Why did you start the website?
My son Jeorge, now 11, was diagnosed with autism when he was three-and-a- half. Jeorge is non-verbal and incredibly sensitive to energy and stimulus surrounding him.
I’ve spent seven years volunteering with people with autism and met hundreds of people who are autistic and their carers. I have researched through books written by those on the spectrum. I launched the website last October. There are so many misconceptions about autism and I wanted to get across the things that aren't spoken about much, such as the sensory processing and how it communicates, as well as concepts like seeing sound [synesthesia]. Various people I’ve met can see sound. They can hear trees and flowers. Many have told me they use telepathy.
What's the story behind the name ‘Dazlious’?
It comes from a film called Snow Cake and is a made-up Scrabble word by Sigourney Weaver, who stars as a woman with autism. I feel that it symbolises a connection with another human.
How do you help professionals?
I trained as an NNEB and worked in early years as a family support worker.
I go into colleges and talk with early years students to inspire them. This is my passion and an opportunity to give an insight into what autism really is before they meet anyone on the spectrum. There is a need for more support and training for all educational staff. I run workshops for professional settings too.
How do you support parents?
I run workshops and visit family homes helping parents to cope in practical ways, inspiring them not to worry about expectations, such as when their child should be toilet-trained. I try and give power to parents, who may be feeling overwhelmed by the diagnosis.
All professionals who have the responsibility to assess and diagnose and the parents and carers of autistic people, we must enter a time of listening. We have for all good intentions got it mostly wrong.
If we listen to what autistic people tell us about how they fit into this world, what they feel, how they process, and what they are processing we learn so much. Then we can all feel less of a need to 'cure' autism and instead realise we have much to gain as a humanity from those born with autism .
