Doctors said Randa was a 'mother in denial' when her son Richard was diagnosed with autism

When Randa Habelrih's son Richard was a toddler, she was heartbroken and repeatedly let down by the healthcare system.

The Sydney mum knew her son was special and was full of potential, but it seemed doctors just didn't want to believe her.

Richard was non-verbal and had been diagnosed with autism at age three, and professionals claimed he would never learn to speak.

As she tells 9Honey as part of Autism Awareness Day, Randa knew Richard was worth fighting for.

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"Richard spoke a few words here and there but struggled to put words together. Suspecting he was autistic, we made appointments with doctors to receive a formal diagnosis," Randa recalls.

Randa says her experience with the healthcare system was "terrible" and after the diagnosis, the problems didn't stop there.

As a non-verbal child, doctors decided Richard would never speak and even chastised the brave mum for "wasting her time" on working on his speech skills. But a mother's love is a powerful thing, Randa explains.

"We were told 'you're wasting your time,' that 'I should just accept him for who he is' and that I was 'a mother in denial,' and that was not the case," she says.

"I was not going to give up, and I wasn't going to limit his potential. All I wanted was to make sure that we could get Richard to the best possible place he could get to."

Before the NDIS existed, Randa recalls having to "beg" for any kind of support for her son.

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It was also nearly impossible to find activities that were inclusive for autistic children, meaning Richard missed out on important interactions and opportunities to connect.

"His childhood was very lonely and challenging. He found it quite difficult to integrate into the school environment and make friends," Randa remembers.

"For Richard who is very social and loves to chat — this was disheartening. To use his own words, 'Just because I find it hard to make friends, doesn't mean I don't want them'."

Now aged 25, Richard is happy and thriving after beating the odds and finding his voice.

He is an ambassador for the A List and regularly speaks at events for Autism Mates to help inspire and support other children with autism.

Richard even runs his own online business selling handmade chocolates.

"I am so incredibly proud of Richard," Randa gushes. "Through Autism Mates and The A List, he has made amazing social connections and friends. He now has a full social and active life just like my other children."

"At age 25, he can inspire and give hope to others younger than him that there is a life with an autism diagnosis and a life after school.

Randa and Richard's hope is that awareness will be replaced with acceptance when it comes to autism support.

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One in 70 people in Australia are autistic — so inclusion and acceptance is vital. But sadly, 32 per cent of young autistic people report having no friends outside family, the A List reports.

"We've got to start making accommodations and provide opportunities for autistic people. All through school nothing was expected of Richard — but now at age 25, he speaks at schools," Randa continues.

"Yes, he has got autism, but that doesn't stop him from being the best person he can be. Autistic people just want to be treated as normal — and [Autism Awareness] should be tailored around helping our young people achieve their full potential."

She adds: "As Richard often says in his keynotes – 'I'm just like anyone else, that's what I want you to know. I love to work, would like to eventually live on my own and I love playing basketball. Autism is a part of me just like my dark hair'."

The A List was founded in 2020 by Nicole Gamerov and Bianca Shapiro. It is a national online platform enabling young autistic people and their families to find 'autism-friendly' social activities, including peer support groups and community options.