Autism Acceptance Month
April is Autism Acceptance Month — a time to recognise, celebrate and support autistic individuals across the UK and beyond. At Lorimer Fostering, we believe that every child deserves a safe, loving, and supportive home — a place where they can feel accepted for who they are and supported to reach their full potential.
This is especially true for children and young people with autism, who may face unique challenges, but also bring incredible strengths, talents, and perspectives to the world. Autism Acceptance Month is an important reminder of the value of understanding, inclusion and compassion — not just in April, but all year round.
Understanding Autism
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition that affects how people communicate, interact, and experience the world around them. It’s often described as a “spectrum” because it affects individuals in different ways. Some autistic children may have strong verbal skills but find social situations difficult, while others may be non-verbal and communicate through behaviour, gestures or assistive technology.
What’s important to remember is that autism is not a deficit or a flaw — it’s simply a different way of processing the world.
Why Fostering Matters
Children and young people with autism may come into care for a variety of reasons, including family breakdown, neglect, or difficulties accessing the right support at home. These young people may have experienced trauma, loss, or misunderstanding, and they need foster carers who can offer both patience and unconditional acceptance.
Foster carers play a vital role in creating a stable and understanding environment where an autistic child can feel safe, valued, and empowered. This stability can be life-changing — giving a child the space to grow in confidence, build trusting relationships, and develop skills that support their independence and wellbeing.
How We Support Our Foster Carers
Fostering a child with autism can be incredibly rewarding — but it can also come with specific challenges. At Lorimer, we ensure our foster carers are never alone on that journey.
We offer:
- Specialist training on autism and neurodiversity
- 24/7 support from experienced social workers
- Peer support through regular carer forums and events
- Tailored advice on communication strategies, routines, sensory needs and more
Every child is unique, and so is every fostering experience. Our team works closely with each carer to make sure they feel equipped, confident, and supported in meeting a child’s needs.
What Does a Foster Carer Need?
You don’t need to have experience with autism to become a foster carer. What matters most is your willingness to learn, your empathy, and your commitment to making a difference in a child’s life. If you can provide a consistent, nurturing environment and are open to understanding autism with curiosity and compassion, you could be an amazing foster carer.
Real Impact, Real Lives
Many of our carers tell us how much they’ve learned and grown from fostering autistic children — discovering new ways of seeing the world, celebrating progress in all its forms, and building bonds that last a lifetime.
As one of our carers shared:
“He might not say much, but when he smiles and reaches for my hand, I know I’m making a difference.”
Could You Be the Difference?
If you’re considering fostering a child or young person with autism, we’d love to speak with you. Your journey could change a child’s life — and yours.
If you live in the North West and are thinking about becoming a Foster Carer, please get in touch. Lorimer Fostering can provide lots of information about fostering and becoming a Foster Carer. You can call, text or WhatsApp Rachael on 07938 575 738; or send an email to foster@lorimerfostering.com. If you’d prefer us to call you, please submit your details using the form below; and we’ll get back to you soon!
Together, let’s create a world where every child feels seen, heard, and truly at home.
Thank you for reading our blog on Autism Acceptance Month!
0 comments