 Celebrating the start of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, we would like to introduce you to a number of neurodiverse Olympic athletes.
 For weeks people all over England have cheered and celebrated eleven young men and their manager as they steadily climbed the ladder of the Euro 2020 to finally make it to the final step.
Fifty-Five million people around England could see themselves and their dreams reflected on the young faces of these men. This feat was not only achieved through them kicking a football to each other but also through their powerful stand for equality and inclusion. A stand that was supported and encouraged by their manager Gareth Southgate, who at the beginning of this tournament penned a heartfelt letter to all of England to talk to them about what it means to be English in modern day England. 
Last Saturday we were all so happy and excited about England’s win against Ukraine during Euro 2021. Sports usually brings out so much energy not just from the players but also from the fans and supporters. People feel very connected to their teams and for a moment their win is your win and their loss is yours too.
For children and especially autistic children, these emotions can be very overwhelming.  During a conversation, people consider eye contact to be one of the most important aspects of showing interest, attention and sometimes even respect. But keeping eye contact does not come naturally or easily to everyone. There are several reasons why some people find it very difficult to look someone in the eye for an extended amount of time. This reason doesn’t always have to be a lack of interest or focus, it can be social anxiety, shyness or in some cases a symptom of being on the autism spectrum and that is what we are going to discuss.
 We know you are super excited for Half Term, and you totally should! Teachers, school staff, children and parents definitely deserve some time off to relax and recharge.
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