We never planned to have an ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) child. Perhaps we would have a runner or a surfing champion, or a gifted scholar. We were both fit and healthy and we had set ourselves up well in our professions. So we just knew our kids would follow suit.

Jamieson was born late 2007 and from the outset Katie had some concerns. I was more in denial but his missing of milestones were always on show. Perhaps the baby books were wrong. Or the charts had just missed a section for late developers.

By 16 months we had begun our journey of answers, and just before the age of 2 we had a diagnosis, ‘ASD’.

This was about the time that Jamieson’s most sophisticated form of communication for when something was wrong was to bang his head on the ground – at times until it bled. Maybe he was thirsty? Or hungry? Or didn’t like the music we had on? There was a constant bruise on his forehead that we managed to hide from most people by his a long fringe but to us there was no denial. It was real and we were living it.

A journey of answers had begun and in 12 months we saw more than 30 different specialists. Private specialists. Government funded specialists. Dietitians. Osteopaths. Autism Tasmania provided us with a list of therapists and strategies and we tried them all. But at first there were no signs of improvement.

Fate or fortune led me to Burnie where I was inspecting the construction of a new early learning centre for work. After a few enquiries I found out that it was a part of a new national program to provide early learning programs and support to children with ASD in a long day care setting, and Tasmania’s slice of the cherry was to be located in Burnie!

A close friend’s parents had a house for rent in Ulverstone and my work allowed flexibility in my work location so in a matter of weeks we had signed up for 3 days a week at the centre and a weekly commute. As we were halfway through building a house and had other family commitments including a 6 month old daughter a permanent move wasn’t an option so the 4 hour twice weekly commute became the norm.

I still remember Jamieson’s first report (he had just turned 3) from the centre. Or to be more precise, one line from his speech pathologist ‘we think that with significant therapy Jamieson may develop some form of speech’. Tough words to hear.

3 years later and after over 100 trips to Burnie, Jamieson has ‘graduated’ from ‘little boys school in Burnie’ and now attends mainstream school at South Arm Primary (kindergarten). His speech has come on in leaps and bounds whilst his interaction with others is forever on the improve. He has the cheekiest smile and an infectious personality. He is no longer our autistic child but rather, Jamieson our beautiful son with so many wonderful traits and a few quirky traits, one being ASD. We attribute much of this success to the intense early learning that he was afforded from an early age and the fact we were fortunate enough to have the opportunity to review so many therapies and options until we found the environment that worked best for him.

It is our hope any parents that follow in our footsteps are able to obtain the same support we found, and with Autism Tasmania playing such an integral role in providing this support as a point of first contact, I am planning to run the 64 km Bruny Island Ultra Marathon to help raise funds for this organization. Any donation will be much appreciated with all donations over $2 tax deductible.