William's Son Rise Autism Appeal

William aged 3

My name is William and I am 3 years old. I was diagnosed with autism and severe learning difficulties in May 2008. My mum and dad want to help me to overcome this illness by training in the Autism Treatment Centre of America using the Son Rise Programme.

This program offers hope for me when everywhere else offers none.

Unless people try to overcome this illness it will remain incurable, like other illnesses that are now no longer the 'death sentence' they once were.

www.autismtreatmentcenter.org/

I was born in February 2006 by emergency section following a failed induction. I developed normally, sitting at 6 months, crawled at 9 months and walked at 12 months. I begun to babble around 6 months and said my name at 8 months. By 14 months however, I stopped making eye contact, was unable to make any sounds and didn't even recognise my own name. I used to love checking myself out in the mirror, mummy thought I was a poser, but now I don't like to look in mirrors and don't recognise myself, even in pictures.

I love swings and slides and at around 25 months began to say occasionally 'ready steady go'. Mummy and Daddy always cheer me when I do this. My little sister is 17 months younger than me and even she claps me sometimes!

I love opening and shutting doors, and spinning the wheels of my cars. My favourite thing of all is to sing. I can sing lots of songs but without words using really good pitch. We sing all the time as a family but I prefer to sing on my own.

What is Autism?

Autism is a life-long developmental disability often linked to other learning difficulties. Sufferers have three main area of difficulty.

1)COMMUNICATION,

2)BEING SOCIABLE,

3) USING IMAGINATION

The cause of it is unknown and so is a cure.

The illness can affect anyone from any background but it is no-ones fault.

Sufferers also often have learning difficulties

Sensory Impairments

A narrow appitite

Sleeping difficulties

Temper tantrums due to flustration