*** Year 1 = £14,440 raised!  THANK YOU ALL! ***
*** Trying to get to £20,000 by end 2016! ***

In 2015 I wrote the poem 'I Stand Quietly' http://istandquietly.com about my autistic daughter and the challenges she faces.

It started a rollercoaster year.  The poem raised lots of money and brought a new wider audience to my blog.  It enabled me to meet some wonderful people and connect with like-minded souls.  I am very grateful and proud of what I achieved, but at the same time, disappointed that there is still so much ignorance about autism, so much more to do.

My daughter will only be a child for a few more years, most of her life, like all of us, will be as an adult.  Autistic adults generally "don't look autistic", they look just like you.  They ARE just like you: they want to work, to achieve their ambitions, to be part of society and community; they love, hate, dream and hurt like everyone else.

Autistics simply have a different neurology to most (neurotypicals): they are part of our human yin yang - maybe they see the trees in the wood, maybe they specialise where others tend to generalise, whatever - I believe autistic strengths compliment neurotypical weaknesses, we would all be better for working together.

All that autistic people are asking for is the same respect and rights as you take for granted.  I raise money for the National Autistic Society because I believe they are the charity that listens best to autistic adults, and most effectively supports those who cannot support themselves.