Latest news with #autism
BBC News
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Shropshire dads humbled by response to autism podcast
Two dads who make a podcast about the experience of raising an autistic child have said the response has been "phenomenal" and "humbling".Andy Williams and Gaz Hitchin from Shropshire released the first episode in May and said they wanted to connect with other dads, share the ups and downs, and tell them everything will be its first five weeks the Autism Dadcast Instagram channel has picked up 31,000 followers and had 2.3m views. The pair have been approached by national charities asking for their support with Williams said the feedback from other dads had made the duo "realise that there are so many men out there who were feeling exactly what we were until we opened up". The pair first met each other at a fundraising marathon in Paris in Williams said: "We did the run, raised some money, and got talking about where are the dads in this journey? Why aren't there any dads openly discussing what it's like to suddenly become a parent to an autistic child?"They then resolved "just to become the voices and do a podcast".Both men have young children who are profoundly autistic and non-verbal and the podcast features stories from day-to-day life, from filling in forms to cleaning up agreed to "say things as they are" and talk about grief, resentment and isolation, but also include some humour. Mr Hitchin said a lot of parents of children with autism will have experienced "real deep sadness, like you've lost a child even though [what] we've actually lost is the expectation of a child, not the actual child itself".He said he wanted to tell other parents "you're going to be ok". Mr Williams said another important part of the podcast was explaining the experience from a man's said: "Throughout my adult life, if there's a problem around the house or something at work, I'll sit down, I'll think about it and I'll try and find a way to fix it and I think a lot of men could probably relate to that." He added that he believed men often struggled on receiving an autism diagnosis for their child and found themselves having to make practical adjustments to their lives - which he called a "mental shift of epic proportions"."Now I need to do the best I possibly can to ensure [my child] reaches her potential, whatever that looks like," he said. Encouraging dads to 'get stuck in' Neither of the men had any background in podcasting before they started and they made clear they were learning about autism as they went Williams said mums had traditionally "shouldered the weight" and added: "It seems to be the case that they're the most vocal, they're the most active out there."He said he hoped the podcast might encourage more dads to "roll their sleeves up" and get involved in autistic children's lives."A tag team of two parents that are completely on the same page and pushing for what's right for their child ultimately has the best results," he included, he added, getting to grips with the benefits system, schools and Education, Health and Care Plans at a time when all were coming under political Hitchin said both of them recognised they had to "get stuck in" and Mr Williams admitted he found the work "draining and time consuming"."You have to almost become a law expert and advocate all rolled into one, as well as trying to be a parent to a neuro diverse child," Mr Williams said. The two men joked that they thought only their friends and family would listen to their podcasts, but Mr Hitchin said: "It's turning into something we've never imagined."The podcast has brought them the attention of national charities such as the Disabled Children's Partnership, the National Autistic Society and Mencap, who all want to work with them, according to the have been invited to a lobbying event at parliament in September and Mr Williams said they were starting to feel the "weight of expectation".But he said they also saw the opportunity to "stand up for fellow parents" and "get some real opinions out there and hopefully influence some decisions that could be made". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dads humbled by response to autism podcast
Two dads who make a podcast about the experience of raising an autistic child have said the response has been "phenomenal" and "humbling". Andy Williams and Gaz Hitchin from Shropshire released the first episode in May and said they wanted to connect with other dads, share the ups and downs, and tell them everything will be ok. In its first five weeks the Autism Dadcast Instagram channel has picked up 31,000 followers and had 2.3m views. The pair have been approached by national charities asking for their support with campaigns. Mr Williams said the feedback from other dads had made the duo "realise that there are so many men out there who were feeling exactly what we were until we opened up". The pair first met each other at a fundraising marathon in Paris in March. Mr Williams said: "We did the run, raised some money, and got talking about where are the dads in this journey? Why aren't there any dads openly discussing what it's like to suddenly become a parent to an autistic child?" They then resolved "just to become the voices and do a podcast". Both men have young children who are profoundly autistic and non-verbal and the podcast features stories from day-to-day life, from filling in forms to cleaning up poo. They agreed to "say things as they are" and talk about grief, resentment and isolation, but also include some humour. Mr Hitchin said a lot of parents of children with autism will have experienced "real deep sadness, like you've lost a child even though [what] we've actually lost is the expectation of a child, not the actual child itself". He said he wanted to tell other parents "you're going to be ok". Mr Williams said another important part of the podcast was explaining the experience from a man's perspective. He said: "Throughout