MUM-of-three Helen Byford has been watching the BBC drama The A Word with interest.

The A Word in question is autism – the diagnosis whose name can barely be spoken.

The drama centres around five-year-old Joe, so happy in his own world, singing along word perfectly to indie classics. Joe portrays classic autism traits including a reluctance to mix with other children, emotional detachment and having limited verbal communication.

Joe’s mother, Alison, is full of fury and denial after his diagnosis, determined to defend her son and intent on coercing him out of his autism but making matters worse at every turn.

Joe’s sister, Rebecca, however, sees him differently stating: “He is perfect as he is.”

It is a sentiment Helen relates to. Her sons George and Archie both have autism but she wants them defined by their characters, not by their condition.

She welcomes The A Word for raising awareness of autism but wants to stress every autistic child is different – the same as every non-autistic child.

“There is a saying in the autistic community if you have met one autistic person, you have met one autistic person.

“Each is completely individual.”

Her two autistic sons are a prime example.

“George is really full of life. If you walk into a room, you know George is there. He is cheeky, so lovely.

“Archie struggles more with socialisation and does not have any verbal communication but thinks he should be the president of the world. He likes to rule the roost.

“George has a best friend, Alex, and they play together. Archie likes watching the other children. He doesn’t have a best friend. It was a problem for me, I think, but not for him and as long as he is happy, that is fine.

“A lot of problems we have come from our social expectations. You think of how something should be done but it doesn’t really matter.”

George, who is ten, had progressed well as a baby building up a vocabulary of 50 words when he was about 18 months old.

Helen said: “He lost the words overnight.

“I remember one day we were at Go Bananas and he lined up all the cars. I was with my sister, Katie, who is a learning disability nurse. I looked at her and said I think he has autism. She said she was trying to find a way to tell me.”

George was diagnosed with regressive autism when he was two-and-a-half-years-old.

“It was almost a relief,” said Helen.

“His behaviour was exaggerated. He had huge tantrums but it was not just the terrible twos. I was pleased to know he was not naughty.

“Hopefully this behaviour could be helped.

“You grieve for the child you thought you had but you actually realise this is just a different journey.

“It is not worse, it is just different.”

Archie is 17 months younger than his brother. He suffered bowel problems from birth – a frequent condition in autistic children – and was diagnosed with autism when he was two-and-a-half.

“The stomach problems were worse than the diagnosis of autism," said Helen. To see your child in pain is the worst thing in the world, especially when you can’t help them.

“I think we were looking for autistic traits after George and Archie displayed them from 18-months-old.

“Archie’s autism is more severe than George’s. He has only said a few words. His non-verbal communication is really good and until recently he has not been able to sign.”

George learnt to sign, largely thanks to CBeebies’ Mr Tumble and the expert staff at Market Field special school in Elmstead Market, and his speech has followed.

Helen, 35, who lives in Braiswick and his married to Mark, hopes Archie will learn to sign too.

She turns her attention to her youngest son, Charlie, who is nearly two-years-old and who is demonstrating his singing and dance moves.

Charlie shows no autism traits. Helen says: “He will be what he will be.”

George and Archie face challenges every day to conquer challenges most children do without a second thought.

But there is not one ounce of bitterness in Helen.

“You love your children unconditionally,” she said.

“George and Archie’s autism is part of who they are, it is not what defines them.”

A NEW podcast has been created to provide information about autism.

Adam Dean is the autism manager at Market Field School and has created the podcast to provide information and advice to parents, teachers and social workers as well as raising awareness of the condition.

Early podcasts have included information about communication, sensory perception and flexibility of thought.

There is also tips on how to help children with autism handle change.

Mr Dean plans to offer practical advice in future podcasts which can be downloaded from the internet or via Youtube.

Mr Dean, who is 31 and has worked at Market Field School for five years, said: “I hope they will help to encourage acceptance and acknowledgement of autism and offer direction to people.”

To download the podcast, go to www.autismunderstood.com.