Join Anna Kennedy in this heartfelt episode as she interviews Bernadette O’Donnell, a mother whose son Kieran was diagnosed with autism at just 2 years and 7 months old. Bernadette shares her powerful journey from initial shock and denial to becoming an advocate, revealing how she fell through the support system cracks despite her NHS background in emergency planning. The episode features Bernadette’s moving poem ‘I Am That Parent,’ which captures the raw emotions and daily struggles parents face when supporting their autistic children in public. Anna also celebrates the recent Autism Hero Awards winners and discusses the alarming reality that families in Ealing can wait up to three years for autism assessments, highlighting the urgent need for systemic change in autism support services.