Autism DBA – My Life, My Mind, My Mission

 Growing Up Misunderstood – ADHD, Dyslexia, and the Labels That Didn’t Break Me

I was diagnosed at 15 with ADHD, dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia. Back then, these were just scary words that sounded like life sentences. What they really meant, though, was that I experienced the world differently. Words danced on the page, numbers felt like enemies, and my body didn’t always do what I wanted. Teachers called me "stupid" and "lazy," and growing up on a council estate didn’t exactly come with extra chances. I got into trouble, did a lot of silly things, and for a long time, I believed the labels.

But those labels didn’t break me.

Despite being told I wouldn't amount to much, I found something I was good at: IT. It made sense to me in a way school never did. Getting my first real job at BookData, and then Taxsoft (now part of Sage), changed everything. I had routine, purpose, and recognition. From there, I got into SOAS, University of London – one of the top universities in the world. I didn’t take the easy path either. I chose archaeology because I wanted to prove that I could do something academic, something everyone said was out of reach. I left with a 2:1 and a deep love for Egyptology and Jordanian history. That’s where I met my wife.

We moved across the world: from Egypt to Japan, where our first son Kai was born, to Hong Kong, then Singapore, and eventually back to the UK. Kai was diagnosed with autism after a long, complicated journey across countries and health systems. Our second son, Ted, came a year later, and we began to see how different the two boys were. Ted met his milestones quickly; Kai needed more time, more help, more understanding.

But this blog isn't just about my son. It's about us. My ADHD, his autism. My wife's constant strength. Ted, growing up with a brother and father who are both wired differently. It's about what we learn, how we adapt, and how love holds it all together.

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