I am a retired business consultant living in Canada.

My Fellowship originated due to my son's autism and my desire to be able to maximise the opportunities available to him following the completion of his statutory education.

During my Fellowship we were privileged to meet with a range of people in different settings, including a psychologist specialising in young adults with Asperger's Syndrome. These interactions, particularly the latter, have had a profound influence on my son's development in the years that followed. To that point we had believed that there would be a developmental plateau in his progress that could impact on his social, emotional and physical progress. Thankfully, the lessons learned continue to have resonance in his everyday engagement with us, and society in general.

Without this opportunity, I am confident none of this would have happened. Since then I have worked to ensure that there is a world of opportunity beyond the perceived societal limitations too often associated with those on the Autistic Spectrum, and that these do not characterise their personal future because their personal impact within the family and on wider society can be amazing.