'17 years ago people thought autism was a disease you could catch'

Tracy Randell-Snow has commended Portfield School, which is run by Autism Wessex, for their dedication in caring for children and adults with autism.

Her son, Dom, has been using the charity's services since he was three, and now lives in one of their adult residential homes.

Tracy said: "This year Dom celebrates his 20th birthday and enjoys a life of contentment in an environment where he is loved and cherished and is an active member of his local community.

"Things used to be very different. Seventeen years ago people thought autism was a disease you could catch – like leprosy – so my son and our family were excluded.

"Thankfully we found Autism Wessex and were welcomed into a world that brought us all back to life. The care Dom received at Autism Wessex gave my husband Dan and I, our son back.

"Having a child with autism changes your life. You grieve for their life.

"Dom will never have his own family. Our hope for Dom is that he will be happy and settled. And most if all we want him to be looked after when we are no longer here."

She said Autism Wessex welcomed them, and Dom soon transformed from an unaffectionate, non verbal child to a happy, chatty and affectionate young man.

"We absolutely credit this turn around to Autism Wessex working alongside ourselves, and the exceptional staff who know and love our son as well as we do", she added.

"We are so fortunate to have found a place where the staff love and care for our son as if he was their own.

"From the conversations you have at parents evenings to the meetings staff have attended on their days off, from the day we found Autism Wessex, we have been on this journey together. No more isolation or exclusion, but care, kindness, love and support.

"But out of all of us coping, Dom is the best. He is an example to us all and he is loved and cherished by not only his biological family, who adore him, but his very special Autism Wessex family too."