\n<\/p>\n
Nine years ago I began sharing stories from our lives online, on a weekly blog. Then I started Facebook, external<\/span>, Instagram, external<\/span>, and TikTok, external<\/span> accounts.<\/p>\n It was initially a way to show friends and family what our life was really like. Jude and Tommy struggled with social occasions, so we stopped going. <\/p>\n I could never find the words to explain, and I wanted to show how proud I was of them, so I started writing instead. <\/p>\n I didn’t realise how much our stories would resonate with others, or how much it would help me. <\/p>\n I learned so much more about autism, connected with people all over the world and discovered a passion for helping other families.<\/p>\n I’ve been lucky that I’ve been able to make a living through social media. I had to give up my previous job to be there for the boys. <\/p>\n I started a clothing line last year, with positive messaging around autism, disabilities and neurodivergence. I love getting messages from people saying they have bumped into someone wearing one of the hoodies, and it started a conversation.<\/p>\n I opened a shop in Burnham-on-Crouch where we stock the clothes and wrap and pack and send out the orders. <\/p>\n It’s somewhere for people in the community to visit, we have a sensory room in the shop and we get lots of parents coming in who want to have a chat. <\/p>\n Everyone working in the shop is a parent, carer or is autistic, so they can share their experiences with customers. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n