My name is Jacqui and I am mum to the incredible Sarah.  Sarah is a fabulous, bolshie, shimmy-shammying fourteen year old.  She is also different.  Shortly after her birth she was diagnosed with a rare chromosome disorder, Ring 18.  Sarah also has an Autistic Spectrum Disorder.  

As I type this Sarah is standing beside me telling me about Strawberry Shortcake (oh trust me you really don't want to know - but at some point I will inflict this on you).  Those of you who have a son or daughter on the spectrum may be smiling, shaking your heads or just nodding.  Because you will already know that I have been hearing the same few sentences for some time tonight.  It probably isn't politically correct to want to string Strawberry, Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Muffin, Raspberry Torte and the rest of them, yep even the wee pup and kitty cat - up by the nearest tree, but come on - how many of us really really enjoy watching Thomas the bleeping tank?  Where was I?  Oh yes, the fact that I am typing, repeating the sentences back to my girl, trying to encourage eye contact and not lose the will to live all at the same time.  We really all do take multi-tasking to a whole new level don't we?

All of this is my way of explaining why I won't be telling you the traditional Biog tonight.  Our story, how we came to this point, why I am passionate about all of this, well none of that was straightforward.  So as 10cc once said... little by little, bit by bit.  

I will tell you our story.  But for me this is about much more than our story.  It's about how I feel about so many different issues. Many of those issues will affect you too, some may not. But here's the thing....we are more than parents and carers of children with a disability. We are mums, dads, friends, individuals, David Tennant stalkers...  We are the sum of all of our experiences and passions.  So if you don't want to hear my ramblings on life, music, politics, comedy and books - as well as what it is like to raise my gorgeous girl in a world that seems unable to accept, respect and value her for who she is, then maybe this isn't the blog for you.  But then again, if we want mainstream society to not just accept diversity but embrace it then we need to start by doing this with each other.  

I may not share your opinions, we may have different views on how to move from good intentions to better lives... but I respect your right to have a different view.  So I hope you can do that with me... you may even have a laugh or two along the way.

This is a picture of me and the gorgeous Sarah.  It has been airbrushed.  I am in fact a perfect size 10 but wanted to look like a wee buddha mammy!

Looking forward to yapping with you some more

Best wishes

Jacqui