Diagnosed with autism at the age of six

Tori lives in Angus with her partner Michael, and children; Rosie, Millie, Beatrice, Gabriel and Memphis. Millie has autism.

“Millie was diagnosed at the age of six, so quite early for a girl. She struggles with changes to routine and doesn’t manage unforeseen circumstances very well. Millie can be a very sensitive little girl. She has a very academic brain, but socially, she’s much lower than her peer group.”

“Everything has to have routine. If we go anywhere in the car Millie has to know the route we’re taking, who we’ll see, and she has to go there and back in the same seat.”

Support from Family Fund and Take a Break Scotland

Take a Break is Scotland’s short break grant scheme for disabled children and their families. “We’ve had the Take a Break grant three times now. It’s been amazing, we could never afford a holiday for seven of us.

“The money covers travel, entry into the park wherever we go, and then a cinema trip or two on another day with refreshments. Sometimes we might use the money for fuel to go to the beach too, or Loch Tae in Perthshire, where we can go for walks and have a picnic.

“The first year we went up to Landmark Forest Adventure Park in Aviemore and that was fantastic! There was literally something there for everyone. There were dinosaurs for the boys, a sensory space for Millie, and a butterfly house which Rosie loved. The climbing, the slides, the rides, we went on everything!

“With the second grant we went to Edinburgh Zoo which was absolutely fantastic, and this year we used our grant to go to Highland Wildlife Park. I was worried because the weather wasn’t as good, but it was another brilliant day!

“I couldn’t have done any of this without the help from Take a Break Scotland. It really has allowed us to make some amazing memories.”