Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.

As some of you are aware, my gorgeous grandson, Louis, has been diagnosed with autism. 

Autism is a spectrum condition, meaning it affects people in different ways. This makes it very hard to understand Louis's needs and wants, especially as he is pre-verbal. Imagine wanting a biscuit or some fruit, even a drink, and the only way you know how to communicate this is by banging a bowl on the worktop. The only way you can express hurt, anger or frustration is by shouting or headbutting. Behaviour that can be seen as 'naughty' or threatening. Gradually, with help from the professionals around us and a lot of hard work from his parents, we are learning how to 'manage' Louis and make him happy. And, of course, reduce the occurrence of 'meltdowns'.

The National Autistic Society is all encompassing; providing support, information and training whilst campaigning and researching. 

Their aim is to create a society that works for autistic people. 

In 2022 they embarked on a major exercise to articulate what a society that works for autistic people actually looks like, leading to a publication of a shared vision of an autism-friendly society. This was called the 'Moonshot' because of the scale of ambition and collaboration needed to achieve it. Society is changing and becoming more aware and knowledgeable about autism, but the reality that this vision is likened to the ambitious nature of a 'moonshot' is sad. 

Let's contribute to the change and help create a society where autism is understood, accepted and, most importantly, respected.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.