SO SO PROUD to share with you all that on this incredibly special evening I was given an Autism Hero Award !!!
When I began this journey I was a woman who had had no voice at all for 17 years.
As a Mum to 4 neurodiverse children, 2 of whom are on the autism spectrum,I was fighting for them to be heard,supported,valued and included.
That journey,particularly with my son Ollie,birthed the work I do today.
I realised that what was happening to him, exclusion on all sorts of levels,horrific bullying and a total lack of expectation from his school,was happening to children and young adults not just in the UK but all over the world.
Our journey became one I absolutely needed to share with others,whether that was advice,knowledge,information,therapy sessions,endless blogs,magazine articles,interviews,seminars,webinars,prolific free public speaking,a youtube channel and a large public Facebook group set up during Covid when as a therapist I nearly lost everything,as well as taking my training into schools,charities and organisations all over the world.
I have never given up,whatever else is going on in my life.
I never will.
I just want to give,do and be more and more and more so that I can help these kids bloom into their full potential.
I never ever ever in 1000 billion years expected the life that has since happened to me.
This is my Desriny.
I will never stop this work,this passion,this belief – and to educate and advocate for long needed change,acceptance and true inclusion.
When I was awarded the Autism Hero Award by Dr Anna Kennedy OBE for the Charity Supporter of the year,I had ni idea that I had even been nominated or was in the running.
I was busy sharing the event all over my social media platforms and on here to celebrate all the incredible,selfless,tireless and dedicated heroes who are ALL making change happen.
Little did I know !!!
I did cry when I found out and I haven’t cried for myself in 9 years.But it was good crying !
As someone who has been behind others for 20+ years,cheering them on,believing in them unswervingly,shouting until all voices are heard and helping to grow all the delicious potential I see in every single unique human being I am honoured to meet, I am just used to being in the background.
Anna made me feel a million dollars….
Winning this award is priceless.
Anna made me feel seen and heard for the first time in all my adult life.
I couldn’t be prouder to be part of the AKO family – a genuine charity with integrity and a pure big heart.
To hear more about the awards ceremony please visit my YouTube link below : Autism Hero Awards
Organised by the fabulous Anna Kennedy OBE, all the ambassadors and patrons of the charity recorded or photographed themselves dancing and wrote how dancing makes them feel. In fact everyone whoever and wherever you are, are invited on the last Friday of every April to celebrate the Step In The Right Direction Autism Dance Day.Large numbers of special needs and mainstream schools are encouraged to organise dance events to raise funds for Autism. In its first year the charity received UNESCO Patronage.
I even had a little sing too!
One of my poor sons was laughing at how I begin my working day!!
He had the very trying job of choosing the best behaved photos… always a tricky one where I’m concerned !!!
And all before going to school!
We all know the positive benefits of dance for those with autism.
Anyone can join in whether they’re autistic, live or work with autistic people or simply to have fun and raise money for this wonderful cause.
Dancing is one of my HUGE “guilty” pleasures. To the point that I actually keep a pair of silver dancing shoes at the foot of my stairs because I never know when the moment will seize me!
This is how dancing makes me feel …
“Ever since I was a tiny girl I’ve seen the world and people in colours. Yellow is the ultimate for me as it means total joy. When I dance I feel bright yellow,free and I’m just undiluted Giuliana.”
Click on the charity website link below and click on the Autism Dance Day tab on the “Campaigns” section of the menu where you will find Anna and all the team dancing for autism and saying how it makes them feel too …. Anna Kennedy Online
World Autism Acceptance Day was spent with AnaKennedyOnline Autism Charity, Born Anxious models and Merlin’s Magic Wand at Madam Tussaud’s in central London this year.
I took along my youngest son Charles because I adore involving my family in my passionate work and bringing them up to never stop believing that anything is possible, and to live fully inclusive lives.
Once again, the Born Anxious children and adults, many of whom are Anna Kennedy Online ambassadors just like myself,hit the catwalk once again.
I even had a little go on the runway thanks to the help of my dear friend, partner in crime and fellow ambassador Jo Wiggins Anand.
Think my son may have left his imprint in the wall he was trying to squash himself into with embarrassment !!
Huge fun was had by all and it was a beautiful way to celebrate Autism as well as to raise awareness and acceptance.
We still have such a long,long way to go however and I would love to re-name this day Autism Education Day because accceptance feels like paying lip service to a condition that lasts a lifetime and not simply a day.
Luckily I have a long life to keep shouting from the rooftops along with many others until true education and support happens so that ALL our children and young adults can reach their full potential.
Really really happy to have spotted this little article about my work in the 2022 Summer Issue of Exmoor Magazine.
