parents without special needs children 'to ask, learn and better understand those who know special needs well'.

Mission: Alongside a graphic of herself cradling son Levi, Jordan told her Instagram followers about House of Hope's mission. Jordan said she hopes to 'bridge the gap that can unintentionally open between those with special needs children and those without'

'A safe and respectful space to seek answers and insights to questions you don't know how to ask, or whether you should ask,' she continued.  

'Ultimately, and with your help, I'd love to bridge the gap that can unintentionally open between those with special needs children and those without, when we don't know how to talk or if we should talk.'

Jordan concluded by saying she is looking forward to sharing stories from 'inspiring parents' in the coming weeks. 

Inclusion: Jordan added that the space is also welcome for parents without special needs children to ask questions and become better informed 

Heartbreaking: In an interview with podcast The Significant Others in March, Jordan revealed Levi's degenerative illness carries a short life expectancy

In an interview with podcast The Significant Others in March, Jordan heartbreakingly revealed Levi's degenerative illness carries a short life expectancy.  

She said it took a long time for Levi to be diagnosed with the unspecified disease, and detailed the devastation she and Gary felt after learning the condition was 'life threatening'. 

'I just remember sitting with Gaz in that meeting and when they said it I just remember absolutely breaking down,' she said.

'There is a very short life expectancy, which is why I constantly say to people when they ask about Levi that we are literally just taking it day by day because we have no idea what the future holds,' she continued.

Challenges: Jordan said it took a long time for Levi to be diagnosed with the unspecified disease, and detailed the devastation she and Gary felt after learning the condition was 'life threatening'

After seeing a series of paediatricians, Jordan said it was the Geelong Football Club's team doctor who finally put them in contact with the right person.

She said this new paediatrician 'got the ball rolling', and after months of concerns, the couple, who married in 2016, finally had some answers. 

Jordan said she and Gary first became concerned after noticing Levi wasn't reaching the same milestones as other children his age.

They decided to go public with the little boy's condition because they didn't want to have to lie when people asked about their son.

Lengthy process: After seeing a series of paediatricians, Jordan said it was the Geelong Football Club's team doctor who finally put them in contact with the right person. The couple, who married in 2016, finally had some answers

'People would just say things like, "Levi must be running around now." Comments like that are so fine to receive, but when you are on the receiving end and you know everything that is going on it's awkward,' she confessed. 

'We don't want to lie and be like, "Yeah, he's running around," because he wasn't running around.'  

Jordan said Levi's condition has only made the family more aware of how precious every moment they have together is.  

Heartbreaking: Jordan and Gary decided to go public with the little boy's condition because they didn't want to have to lie when people asked about their son