Why I write my children's autism books

 Reflection — “The Mirror in the Story”

There is a quiet kind of magic that happens when a child sees themselves on the page.
For autistic children, that moment can be rare—too rare.
Too often, the stories they are given to read are mirrors that fog when they lean in close, pages that almost reflect them but not quite. Characters are flattened into stereotypes or erased altogether, their brilliance and beauty distilled into misunderstanding.

But children deserve stories that feel like home.
They deserve to see their way of moving through the world honoured, not corrected.
They deserve to find characters who flap their hands in delight, who find safety in patterns, who love deeply but differently—and to know that these ways of being are not broken, just beautifully specific.

When autistic children read books that reflect their lives, something sacred happens: belonging.
They begin to understand that the world has room for them. That they are not strange for needing quiet. That their way of thinking—their honesty, their attention to detail, their sensitivity—is not something to hide but something to celebrate.

Representation is not decoration; it is recognition.
It tells a child: you exist, and your existence matters.
And in a world that too often tells autistic children to mask, to shrink, to be less—books become a gentle rebellion. A place where they can rest in truth, unedited. A place where they can be fully known.

Now more than ever, we need those stories—because belonging cannot be assumed; it must be built.
Because when autistic children see themselves on the page, they begin to imagine futures that include them.
And that imagining, that quiet seed of self-acceptance, can grow into the kind of confidence that changes everything.

This is one reason why I write what I do. For the other two reasons, come along to the book fayre tomorrow (poster in previous post) and find out from me.

A year of firsts

Sorry I haven't been here for a while. Have been busy with workshops and writing. Here is my year so far.

2025 has been a year of firsts for me. I have done so much already this year that I haven’t done before.

I have travelled to different libraries within London and outside my local area.

I have done my first school visit.

I have worked with SEN children.

I attended my first industry conference as an exhibitor.

I have done virtual networking.

I have been to a workshop with Ashley Kirkwood and finally met her.

On Thursday I did something that autistic people find hard to do and that is go to social gatherings for general chat. I joined a few others in the craft club I go to for tea and chat at one of the members house. And sat out in the garden in the sun (now have a slight tan. I had a nice time.

In a couple of weeks I will be doing my first podcast interview.

If you are within London and are interested in my workshops with SEN children, please let your local library know and ask them to contact me. There is a charge.

My Writing Journey: Helping Autistic Kids Find Their Voice Through Storytelling

 For years, I struggled to connect with writing in a way that felt natural.

I enjoyed words. I loved stories.
But something always felt...off. Like I was following someone else’s path instead of creating my own.

Everything shifted the moment I discovered the one thing I truly loved writing about.
That spark changed my relationship with writing—and opened doors I never expected.

Now, after 15+ years as an author—and as someone who’s autistic myself—I’ve turned that experience into something bigger than me.

📚 My talk, “My Writing Journey,” is designed specifically for autistic children aged 7–9.

It’s more than just a story about how I became a writer.
It’s a message of possibility, of representation, and of creative freedom.

I share how I went from feeling stuck to finding my voice, and how they can too—on their terms, in their way.

The talk flows into a hands-on workshop, where we explore an excerpt from one of my children’s books and use it as a jumping-off point for their own writing.
It’s playful, empowering, and deeply affirming.

This isn’t about writing “perfectly.”
It’s about belonging in the world of stories—and realizing that their voice matters.

✨ If you work with neurodivergent students—or know someone who does—I’d love to bring this talk and workshop to your school or library.

Let’s help more autistic children see that their words are powerful, their stories are valid, and their creativity deserves a spotlight.

📩 Interested in booking or learning more? Send me a message—I’d love to connect.

Want to learn more about autism?

There are lots of ways to find and learn about autism, and these are the ways that I am learning from too. Even though I have Asperger's myself, there is still a lot about being autistic that is new to me and I am finding out. So let's find out together. I split the learning into two sections: fiction and non-fiction. I will start with fiction.

Fiction

Of course I will begin with my own children's autism books 'The Rainbow School' and 'The Pet Rescuers' for 7-10 year-olds. The first series you can find out from my website www.julieaday.co.uk and the second series can be found either via The Book Dragon or Amazon. I have yet to organise for my website designer to put them on there. All of them can be found on the Book Dragon website https://www.thebookdragon.co.uk/

I have just bought the 'Geek Girl' series by Holly Smale. Holly is autistic and I believe so is the main character. There is also 'The State of Grace' by Rachael Lucas which is based on her own daughter who is autistic.

Non-fiction

There are a couple of digital magazines that I know of. SEN magazine and Autism Parenting Magazine. I have had one article in the latter and hope to have more, which will be about growing up with autism and how my mum helped me over the years. You can find out more about this magazine here https://members.autismparentingmagazine.com/dap/a/?a=55311&p=AutismParentingMagazine.com/freegift

There are lots of books about autism and how to help autistics in life. Here are a few that I know about and I have read: Dr Temple Grandin, Pete Wharmby, Jane McNeice, Steve Silberman. There is also 'Marching to a different beat' by Sarah Ziegel, a mother of four autistic boys.

There are also groups on Facebook/Meta who offer webinars and training to help autistic adults and children. The ones I know about are The Nurture Progamme by Jodie Isitt, Ausome Training by Evaleen Whelan.

