Fremantle mother hands out cards to explain son’s autism to strangers

A mother from Fremantle who says she is used to funny looks from strangers when she’s out with her son, who has autism, has designed explanatory cards to educate people about his condition.

Sunnie Sciascia told her friend and blogger, Constance Hall, that she hands out the cards rather than apologise for her eight-year-old son Georgie’s behaviour.

Ms Hall wrote on her blog that their children were in the same class, and had discussed Ms Sciascia’s frustrations at often being told to control Georgie in public.

“Our son has autism, he may be very loud at times, or seem shy or doesn’t say much. But our son is very happy, caring, and loves being around other children,” the card reads.

“Autism is a neurological disability, which means that parts of our son’s brain works well and other parts do not.”

Ms Sciascia told the Daily Mail she got the inspiration for the idea from a friend whose child also has autism.

“A friend of mine said she had a card that she had made explaining why her son does all these things. She would hand out these cards and it kind of stopped her feeling like she wasn’t a good mum,” Ms Sciascia said.

She said the gesture has changed her life for the better.

“I’ve had so many people come up and hug me, tell me I’m doing a great job and it just basically completely changed my whole outlook on autism.”