Leah Smith

This is my 10 year old daughter Sara. She was diagnosed with Asperger’s when she was 7 years old. Before her diagnosis she was struggling to realise her own identity. The ignorance of a teacher made this worse and she was called a bully by him and excluded from the other children who also bullied her and ran away from her. We would both cry together but I would make sure she remained confident about herself. I wish people knew the heartache she went through at school... After her diagnosis she was a brand new child, she became the most confident and empathetic child towards people and children (especially those who have special needs) and she adores babies... She has her good and bad days when she can call me names or have a meltdown. However, she is very creative, loves baking and she is extremely funny. She has a few close friends at school now who accept who she is and I love her. When she grows up she wants to be a scientist and inventor. Life is amazing with Sara and I love that she is unique and has more of a grasp of the real world than most. She is also very honest and will tell you the truth.

I wish society would learn to accept differences and embrace the fact that we are unique creatures. Never be ashamed of who you are.