Anna Kennedy sits down with Helen Eaton, author of graphic novels and autism advocate, for an eye-opening conversation about living with autism in a mainstream world. Helen shares her experience raising three neurodiverse teenagers while running her own business, revealing the hidden struggles families face when children appear to cope well at school but experience meltdowns, anxiety, and social exclusion at home. The discussion covers the shocking reality of autism diagnosis wait times—up to two years for NHS appointments and £1,500 for private assessments available only in 2022—highlighting the crisis in autism support services. Helen’s insights into how her children mask their difficulties at school while battling sensory overload, literal thinking challenges, and the need for control and routine at home provide a raw, honest look at what autism really looks like behind closed doors.