my adult life, if there's a problem around the house or something at work, I'll sit down, I'll think about it and I'll try and find a way to fix it and I think a lot of men could probably relate to that." He added that he believed men often struggled on receiving an autism diagnosis for their child and found themselves having to make practical adjustments to their lives - which he called a "mental shift of epic proportions". "Now I need to do the best I possibly can to ensure [my child] reaches her potential, whatever that looks like," he said. Neither of the men had any background in podcasting before they started and they made clear they were learning about autism as they went along. Mr Williams said mums had traditionally "shouldered the weight" and added: "It seems to be the case that they're the most vocal, they're the most active out there." He said he hoped the podcast might encourage more dads to "roll their sleeves up" and get involved in autistic children's lives. "A tag team of two parents that are completely on the same page and pushing for what's right for their child ultimately has the best results," he said. That included, he added, getting to grips with the benefits system, schools and Education, Health and Care Plans at a time when all were coming under political scrutiny. Mr Hitchin said both of them recognised they had to "get stuck in" and Mr Williams admitted he found the work "draining and time consuming". "You have to almost become a law expert and advocate all rolled into one, as well as trying to be a parent to a neuro diverse child," Mr Williams said. The two men joked that they thought only their friends and family would listen to their podcasts, but Mr Hitchin said: "It's turning into something we've never imagined." The podcast has brought them the attention of national charities such as the Disabled Children's Partnership, the National Autistic Society and Mencap, who all want to work with them, according to the duo. They have been invited to a lobbying event at parliament in September and Mr Williams said they were starting to feel the "weight of expectation". But he said they also saw the opportunity to "stand up for fellow parents" and "get some real opinions out there and hopefully influence some decisions that could be made". Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. MPs say fix Send system or face 'lost generation' 'Why does my daddy look so sad?' Pub meet-ups for SEND dads 'help tackle loneliness' 'Dads need to get involved with our SEND children' Autism Dadcast
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Autism centre gets free glow up after social media SOS
"I need your help!" When Gerard Donaghy, from Millisle, County Down, shared those words on his Facebook page, he had no idea how people would respond. He had a vision of bringing together painters and decorators from across Northern Ireland to give a building that serves the community a much-needed glow up. On Saturday, a resource centre for families living with autism will be given a free makeover - thanks to more than 50 volunteers. "You don't have to look far to find bad news these days - it can weigh you down - but something like this reminds you that there's still plenty of good out there," the father of two told BBC News NI. As well as looking for volunteers, Gerard, who runs Paintworks NI with his wife Danielle, asked for nominations for a building needing a transformation. The successful nominee was Helping Hands Autism Resource Centre in Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast. "As a dad of a daughter with additional needs, this one's personal," Gerard said. "I walked into their space and saw what they were trying to do and I just knew we could help make it better. "A coat of paint might not seem like much to some, but when it's done with care and pride, it changes how a place feels - and that's what these families deserve." Caroline Birch, chairperson of Helping Hands, said the organisation is "incredibly grateful for this act of kindness". "It means the world to our family members and the local community as well," she said. "We are absolutely delighted that Gerard and all the other guys have generously volunteered their time, equipment and expertise to support our charity by redecorating our premises." "The makeover will create a brighter, more welcoming space for the children and families that Helping Hands supports every day," she added. Rising costs and funding difficulties can be stressful for charities. But Caroline says the transformation has lifted the atmosphere and will allow them to "truly reflect the care and inclusion we strive to provide". "The Paint It Forward initiative stands as an excellent example of local businesses giving back and making a meaningful difference - we cannot thank them all enough," she said. "Here's to a colourful brighter future for our charity." Paint It Forward was something Gerard said he had been thinking about for years. "What if we could get a crowd of decorators together, just for one day, to completely transform a place that really needs it? No hoops to jump through, no funding, just people showing up and using their skills to do good." Last year, he met the chairman of the Painting Contractors Association in the US, Nick Slavic, who told him: "It starts with one." "That conversation was the fuel that lit the fire," he said. "From the minute we mentioned it, people jumped on it. "I had painters messaging saying 'Count me in', without even knowing the full details. "Suppliers stepped up with no hesitation... They just said yes - along with loads of local businesses who are chipping in too. "At the heart of it, it's just people wanting to be part of something positive." "I'd love to see this spark something across the board," Gerard said. "Whether you're a roofer, a joiner, a landscaper, a plumber, we all have skills. "If every trade gave one day a year to a cause in their community, imagine what we could do?"
