Skip to main content
emma autism support story

Emma’s story of getting autism support for her kids

Find out how we supported Emma and her family when she lost her income and two of her children were diagnosed with autism.

I contacted Foothold when I lost my job due to health issues. My four kids need support as well — two of them have autism.

I felt as if all doors were being shut in my face. I couldn’t even talk to my closest friends about what was going on.

But after making the call to Foothold, I received wonderful support. My caseworker handled things perfectly. She made me feel comfortable being open and sharing my concerns. She gave me hope. The way she spoke to me and asked questions made me feel very secure — it was a big turning point for me and my kids. I’m not working at the moment and I have two autistic pre-schoolers who need a lot of support.

It’s a huge challenge and a daily struggle but Foothold has saved me from anxiety and from falling into depression.

Foothold proved supportive, not just of me as an IET member but also of my kids, through a referral to the National Autistic Society. To anyone needing support I would say — don’t hesitate, just make the call. You’ll receive wonderful support from fantastic, trained staff.

If you or your child are living with autism and finding it hard to cope, you’re not alone. Our team is ready to listen and help. Get in touch with us now. 

SUPPORT FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Sign up to our mailing list to receive expert advice to help you improve your financial, mental and physical wellbeing, so that you can live well every day. We'll also send you the latest news and updates, and information on how you can get involved with Foothold and support the engineering community.

An image showing someone's hands holding a mobile phone. The phone is displaying a version of the Foothold monthly newsletter.
A branded blog header graphic that reads: 'Martin Griffin, engineer and neurodiversity advocate', with a picture of Martin smiling

Neurodiversity at work: How leaders and managers can support neurodiverse staff to thrive

Neurodivergent engineer Martin shares his some top tips to help leaders empower neurodiverse colleagues to thrive at work.

Working with ADHD: Thriving with FREE Help from Access to Work

Sam shares her experience with Access To Work and how it can help other engineers with neurodiversity.

“Making a meaningful and enduring difference” – your impact in 2022-23

Our CEO Jane shares her thoughts on how your support helped us make a real difference for engineers and their families around the world.