I am a mum of a young boy who is growing and becoming his own person. I have started this journey when my son was 1.5 and it has been (and still is)  a very interesting journey with ups and down but I would say.. overall is a happy journey.

We consider ourselves as a “person centred” family, where we understand that my son thinks and lives differently, therefore acceptance is my key to carry on and live with autism. At home I also use an approach called Intensive Interaction, that was introduced when my son started speech therapy some years ago.

When it comes to to autism, I believe that one of the most effective approaches is of course Intensive Interaction! although I must say there are many other different approaches being used with people on the spectrum, I truly believe Intensive Interaction gives the “full package”.

Intensive Interaction (as I see it) it is a person centred approach that works very close to the child/person and the main concept is to understand and feel what the other person is going through at that particular moment.. as I always say it is as if “you put yourself into the other’s person mind and word”.

I come from a counselling/support work background; previously I have worked with children with special needs, I have worked in schools and volunteered with different organisations working with adults and children with various needs and problematics and I have also worked with young people in care.

I believe that there is a need to understand our children and young people, there is a lack of acceptance and a lack of understanding; our society has developed a stereotypical way in seeing people which leads to a “classification” and unfortunately if you don’t fit in that category than you are seeing as different.

This is wrong and needs to be changed for neurotypical people and most of all for those who have special needs…. and this is why is very important for me to dedicate a piece of time to awareness.