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Jenni ‘JWoww' Farley Says She ‘Hog-Tied' Her Son in Airport Bathroom While Learning How To Manage His Autism Diagnosis
Jenni 'JWoww' Farley Says She 'Hog-Tied' Her Son in Airport Bathroom While Learning How To Manage His Autism Diagnosis originally appeared on Parade. Fans of Jenni "JWoww" Farley likely know her best for her hard partying ways on the Jersey Shore. But ever since becoming a mom, Farley has shifted her focus to being the best parent she can be for her son Greyson Valor Mathews, who she shares with ex-husband Roger Mathews. However, that wasn't always easy for the reality star, especially when her son was little and had just received an autism diagnosis that left Farley struggling to parent her little boy. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 The 40-year-old opened up about the challenging time in her life while appearing on Kylie Kelce's Not Gonna Lie podcast, recalling how hard things were when Grayson was two, and she was traveling alone with him through the airport when he threw an epic tantrum. "I was able to lock myself in a bathroom with him and get him figured out and lock him in his stroller," she recalled. 'I was hog-tying him at one point just to calm him down. And we got on the plane, and he passed out. I remember all the looks; he just got diagnosed. I was [like] I don't wanna talk about his diagnosis.'According to Farley, everything kicked off when her then non-verbal son tried to run through the TSA security checkpoint. 'And when I tried to stop him, he ripped my glasses off and broke them, and he headbutted me.' She went on to explain how nobody had given her any information about his diagnosis at the time, or the sensory challenges he may face. "And I had no idea, because he really wasn't on a flight before that, that he didn't like lines, and he didn't like waiting, and he hated delays.' These days Farley has become a tireless advocate, not just for her son, but for any child or parent who is learning how to manage an autism diagnosis. While we can't imagine how hard that moment had to be for Farley and her son, it sounds like the proud mama is trying to use her story to help raise awareness for other parents, and maybe even help some other mamas feel less 'JWoww' Farley Says She 'Hog-Tied' Her Son in Airport Bathroom While Learning How To Manage His Autism Diagnosis first appeared on Parade on Jun 27, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
BBC News
9 hours ago
- General
- BBC News
Autism centre in Northern Ireland gets glow up after Facebook SOS
"I need your help!"When Gerard Donaghy, from Millisle, County Down, shared those words on his Facebook page, he had no idea how people would had a vision of bringing together painters and decorators from across Northern Ireland to give a building that serves the community a much-needed glow Saturday, a resource centre for families living with autism will be given a free makeover - thanks to more than 50 volunteers."You don't have to look far to find bad news these days - it can weigh you down - but something like this reminds you that there's still plenty of good out there," the father of two told BBC News NI. As well as looking for volunteers, Gerard, who runs Paintworks NI with his wife Danielle, asked for nominations for a building needing a successful nominee was Helping Hands Autism Resource Centre in Dundonald, on the outskirts of Belfast."As a dad of a daughter with additional needs, this one's personal," Gerard said."I walked into their space and saw what they were trying to do and I just knew we could help make it better."A coat of paint might not seem like much to some, but when it's done with care and pride, it changes how a place feels - and that's what these families deserve." 'Act of kindness' Caroline Birch, chairperson of Helping Hands, said the organisation is "incredibly grateful for this act of kindness"."It means the world to our family members and the local community as well," she said."We are absolutely delighted that Gerard and all the other guys have generously volunteered their time, equipment and expertise to support our charity by redecorating our premises." "The makeover will create a brighter, more welcoming space for the children and families that Helping Hands supports every day," she added. Rising costs and funding difficulties can be stressful for Caroline says the transformation has lifted the atmosphere and will allow them to "truly reflect the care and inclusion we strive to provide". "The Paint It Forward initiative stands as an excellent example of local businesses giving back and making a meaningful difference - we cannot thank them all enough," she said."Here's to a colourful brighter future for our charity." Paint It Forward was something Gerard said he had been thinking about for years."What if we could get a crowd of decorators together, just for one day, to completely transform a place that really needs it? No hoops to jump through, no funding, just people showing up and using their skills to do good."Last year, he met the chairman of the Painting Contractors Association in the US, Nick Slavic, who told him: "It starts with one.""That conversation was the fuel that lit the fire," he said."From the minute we mentioned it, people jumped on it. 'We all have skills' "I had painters messaging saying 'Count me in', without even knowing the full details."Suppliers stepped up with no hesitation... They just said yes - along with loads of local businesses who are chipping in too."At the heart of it, it's just people wanting to be part of something positive.""I'd love to see this spark something across the board," Gerard said."Whether you're a roofer, a joiner, a landscaper, a plumber, we all have skills."If every trade gave one day a year to a cause in their community, imagine what we could do?"
