"A great big thank you for the difference you have made"

Having arrived in the UK 10 years ago I knew that our youngest son Danny wasn't 'right' but seemed to get passed from specialist to specialist and repeating the same story to everyone and nothing really happened.

We first started in London, then moved to Lincolnshire and then finally when we arrived in Staffordshire things started to happen. We had had many different views from our son being deaf, to being rude and lazy, to not having any discipline, being clumsy - all of which were not the case.

Then we were put under the care of the South Staffs and Shropshire Mental Health Trust and seen by the Midlands psychology team. At last someone believed in Danny and someone that took the time to find out what the problem was. He is has autism, Aspergers Syndrome. Simple really when you have it diagnosed.

The Midlands psychology team have been to visit in my sons school and run training courses for his teachers so that they can better support him in the mainstream school, they have organised training courses for myself and husband and even sorted training for our other children so they know how to deal with Danny. The Midlands team put me in touch with the Autism Outreach team, the Autism Parents support group and provided me with so much support, help and guidance.

I really don't think we could have come this far in 8 months if it hadn't been for this amazing team. Our Danny is starting to show progress having come home with a brilliant report (well for Danny it was brilliant). We still have a lot of work to do and a lot of catching up as it took so long to get the right help.

All I can say is thank you to Ivan and his team at Midlands psychology for everything you have done and continue to do. Thank you doesn't really seem enough for the difference you have made. You listened to me, I wasn't treated like just another crazy mother, and more over you have helped Danny believe he is special, he is important and he can do it!