The Life of Reilly

Reilly is my son. He is 6 years old, autistic, super cute and non-verbal.

I started blogging about life with Reilly in April 2016 for Autism Awareness Month. After writing a couple of posts and finding it incredibly cathartic, I decided it was something I would continue. I would write about our frustrations and jubilations, I'd be honest and maybe even educate.

I find it astounding that I have been in the company of this little wonder for 6 years yet we've never had a conversation. His only word that is said in the right context is NO, and he says it a lot. He doesn't nod in agreement or shake his head but, luckily for us, very recently he has started to laugh in agreement. For example, Reilly would you like an ice cream? Ahhh har har har in the style of a posh horsey type he replies. He also does an amazing over exaggerated yawn noise to tell us he's tired. We communicate with apps and photographs. I sometimes communicate my feelings to the judgemental horrors that cross our paths daily with a two fingered salute. Works for us.

Imagine your child is non-verbal, it is truly heartbreaking during a meltdown or when he is unwell to not be able to comprehend what is happening or how to fix it. Not knowing how his day at school was or whether he’s not comfortable around someone and we can’t put it right.

He's an awesome kid. He astounds me daily with how he deals with his struggles and also with the fury in his meltdowns. People seem to be interested in our lives and the blog has been really well received, so well that lots of the content has been used to write and produce a play called, strangely enough, The Life of Reilly! Unreal that from a couple of blog posts this opportunity has grown.

It's Northern, it's gritty and is performed by a small cast of local actors from my hometown, Newcastle; the play looks at the dynamics of the family when trying to come to grips with an autism diagnosis. Dialogues from each of the characters will resonate with many who have been through the process. We have recently added an actually autistic actor to the cast to play Reilly's friend. He is brilliant and teaching the neuro typicals a thing or two, busting some myths about autism at the same time. The day we auditioned for an actually autistic actor is one that will never fade from my memory. Pure talent - they blew me away.

The first show received a standing ovation. There were tears, laughter and, best of all, many, many excellent reviews.

We have just sold out Newcastle's Northern Stage for later this month and hope to take The Life of Reilly on tour. We know it changed the perceptions of those who came along the first time. We know they are now less judgemental of parents and of autistic people - long may that continue. What better way to be informed than in the theatre? It's engaging, it's entertaining, it's memorable.

Autistic people aren't going anywhere, same but different, accept and include.