My nephew was diagnosed as pre-verbal autistic at the age of 2. A diagnosis that rocked our family, as at the time we believed his delayed speech was a result of a potential hearing impairment. Autism was a condition we had a general understanding of but hadn't realised how complex it would be to navigate the expectations and obtain support for not only him but his parents and siblings too. I couldn’t comprehend how it must feel to be told you may never hear the word 'mammy'.

LD North East has been a fundamental resource for our family. Not only have they proactively supported with assessing his needs and providing invaluable resources, but they also create safe spaces to explore that encourage social inclusion and equality. Ultimately, they provide key life skills to support individuals from childhood into adulthood.

They have given one-on-one and group-based support to his mother too. As a result, she has learned to sign with the key objective of trying to derive a form of communication with him, breaking down barriers—absolutely incredible! She has gained a greater understanding of autism from physical, mental, and developmental perspectives. They also offer sibling support, getting them involved in all aspects of play and development through 'sing and sign', while fostering connections with like-minded parents for social support.

While I cannot even begin to repay their investment in our lives, I am making it my mission to raise awareness not only for this charity—because they do much more than just support those with autism—but also to raise vital funds that will enable them to continue their great work.

When my North 1 family heard about our story, they were eager to help. We have since supported the charity's Easter egg drive, ensuring all children and adults who attend classes received an Easter egg. It may sound small, but the social impact was huge! We are also organising a charity walk in May, walking 8.6 miles.

I kindly ask you to join us in this mission by supporting LD North East with your generous donations. Our target is £500, every contribution counts towards making a difference in the lives of those affected by autism.