JW
Joanna Wyld
@joannawyld.bsky.social
Writer, editor, librettist. RCM Publications Officer. Writing a biography of Vernon Elliott.
notes-upon-notes.com/
485 followers360 following1.9k posts
This might be a good moment to share, with permission, the incredibly lovely note sent to my daughter by Chris Packham. We requested an autograph via a friend who worked on Springwatch, giving a little context, and he took the trouble to write this.
![Framed letter: 'So you've just been diagnosed with Asperger's [still a term being used then]. I'm sure you know but all this really means is that you are different. And there is nothing wrong with that. Of course we find some things more difficult and that can be very frustrating and upsetting. But we also find other things much easier and sometimes we have abilities that most people don't have. I think it's much harder when you are young - it definitely gets better when you learn how to deal with the difficulties and enjoy the strengths. Focus on what you can do, not ever what you cannot. And *never* let 'normal' people get you upset. They just don't understand that we are actually special! Best, Chris Packham'](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_fullsize/plain/did:plc:yymfozveqau2yamf4ipuncel/bafkreie5klkog5fwec7kmd3tcy4r726ciqgcqb43jtbq33ioel7nu3ijum@jpeg)
My daughter (10) loved the series and then the book. She has ADHD rather than autism, but has found the mainstreaming in fiction of neurodivergent characters immensely affirming.
JW
Joanna Wyld
@joannawyld.bsky.social
Writer, editor, librettist. RCM Publications Officer. Writing a biography of Vernon Elliott.
notes-upon-notes.com/
485 followers360 following1.9k posts