“I was diagnosed as autistic a couple of years ago. I’m late diagnosed and that in itself feels odd. I do have a different way of seeing the world, but I have lived most of my life without the label of autism.

In 1980, autism was recognised as a distinct diagnosis, where before it was seen as an aspect of childhood schizophrenia or psychosis. So, it became a big news story for a few years. Growing up, I regularly saw autistic children on TV and in the news. They were portrayed as tragic, unreachable and damaged, framed as medical and educational problems, and as burdens on their families. All the children shown as autistic also had learning disabilities. Around 20–30% of us do, which is a significant minority, but still a minority.

I absolutely did not see myself in these depictions of autism.

The understanding and portrayal of autism has changed since then, and my own understanding has grown too. As I got older, every time I read about autism, I thought, ‘that sounds like me’. I found myself reading more and more. By the time I got my diagnosis, I had been fairly sure for a few years that I was autistic. I had also created a life and routines, (lots of routines!) that were very autism-friendly.

The language and understanding around autism has come a long way. But some things have been slower to catch up. If you get a formal diagnosis, it is for Autism Spectrum Disorder. So my brain was put into the ‘disordered’ pile. It feels similar to when they used to diagnose gay people with a mental disorder, again not that long ago. My brain isn’t wrong, and I don’t have a disorder. I’m part of the wonderfully diverse spectrum of human possibility.

All my life I’ve experienced barriers in spaces that weren’t built with people like me in mind, too bright, too loud, too chaotic. Environments that can feel overwhelming, exhausting, and hard to navigate.

What excites me about Gympanzees is that it flips that experience entirely. It’s been designed from the start to feel welcoming to everybody. For so many children, having a safe space to explore movement, sensation and environment will be genuinely life-changing, not just fun, but freeing. When children feel truly at ease, they start to understand themselves better, and that understanding can follow them for the rest of their lives. I’m really proud to be part of creating a place like this with Gympanzees.”