From March 26 - April 2 The Rose family from Consett will be opening up their home and their lives for a no-holds-barred look behind-the-scenes at what life is really like being autistic for World Autism Awareness Week.
This ‘reality TV’ approach will help shed light on the upside – as well as the challenges faced – of life with autism.
Dad Kieran and mum, Michelle, hope their week in the limelight will offer a greater understanding of the neurodevelopmental condition which allows three of their family of five, to see and understand the world differently.
Writer and autism activist, Kieran, is himself autistic, their eldest son, Quinn (8) also has a diagnosis of autism and of the couple’s other two children, one is in the diagnostic process.
A lifelong neurological condition thought to affect at least one in every 100 people, autism is still something many know nothing much about. So for WAAW we will be exploring the following topics: home life, school, travel, day-to-day tasks, leisure, health and work.
We want autism to be talked about, to be understood and to be embraced in our communities.
To do this with integrity, we’ve chosen to include true accounts from parents and children affected by autism. Terminology, feelings and phrasing is chosen by the people who live with autism every day. It’s their voice.
With nearly 70% of adults with autism out of work it’s time to look at how we can break this cycle. Let’s look at My family life and work. Read more
Travelling is a joy for many but for children, young people and adults with autism it can be a source of anxiety. Today it’s 'My family life out and about'. Read more
Getting there, staying there and finding the right place for your youngsters or adult children with autism, today we will cover education. Read more
Who says people with autism can’t have a happy, fulfilled life, full of fun? We certainly don’t. Let’s look today at 'My family life is fun!' Read more
Getting a diagnosis of autism is rarely the first step, there’s a whole journey of health before and after. Read more
From bedtime routines to family dynamics, today we hear from Michelle and Kieran about their home life and we share advice from Dr Helen Leonard. Read more