Autistic Author To Host Q&A For Autism Awareness Week At Glyndwr University

A Gwersyllt author will share his experiences of being autistic to help mark National Autism Awareness Week. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andrew Edwards will focus on his published memoirs I’ve Got a Stat For You, My Life With Autism at a question and answer session at Wrexham Glyndwr University on Wednesday, April 6 at 4pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event takes place during National Autism Awareness Week, a week to raise awareness and develop understanding of autism across the UK. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Andrew said: “As this event coincides with World Autism Awareness Week, I hope it will hold resonance with people in the local area who have an autistic family member or deal regularly with someone with autism. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“With several mainstream television shows regarding the condition currently airing or due to air in the near future, what better time to hear straight from the “horse’s mouth”, so to speak, regarding the trials and tribulations of living day in day out with autism.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The event is being organised by Andrew Atkinson, Conservative assembly candidate and the Wrexham Branch of the National Autistic Society Cymru, who have thanked Wrexham Glyndwr University for its support in hosting the event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Atkinson said: “Andrew Edwards is a seriously inspirational guy supported by a loving and incredibly determined mum and family. Their story is one of achievement and determination for Andrew to have the best life possible and he has gone on to achieve great things. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“I hope that parents of children with autism will be inspired by Andrew’s story and that it will raise awareness across the town.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

At the age of four, Andrew Edwards was diagnosed with autism with his mother, Hazel, being told by the specialist, “Go home and watch rain man, in all probability your son will be institutionalised”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Hazel was not going to accept this for her son and set out to give him the best life possible. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Kelly Mcleod-Andrews from Wrexham NAS said: “We have lots of exciting plans for Autism Awareness week, and we’re really looking forward to this event as Andrew Edwards is such an inspiration and he will really help raise awareness and greater understanding of autism in Wrexham.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​