exhibiting autistic traits. She did this very tentatively and with great consideration, but for me it was a relief. I had picked up on these characteristics myself but didn’t feel equipped to pursue it alone. It turned out others involved had similar concerns. He was referred for assessment for Autism Spectrum Disorder. He received his diagnosis of ‘Autism with a Learning Disability’ aged 2years 10 months. When the Paediatrician phoned me, she noted my reaction was unusual, but it truly was a relief. I knew my son was autistic and this just confirmed it. I am not someone fixated with labels and very much believe that a diagnosis is only helpful if it will make a positive difference to that person’s life. I strongly felt that for Evan it would, and it has. He has been fortunate enough to have much-needed access to specialist provisions for which he would not have been eligible without his diagnosis.
At this time, I was a full-time university student, undertaking a degree in Occupational Therapy. Evan and I had some teething problems while looking for a suitable childminder. His behaviour could be difficult to manage, even then, and his
frustration at not being able to get himself about or communicate caused him (and me) a lot of distress. Many childcare providers we visited expressed that they simply did not have the resources to manage Evan and meet his needs. This was a big blow as I felt as though I would have to give up my studies. I was extremely fortunate to find a wonderful childminder who took a keen interest in supporting Evan in the best way he could. He worked closely with Evan’s therapists to deliver his therapy programmes when Evan was in his care, attended reviews and offered valuable input whenever asked. It was also important for me that Evan had a strong male role model