When Dom Randell-Snow was diagnosed with autism, aged three, everything changed for his family.

Dom’s parents Tracy and Dan found themselves excluded from the toddler groups they had previously enjoyed, and grieved for the life their son would never lead.

“Things used to be very different – 17 years ago people thought autism was a disease you could catch. like leprosy, so my son and our family were excluded,” remembers Tracy.

“When you have a child you hope for the best things in life for them. 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.”

The family soon discovered the services of Autism Wessex, a charity providing specialist services for people affected by autism and associated difficulties across Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Dom has been accessing these services for the past 17 years and now lives in one of the charity’s adult residential homes.

Tracy and Dan credit the charity with turning all their lives around.

“We were welcomed into a world that brought us all back to life,” says Tracy.

“The care Dom received at Autism Wessex gave Dan and I our son back. Over the years Dom has transformed from an unaffectionate, non-verbal, reclusive child to a happy, chatty and extremely loving and affectionate young man.”

Dom started at Portfield School in Christchurch aged three and Tracy believes the early intervention was crucial in making him who he is today.

At 16 Dom attended Lifeskills, the senior part of the school, and three years later graduated in front of his proud parents. In October 2014 he moved out of home and started living at the charity’s residential property Greenways.

“Dom was non-verbal until he was 13, despite us being told he if he wasn’t verbal by the age of eight that he would never speak,” says Tracy.

“As Dom embarks on his 20th year we are mindful of how lucky we have been to find such an incredible charity, whose staff go above and beyond to make a hugely impressive and positive difference to those of us dealing with autism every day.

“We’re so fortunate to have found a place where the staff love and care for our son as if he was their own. No more isolation or exclusion, but care, kindness, love and support.”

To find out more about Autism Wessex visit autismwessex.org.uk or call 01202 483360.