There is one community where there is learning from webinars, training and chat groups with like-minded autistics. That is Neurodiversity Training International. They have a community App called The EndeeSphere App, which I am an ambassador of. There is a free membership, which comes with a 7-day free trial of the paid version to start with. You can find out more about them here https://www.endeesphereapp.com/a/2147773941/zqK5pxow

All of the above are run by autistics themselves, so know what it is like to live as such.

Me and potatoes

I am sorry I've not been on here for ages but been so busy. I went into hospital in November. When I came out it was my birthday. Then it was preparing for Christmas. That was over and now it's new year. Here we are in 2024 already. 

I recently posted this as an article on LinkedIn as part of my sharing experiences as an Aspie. I thought I'd share it on here too.

I have recently read a memoir about a mother of four autistic sons and how she fought for the learning and education they needed to be able to speak and learn for their futures. In it, she mentions that one of her eldest sons explained why he never liked mashed potato for years. It made me think of my feelings towards mashed potato and other forms of potato. I have never really liked mashed potato as it reminded me of school dinners when it was lumpy. It put me off it. If I ever had it at home or elsewhere, I would mash it up with a fork to make sure there were no lumps. I still don't like it now, but if I have to have it then I will have something else with it eg baked beans or tomato ketchup to give it flavour. Maybe I think it is too bland. Or it could be that on its own I feel it tastes too raw. I don't mind it on cottage pie or shepherds pie. Possibly because as it is on top of meat, the meat gives it flavour. When my mum made it for us, she would mash it with our spread before layering it on the meat. This also gives it more flavour. I will eat boiled or new potatoes but like mashed potato I have to have something else with it to give it more flavour. With boiled potatoes I used to like them in a casserole, especially with herbs and stock. My mum used to cook a lovely chicken casserole and it made the potatoes more palatable. With new potatoes I have some of my sunflower spread, or I might dip it in beetroot juice if I have beetroot with them. Again it might be because I think the taste is either bland or too raw.

I don't know if this is an autistic thing, or other people who are non-autistic feel the same way as me. Please let me know.

An Aspie at a writing retreat

This time last week I was in W Sussex at a writing retreat eating lunch, which might have been a veggie curry with rice and salad. V nice. So, how did I cope going to a retreat as an Aspie? Well, my brother and his girlfriend came with me to Waterloo as I had to pick up my ticket and didn't know where from or how. I know now it's quite easy. Then they saw me onto the train, making sure I left all right. I travelled on my own but it wasn't too bad as I read from a magazine and looked out the window most of the time. At Haslemere station I met another writer who I had hoped to travel with, but she had got on the train before me. We then were met by two other writers on the retreat and they drove us to the retreat.

There were lots of sessions scheduled for writing, so I was on my own in a room, writing. Sometimes distracted by the sights and sounds of birds around the area, esp the goldfinches. When I felt my head go light, I would get up and walk round the room, or go out to the grounds to get some air. Luckily it was lovely weather all weekend. That did the trick as it helped my head clear and I went back to write more. Break times weren't too bad as we were spread out over the floor so the noise wasn't too great. It was the meal times that were the worst for me. What do you get when you have a lot of writers in a small room? Lots of chatter and noise. I managed to cope with eating my meal and lasting half an hour afterwards. Then I would get up, saying I was going to get some quiet, and walk back to the lounge, where it was quiet until everyone finished their meal. I was tired most days as I never sleep properly elsewhere, esp with a loud dawn chorus. Lol.

Anyway, I managed to write a few chapters of Alistair's story. I think it might reach 2000 words. I wrote half a short story. Got stuck on how to continue it and what the ending is. Think I know now. And I sold 2 copies of Billy, which I took with me, just in case. Both were for autistic children,

I said I might not go again as my mum hasn't been too well and it depends on her health, but she says she'd love me to go as I enjoy it, and I want to go again. We shall see.

So, if you do go on a retreat, and have Asperger's like me, or even an issue with noise, then that is what you can do. Walk about a bit, and get some air if you can. It helped that the house we stayed in is in the middle of trees and bushes so is tranquil. The perfect place to write and get some peace.

Me, Asperger's and birthday parties (or not)

I thought I'd start posting about how Asperger's Syndrome has affected me over the years. There are two reasons: 1. There has been a drama series on BBC1 about a family with an autistic boy called The a word and the first episode made me think of a post to blog about, and 2) I have started working on my Asperkids series called The Rainbow School, so these posts can be the start of promoting it.

In the first episode of The a Word, the family have a birthday party for their boy, Joe who is now 5. He hated being the centre of attention and laid on the floor. When I was that age, I didn't have any birthday parties. For two reasons, 1. I was too shy because of my Asperger's, and 2 because of my Asperger's I found it difficult to make friends of my own (one of the social impairments of AS). I also didn't go to any parties myself, again because of the reasons above.

It was only later on in life, when I was an adult and went to work, that I really started celebrating my birthday with others. I did have a party for my 18th, but I didn't mingle with my guests. I made myself in charge of the music in a corner and wanted to stay there the rest of the time.

So, there you have what I was like with birthday parties when I was younger.

If you have ASD, did you have birthday parties? If so, what were you like at them?