Mum campaigns for autism awareness

Laura Brown said she found a passion for accessibility and inclusion after her son Ethan was diagnosed with autism

A mum says she will not be "giving up" when it comes to campaigning and raising awareness of autism.

Laura Brown, from Taunton, Somerset, said she was thrown "into a totally new world" when her four-year-old son Ethan was diagnosed autistic.

She has shared their experience on social media and campaigned for better accessibility and reasonable adjustments at holiday parks.

Now nominated for a National Diversity Award, Ms Brown said: "It's wonderful to be inspiring others" to "make a change in the local community".

Laura Brown is nominated for a National Diversity Award after her work campaigning for better accessibility at holiday parks

“It’s been a really humbling experience to read all the votes," she added.

Ms Brown said her son Ethan, who is currently non-speaking and who is considered as having "fairly high support needs", was diagnosed just after his third birthday.

“Ethan is the happiest child you will ever meet and although he is non-speaking, he can communicate in so many ways," she said.

"He is the best communicator I think I know," she added.

“When you’re child is diagnosed as autistic, it throws you into a totally new world and almost a new world that you had no idea existed," she said.

Ms Brown said despite being non-speaking, her son Ethan is the best communicator

Ms Brown said she soon "found a real passion for inclusion and accessibility" and was inspired to set up her social media account and campaign, after a few bad experiences, including a holiday at a Center Parks site.

"We went to a holiday park and we were just shocked really by the lack of accessibility, the lack of wanting to make reasonable adjustments so their disabled guests can join in and take part."

Ms Brown said she later sent an email to the company and reached more than 100,000 people with her campaign.

She said: "It went wild, I just spoke to thousands of families who were in exactly the same position and actually had worse experiences than we did," she added.

A Center Parks spokesperson said they were "sorry to hear" that Ms Brown had a "disappointing experience" at one of their parks and said they had "listened closely to all of her feedback".

"Like a lot of people and places, we are always learning and looking at where we can make changes to support families who visit Center Parcs."

The company said it was currently working with an independent consultant to undertake a full review of accessibility and to ensure their sites are as "inclusive as possible".

Ms Brown said businesses should be "committed to listening" to disabled guests and their families

Ms Brown said she does "have a bit of empathy" for people who do not understand the need for such adjustments.

"Before Ethan was diagnosed with autism, I don't think I knew what autistic people needed at holiday parks," she added.

"But I think businesses, should be committed to finding out and they should be listening to their disabled guests and to the families," she added.

Ms Brown said while there is a bit more awareness and understanding of people's needs, like the introduction of sensory friendly cinemas or businesses creating a sensory room, "there's still so much to do" when it comes to accessibility.

"You think gosh we’re making a difference, the world is changing and then you hear something terrible, or someone says something and you think – we’re not making any progress at all," she said.

"Slowly but surely businesses are starting to understand that it’s just not good enough anymore to not be making reasonable adjustments and just having a concrete no," she added.

She said: “I won’t be giving up. I will keep on going."