The "A" Team
At The Toby Henderson Trust we feel it is vital to listen to our autistic community and value the opinions and direction offered by them. We are committed to listening, really hearing and responding to their views and suggestions.
And so, we are delighted to introduce you to our advisory group, the very aptly and personally named “A Team”.
This very special group is made up of three autistic adults who have been in contact with TTHT over the years for a number of different reasons.
James is a Writer, Author and Political Commentator from the North East of England. James grew up in the town of Alnwick, Northumberland. Aged twenty, he received a diagnosis of Asperger’s Syndrome and began reflecting upon the challenges of growing up on the Autistic spectrum without a diagnosis. He began to highlight his experiences through the written word and wrote a book called ‘Wonderboy’, which was published by Olympia Publishers. As the former spokesperson to the Chair of the Labour Party and a commentator on UK politics, he regularly writes for publications including The Times and makes appearances on TV and Radio. James has recently moved from rural Northumberland to Edinburgh.
I’m Brett, a tattoo artist from Northumberland. I was diagnosed autistic aged 38. TTHT and Lesley have been a huge part of my family’s life for many years as my son has accessed the services and groups which The Old Barn and Toby House provided.
And now I’m part of the team myself.
I'm Dan, 34, and I received an Autism Spectrum Diagnosis aged 28, after battling GPs and counsellors. At first it brought relief, but I have since struggled to use the knowledge to improve my life. Working with Lesley and The Toby Henderson Trust, though, has improved my confidence and I am now a Foster Carer for the local authority, realising my long-held career dream, and constantly working to understand autism - and myself - better.