ID: Three girls walking with their backs to the camera.

Home life is busy. For a family of six – Mum, Dad, three girls and their dog, Freckles – most days start like any other family: getting ready for school and preparing for what lies ahead. But woven into their daily routine are therapy sessions with occupational therapists, speech pathologists and psychologists.

This family is one of many living with autism.

And they thrive! With three children with ASD, they have found a rhythm and joy in the everyday. Their lives are built on understanding, resilience and celebrating wins.

Seeing the World Differently

For Emily*, the first signs came at age five. What initially seemed like childhood quirks gradually formed a clearer picture—particularly a moment at a friend’s house when she covered her ears after flushing the toilet. It prompted a deeper look at patterns: sensitivities to noise and fabrics, challenges with sleep, and a preference for order (like keeping foods separate on her plate).

“We had always attributed her quirky behaviours as just being due to being little,” Mum says. “But when we spoke to the doctor, it was the first time we looked at all those little quirks and saw the bigger picture.”

“Lucy* was a little easier to see, once we understood Emily,” she continues. “But she had some of her own special traits.” Lucy’s differences included toe walking, sensory-seeking behaviours, and a love of movement—like swinging high on the swings—as well as selective eating habits.

The Road to Diagnosis

“The main barrier we faced was getting a referral for an assessment – and then there was the waiting list!” Mum recalls. “For our youngest daughter, we paid for her to be assessed privately. It was so much faster, but it was an expensive process.”

Despite the challenges, having a diagnosis proved to be a turning point. It opened doors to funding and support through the NDIS, along with access to therapies and resources that have helped the family better understand and meet each child’s needs.

Strengths, Passions, and Pride

Ask the girls what they’re most proud of, and their answers come quickly.

“My biggest strength is swimming,” Emily says. “And I’m really proud of my swimming. I’m working hard to become an Olympic swimmer.”

Lucy shares that love of the water – and also shines in the kitchen: “I am really proud of learning how to bake and being able to make things in the kitchen on my own, with mum or dad just supervising.”

They find great joy in their passions.

“Spending time in the kitchen and the pool makes me happy,” Lucy says.

Emily agrees. She takes great pleasure in “spending time in the pool with my swimming friends.”

For Mum and Dad, an evening reflection proves the perfect way to focus on joy and the everyday wins. “At dinner we share the best part of our day, to find something that made us happy, even on a tricky day.”

Challenging Misunderstandings

“The word spectrum can be confusing. It makes people think that autistic people are somewhere along a continuum, whereas it’s more complicated than that,” Mum says. “Every child is unique with their own set of skills and challenges. For our girls, we have heard quite a lot about how they make eye contact, so they can’t have autism. We have three autistic girls, and they are all so very different.”

What people don’t always see is the effort it takes.

“Something [our girls] do have in common is working very hard at school, to focus and do their best – and then the struggles at home to regulate after a long day,” Mum shares. “I think more people need to be aware of just how hard some autistic children work to stay regulated and focused all day.”

Advice for Other Families

Emily’s advice is simple but powerful: “Don’t let being autistic make you give up on your dreams.”

For Mum and Dad, connection is key. Seeking out support, accessing available services, and finding other families who understand the journey has made a meaningful difference. “There is lots of help and support out there, so make the most of it. Finding other families who have autistic children has been helpful for us as they understand our girls.”

*Names have been changed to protect the privacy of the children.

Photo by Steve Lieman on Unsplash