“My twin boys, Antonio and Miguel, were first diagnosed with autism in 2022 when they were two and a half years old. At that time, I didn’t know anything about autism or what services where available. I didn’t know where to start. I got in touch with Enable Ireland in Navan and that’s when I started to understand autism and how I could support my two boys. I did the Early Bird course with Enable. It focuses on empowering parents to learn about autism and to learn about the ways that you can best support your children.

The biggest difference that Enable Ireland has made to me and my family is getting guidance on what to do and what to expect. If you suspect that your child might have autism, my advice to parents is to get in touch with Enable Ireland. Speak to the professionals there. You will find people there who will help you but as a parent you are always your child’s best advocate.

Antonio and Miguel are six now and are in senior infants in an autism class in a mainstream school. They are really happy going into school. Enable Ireland helped us to get Augmentative and Alternative Communications (AAC) devices to help them to communicate. These devices are essential so that they can take part in school life.  I attended a workshop training so that I would be able to help the boys to use them. They also use Lámh (a sign language system). I attended a Hanen training course, which helps parents support their autistic children with social communication.

My boys, like all autistic children, have additional needs. Like all parents, we just want our kids to be happy but they need more help, more support for this. I want to help raise awareness for autism particularly among people who have a public facing role. It’s so important if you work with the public that you know and understand how to respond to someone who is autistic. Too often people might think a child experiencing sensory overload is just bad behaviour. People need to know how to react, how to respond in these situations.

Antonio and Miguel are identical twin boys and while they both love to have fun they have very different personalities. They both have sensory issues, for example one will like the light on and the other off. It’s like a disco sometimes!  The boys adore their older sister Lucia (8) and she takes great care of them. At the moment, she is teaching them how to play basketball in the back garden. She gives them a piggyback to help them to reach the hoop. They are very active boys and they love running outside, going on the swings. They are very loving and silly. They are doing the best they can.”