I am super proud of where I live and it is always so particularly special when I am featured in a regional publication, especially one as gorgeous as this !! This is the second time the fabulous Naomi Cudmore ,Editor, has included me in this beautiful magazine and I am thrilled. Thank you !
Just CARTWHEELING with joy and passionate dedication to have been added to the “pool” of contributors for the UK’s best selling Autism magazine, Autism Eye.
I am SUPER PROUD !! What an honour !
I LOVE freely sharing help, advice , ideas and experience, especially during this time when it has never been needed more.
So for the SPRING Issue 2022 of Autism Eye which is just packed full of incredible and valuable advice and articles, I was invited to give some insights and input into the section on Outdoor Sensory Play.
I LOVE outdoor sensory play and sensory play of any kind …. it’s PHENOMENAL and I LOVE it, so I immediately agreed to contribute.
This is just a LITTLE insight into what I have shared…
( Lovely Fiona, the journalist who interviewed me was doubtless dashing to the chemist to buy all their supplies of Aspirin for her poor head afterwards …. I was a bit passionate !!)
Outdoor sensory play creates bonding and stimulates emotional and social skills.
It helps with maths by measuring,weighing and recognising empty and full.
It helps with English with all that eye to hand co-ordination.
It boosts communication.
It also reduces emotional or violent outbursts in the classroom and connects our gorgeous children to nature.
As well as helping them to assess risks and explore !
As Einstein once said “Play is the highestform of research”
I really wish it was possible to just give him a massive cuddle ……
Really REALLY happy to be joining Clare Carter again at 9.15 am on BBC RADIO SOMERSET 95.5 FM Breakfast Show getting all “my” children’s voices heard and having a chat about The National Diversity Awards !!
A play back link will be available for 30 days after the interview which I will post on here for anyone who misses it and would like to hear it back.
The absolutely LOVELY Bryan Leaker MBE of West Somerset Radio 104.4 FM will be interviewing me about my recent experience at the National Diversity Awards ceremony where I received a Certificate of Achievement as a shortlisted 2021 Positive Role Model for my work , message and journey at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on 4th February 2022.
Tune in from around 12.30 pm on Wednesday 16th February if you would like to catch our conversation …. I am still so excited and pinching myself over the whole experience !!!
What a beautiful venue at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral in a city I have fallen madly in love with !
I have met the most beautiful human beings who are making such a difference to this world and I know I have made some friends for life .
CONGRATULATIONS to all the well deserving winners. I would have hated to have been a judge !! It was passionately electrifying to be in a room amongst leaders and pioneers . I shall be absolutely buzzing unbearably with energy and even more motivation for weeks !! It all still feels like a dream that I was even there, nominated and shortlisted.
ITV news and other sponsors were all there and even had my photo taken on my first ever red carpet. ( I normally hoover carpets, not have my picture taken on them !! )
I am SO PROUD to have been awarded a Certificate of Achievment as a shortlisted Positive Role Model at this great National Event which was live streamed from YouTube as well as the National Diversity Awards website. I am particularly proud of being shortlisted out of a whopping 50,000 nominees because this for me was always about the children and young adults I work with and do such extensive charity work, public speaking and advocating for – the unique, ABLE and incredible people whom I have watched grow their wings and find their voices and strengths – these people with no voices whom I work with, learn from and fight so hard for.
This shortlist nomination will remain on the National Diversity Website for the next FIVE years !!
It was also overwhelming and strange but also very emotional to feel seen for the first time as myself in over twenty years.
I have absolute dedication to getting others seen and heard ; but I have never,ever thought about being seen as me, Giuliana . I am always surrounded by people and just intensely focused on doing all I can to bring about real change for them , for us All.
I never expected nor have ever looked for the incredible experiences and opportunities I have had along this journey. I am still pinching myself.
A mother to four neurodiverse children, my journey with my autistic son Ollie in particular ,we were often left for weeks or even months at a time trying to survive well below the breadline, enduring ever intensifying domestic abuse on every level, including having our home saturated with illegal spyware and cameras. My work bag and car would be tracked as would my children’s bags if they ever went to see friends or girlfriends. I was dragged from a speeding car by my coat collar when it was discovered I was writing my book ; I was accused of everything you could possible imagine. I began this work with just £50 in my pocket and a badly broken foot ( I had invented the job as no one was working with autistic children at that time in this way as far as the CMA knew) .
I still managed to somehow keep it not just going, but growing ,through two Crown Court hearings and a High Court Hearing where my ex husband’s custodial sentence of 21 years , which had been broken down into 4 concurrent sentences which had brought it down to six and a half years, was challenged by him.
I had even dropped my own charges in a “deal breaker” plea from the defence barrister , to protect my children.
