I'm doing the Spectrum Night Walk this World Autism Acceptance Week to help change attitudes, to transform lives and hopefully make people more aware of the challenges that autistic people face.

This is a cause that is near and dear to me as I was diagnosed as being autistic earlier this year. Many people, like myself, go undiagnosed for decades due to difficulty accessing diagnosis, false stereotyping, misinformation and misunderstandings of what being autistic actually means.

Hopefully this week will help dispell some of those negative assumptions and also highlight the genuineness, gentleness, sensitivity, unique perspective, focus, as well as the many other gifts autism can bring.

I've convinced my friends (against their will) to venture 10k through the London streets at night to help support the National Autistic Society and the amazing work they do. I hope you will be able to stay up late and cheer us on or spare some pence (or change for my American Friends!).