Felpham mum of autistic teenager looking for publisher to tell inspirational story of his development

The Felpham mother of a 17-year-old autistic boy is looking for a publisher to tell her inspirational story and raise awareness of a charity that has supported her son since the age of five.
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Sally Wagter charted her son Tim’s remarkable development through a series of diaries she started writing when he was a baby.

She said: “Miracle in Slow Motion is a story which goes from the depths of despair to a miraculous outcome. It charts my life as a mother from being confronted with a diagnosis, to the amazing breakthroughs that have led to the person my son is today.

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“I write about how at the age of two he was having daily meltdowns, screaming and running away from people, and unable to communicate his needs, to how at the age of eight his school said we should prepare for a future of assisted working.

Sally and Tim WagterSally and Tim Wagter
Sally and Tim Wagter

“However, today, at the age of 17, he is a socially confident and academically capable young man with a number of qualifications who is fully able to articulate his thoughts and feelings.”

Sally said the book describes how his lovely personality has brought him many friendships and it explains how he developed a wonderful talent for playing the piano.

She said: “This is another miracle. Considering as a small boy he would cry with pain every time he heard music. Now he can play the whole of the Cats musical faultlessly by ear, which lasts for an hour and a half.”

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The book also details the support Tim and the family received from Caudwell Children, and how the charity provided access to a range of interventions for their individual circumstances.

Sally said: “Caudwell Children were amazing. With their support we began to understand what Tim was going through and how his processing difficulties made it hard for him to be a part of things. As a result of their help we began to celebrate everything that he could do and we made him feel accepted.”

Trudi Beswick, chief executive of Caudwell Children, said: “It’s not only a fascinating and inspiring story, it would also be a fantastic opportunity for readers to find out about Caudwell Children and the work that we do. It only seems like yesterday when we agreed to support Tim, and he’s made remarkable progress over the years.”

Sally said: “I’d love to hear from any publishers who would be interested in reading the manuscript or synopsis. Ours is a remarkable story and one that parents of autistic children need to know.”

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For more information visit Sally’s website – www.autismdevelopmentconsultancy.com

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