This walk means so much more to Lisa and I than just a gentle stroll along the Thames!
An autistic child/adult, whilst sometimes considered as a ‘naughty child’, or ‘troublesome chap’ is still a person. At a young age, it was clear Henry, my youngest son and Lisa’s godson was not developing as expected. Henry is still non verbal and at the age of 4, this proves to be an ongoing challenge for him and the family. Henry loves routine, and routine only! Autism is not a condition but a way of life. Henry functions as well as any ‘normal child’ however, he has different needs. It’s not a negative mentality, autistic children just have different development needs. The last thing a parent of an Autistic child wants to hear is ‘why isn’t your child talking?’ ‘Why does he squeal when walking past the park?’ It doesn’t matter, he/she is enjoying life!
After lots of hard work, meetings with SENCO teachers, local authorities, and some form completion (which we all love!) Henry was diagnosed with autism in December 2020. With the help of charities like the national autistic society, we can help people who suffer from autism to be integral part of the community whilst not suffering from discrimination!