Natasha's Story

I have two autistic children, Alicia who is 15 years old and Christian who is 9 years, and they both present very differently with their autism. 
Autism NI was able to help us get passes for different family activity places such as the Zoo, and W5, which allows us to plan day trips without costing the earth. It also allowed the staff who work in the facilities to be aware both kids may have particular requirements while there. Autism NI have also been available for advice on other services such as mental health and parent forums. 
For me, supporting Autism NI and their message this World Autism Acceptance Month is so important. People look at my children and at times think they should be acting differently, blaming parenting for issues when really, they are just trying to cope with sensory overload. I think the general public has a one size fits all approach for autism and when people act outside of that you hear "they don't look autistic", when the reality is that everyone is so different. There is no one size fits all, a diagnosis doesn’t mean everyone is the same. Autistic children, young people and adults are as individual as neurotypical people. 
Autistic people and their needs should be treated on an individual basis. For Alicia tight hugs are a must to regulate, but for Christian that would dysregulate him and cause sensory overload. I think you can educate yourself, ask questions about how best to approach a situation and learn more about what not to do.
 

Natasha, Parent