My name is Belinda Snowden, you can call me Bea. I'm a student nurse, a happily married, mum of two, working full time for the NHS and I have autism.

Yes you read that correctly. I am autistic.

Autistic people can be so many different things when we are not bound by our labels and diagnosis. Here are a few more facts about me that may surprise you:

My children are both also autistic.

I have been in my current relationship for ten years and married for five of those years.

I have many friends who are both Neurodivergent and Neurotypical.

I have had my current job with the NHS for four years.

Yes I may need extra support and yes I may find some situations tricky. But I am not what the media tells you. I am not scary, or a waste of resources. I am a fully fledged person who can and will do so much with my life.

The same can be said of anyone with autism. Which is why this cause is so close to my heart!!

The work done by the National Autistic Society is amazing. And your donations will go towards helping so many families like mine and people like me to raise awareness of our condition and help us live in a safer, more accessible world for everyone.