This was unanimously refused by the three judges.
Then COVID hit us all and I had to learn rapidly in order to protect a business based around touch and to keep my message growing.
I have achieved all of this totally on my own, no team, no staff, no sets of volunteers , no backing of any sort …. I was the only one there in this situation.
So for once in my life I really do feel the hugest pride and emotion in being awarded my certificate.
I will use this to be and do even more, even if I break myself, because I love and believe in what I do and things need to change for ANYONE who doesn’t have a voice or basic human rights.
Labels, colours, sexual orientation, gender, culture or creed …
We all bleed red.
We all need to be included.
We all have a right to be heard.
So an enormous, enormous, ENORMOUS heartfelt thank you to ALL of you who have cheered me on, kept me strong and believed in me during this incredible first experience. ThAnk you again to Tess Eagle Swan of KRATU fame for nominating me in the first place and to Anna Kennedy OBE for supporting me on the night. What a a beautiful time to have shared.
I will never forget it and know that this is the platform I needed to TURN UP THE VOLUME until we are ALL heard, valued and included.
Click on the link below to the whole evening for those of you who missed the live streaming of the evening and would like to see the event:
I did make a special YouTube video on my channel to say how I felt about this incredible Awards ceremony. It’s not very long but absolutely captures what this whole evening and my certificate mean to me .
Please click on the link below if you would like to see it.
So So Happy …. Really hope that my article on page 32 of this Jan/Feb 2022 Issue 116 of SEN Magazine brings autistic and neurodiverse young people nd their families REAL hope of what CAN be achieved.
NEVER TAKE NO FOR AN ANSWER …..
Click on the link below to read the article on page 32. The WHOLE magazine is a brilliant issue as always with so many valuable and top contributors. Really proud to be amongst them.
SO SO PROUD to share with you all that on this incredibly special evening I was given an Autism Hero Award !!!
Organised by the fabulous Anna Kennedy OBE, all the ambassadors and patrons of the charity recorded or photographed themselves dancing and wrote how dancing makes them feel. In fact everyone whoever and wherever you are, are invited on the last Friday of every April to celebrate the Step In The Right Direction Autism Dance Day.Large numbers of special needs and mainstream schools are encouraged to organise dance events to raise funds for Autism. In its first year the charity received UNESCO Patronage. 
Really really happy to have spotted this little article about my work in the 2022 Summer Issue of Exmoor Magazine.
Just CARTWHEELING with joy and passionate dedication to have been added to the “pool” of contributors for the UK’s best selling Autism magazine, Autism Eye.
Really REALLY happy to be joining Clare Carter again at 9.15 am on BBC RADIO SOMERSET 95.5 FM Breakfast Show getting all “my” children’s voices heard and having a chat about The National Diversity Awards !!
The absolutely LOVELY Bryan Leaker MBE of West Somerset Radio 104.4 FM will be interviewing me about my recent experience at the National Diversity Awards ceremony where I received a Certificate of Achievement as a shortlisted 2021 Positive Role Model for my work , message and journey at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral on 4th February 2022.
CONGRATULATIONS to all the well deserving winners. I would have hated to have been a judge !! It was passionately electrifying to be in a room amongst leaders and pioneers . I shall be absolutely buzzing unbearably with energy and even more motivation for weeks !! It all still feels like a dream that I was even there, nominated and shortlisted.
I am SO PROUD to have been awarded a Certificate of Achievment as a shortlisted Positive Role Model at this great National Event which was live streamed from YouTube as well as the National Diversity Awards website. I am particularly proud of being shortlisted out of a whopping 50,000 nominees because this for me was always about the children and young adults I work with and do such extensive charity work, public speaking and advocating for – the unique, ABLE and incredible people whom I have watched grow their wings and find their voices and strengths – these people with no voices whom I work with, learn from and fight so hard for.
It was also overwhelming and strange but also very emotional to feel seen for the first time as myself in over twenty years.
son Ollie in particular ,we were often left for weeks or even months at a time trying to survive well below the breadline, enduring ever intensifying domestic abuse on every level, including having our home saturated with illegal spyware and cameras. My work bag and car would be tracked as would my children’s bags if they ever went to see friends or girlfriends. I was dragged from a speeding car by my coat collar when it was discovered I was writing my book ; I was accused of everything you could possible imagine. I began this work with just £50 in my pocket and a badly broken foot ( I had invented the job as no one was working with autistic children at that time in this way as far as the CMA knew) .
So So Happy …. Really hope that my article on page 32 of this Jan/Feb 2022 Issue 116 of SEN Magazine brings autistic and neurodiverse young people nd their families REAL hope of what CAN be achieved.
