A mum of two autistic sons in Coventry is calling for greater awareness
This comes as today marks World Autism Understanding Day
Last updated 2nd Apr 2025
A mum of two autistic sons in Coventry is calling people to ditch neurodivergent stereotyping this World Autism Understanding Day.
Over one in 100 people are autistic in the UK, with 30% of those people being non-speaking, either completely or in certain contexts.
Research has also shown that autistic people will hide their diagnosis to avoid harming their chances of landing a job, or progressing in their career. World Autism Day aims to tackle stereotyping in the workplace and schools and promote inclusivity.
Mum of two, Krystal Edwards, from Coventry, says awareness days like today bring hope to her family as she calls for greater understanding of autism. Krystal says there are too many misconceptions around neurodiversity which can prevent awareness.
Krystal says: "There are so many children and adults out there with autism who are misunderstood. Awareness days like today can help increase our understanding as a society and we can then help to provide autistic people, like my two sons, with a normal life."
Krystal continued to say how little awareness on autism in society presents daily challenges as a mum of two autistic sons.
Krystal says: "It is absolutely isolating at times because my sons cannot do things that typical children of their age can do. Just planning a day out places immense pressure on us.
"The biggest challenge we face at the moment as a family is finding a school placement for our son. Due to his autism he is out of school because his needs cannot be met, awareness days like today are so important in creating better understanding in education and our wider community too."
Coventry charity, Life Path Trust, work with neurodivergent individuals across the city in support them with everyday life. As a charity they are tackling stereotyping and misunderstanding that autistic people face on a day to day basis.
We've been speaking with Adam Hives, the Executive Director of the Life Path Trust, on the importance of World Autism Understanding Day in Coventry.
Adam says: "We would love to see greater awareness lead to better employment opportunities, stronger social connection and less discrimination.
"We really do believe that when society values autistic people for their various strengths everyone in society will benefit from it."