Simon Bowman

Many of you know that I've supported Run for Autism in the past. While I've taken a break from fundraising over the last few years, I'm proud to be back and running again for a cause that is deeply personal to my family.

My son Lucas is 9 years old was  diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Level 3 from a very early age. Like many autistic children, Lucas experiences the world differently. He is loving, kind, full of personality, and constantly teaches our family new ways of seeing the world. But he also faces challenges that many people don't see.

One of the biggest challenges for Lucas is social interaction. He genuinely wants to be involved with other children and tries his best to join in, but understanding social cues, communication, and boundaries doesn't always come naturally to him. Despite this, he never stops trying.

Recently, my family and I were having dinner at a local restaurant where Lucas and his sister were playing with other children in the indoor play area. As we always do, we regularly checked on them to make sure they were playing nicely and getting along with the other kids.

At one point, I noticed a little girl leaving the play area with her mother in tears. I didn't think much of it at the time because I hadn't seen what had happened. A short while later, I went into the play area to tell Lucas and his sister it was time to leave.

As we were walking out, with Lucas a few metres ahead of me, the girl's father suddenly rushed into the playground and started yelling at Lucas. I immediately stepped in and asked what the problem was. He claimed that Lucas had hit his daughter.

I apologised and explained that Lucas is autistic and would never intentionally try to hurt another child. Unfortunately, he wasn't interested in hearing that. Instead, he got in my face and told me that I needed to parent my child better.

The situation became quite heated. We apologised again and tried to check on the little girl, but the other family remained aggressive. They told us we should control our children better and that we should be supervising our autistic child at all times.

The experience was upsetting, not because another parent was concerned for their child, which is completely understandable, but because it highlighted how little understanding there can still be about autism and the challenges that autistic children and their families face every single day.

Autism isn't something you can always see. Many autistic children are doing their absolute best to navigate a world that often doesn't understand them. They can struggle with social situations, communication, emotional regulation, and understanding boundaries. Sometimes they make mistakes. Sometimes they misunderstand situations. But what they need most is patience, understanding and compassion.

That experience reminded me why organisations like Aspect and events like Run for Autism are so important. They provide support, services and advocacy for autistic individuals and their families, while also helping to raise awareness and understanding throughout the wider community.

I'm running again because I want to do my small part to help create a world where children like Lucas are met with understanding instead of judgement. A world where differences are accepted, where families don't have to explain or defend their children, and where people take the time to learn about autism before jumping to conclusions.

If sharing Lucas's story helps even one person better understand the challenges faced by autistic children and their families, then it's worth telling.

If you're able to support me, whether through a donation or simply by sharing this page, I'd be incredibly grateful.

Together, we can help build a more inclusive, understanding and supportive community for autistic children and their families.

Thank you for your support.

Simon