As you may or may not yet know, in January this year, Esther (aged 7) and myself (knocking on 45), were both diagnosed as Autistic within 11 days of each other.

Running my first ever 10K through the beautiful streets of central London is my way to increase Acceptance of Autism for those with a girls presentation.

The Autistic Girls Network:

“Girls in the UK are still being diagnosed autistic up to 6 years later than boys. Given what we are coming to understand about the damage a late diagnosis and subsequent camouflaging of autistic traits can do to an autistic person’s mental health, confidence and self-esteem, this is a statistic which needs to change fast. But girls aren’t diagnosed later because there is a female phenotype of autism (there isn’t), they are missed for complex reasons the largest of which are masking and presenting internally.”

I have suffered: eating disorders, anxiety, post-natal depression, PTSD, low self esteem, inability to work. My diagnosis (along with features of ADHD) has given me a new lens and a degree of forgiveness across many aspects of my life.

My intention is to support Esther (our flipping superstar kid) and other young people with a girls presentation of Autism to stop this spiralling chain of mental health (particularly before secondary school) through early diagnosis and acceptance within the primary school environment.

If you have read this then my goal has been achieved. If you are able to share it with other families and/or donate to the charity then that is a huge bonus and I thank you deeply.

Love Nina x

Keeping it all inside - see this excellent White Paper for more