Welshpool, Powys woman's book being sold in Barnes and Noble

Belle Berroyer, from Welshpool has written her first book, ‘Learning the language of autism - through the Senses’ about autisitic people and the overlap with sensory sensitivity and is availaible not just on Amazon and Waterstones in the UK but also Barnes and Noble in the US.

The book looks at how many autistic people deal with sensory sensitivity after raising her non speaking, sensory sensitive son Jeorge.  

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“Previous to this I was an early years professional,” said Belle. “I worked with children under the age of eight in mainstream schools but my background is in early years development and education

“I had years of that just being in the development of the emotional of children. Then I had Jeorge and that started me off, I am a very sensitive person myself, I am not diagnosed with anything but I’ve got some sensory challenges

Her exploration into how these conditions overlap comes after meeting multiple families with autistic children in both her personal life with Jeorge and through her professional work.

“Over the last 18 years I have met not just in personal life I got to meet families with autistic children, I set up little workshops, I went to colleges and spoke about sensory issues,” said Belle. “That reignited my need to share stuff and learn especially in the world of autism where things are often misunderstood and stereotyped- especially with non-speaking children and adults.”

“So many behaviours are misunderstood or misinterpreted and it can cause a lot of problems for everybody concerned, especially for the autistic person who is already trying their best to cope with being in the world that they are in.

“The book focuses on the overlap between autism and sensory challenges and of course that feeds into their need for routine and repetition and all the other behaviours that many autistic children have.

“I think how these issues carry on into adulthood is something that really needs looking at. Rather than saying they’re having sensory issues but what are they and what can we do to help them?”

This is not Belle’s first attempt at putting together work that can help other parents after creating her own video series.

“It been a book in the making for a good few years and I never felt confident enough. Friends would say why don’t you write a book about bringing up Jeorge and the way you parent him and all the things you have learned?” said Belle.

“I was initially unsure but once the seed was planted and then I did a youtube series I did that for a couple of years.”

Tragically Mrs Berroyer started writing the book after suffering a devastating loss in 2020.

“My son’s dad passed away in 2020 quite quickly and out of the blue. He was a brilliant dad and a he was a great supporter of my articles, my videos or when I spoke in public,” said Belle.

“We went into lockdown like everybody did, I hit rock bottom going I’m not sure I can carry on, on my own. This was not what I planned in life.

“In 2021 I was still grieving and it sounds odd but I felt like I was still being supported and encouraged by him kind of like put pen to paper. I thought it was time to give it a go.”

“It helped me not to constantly think what has being going on in my life but what is going to happen in the future. To provide for Jeorge and his future and if I have something to share why not just share it?”

Belle will be doing an officila launch of her book at at the Hive, in Belmont Street in Shrewsbury on September 5 from 4-7pm and has invited Autistic and Neurodivergent supporting agencies, including Schools to take part in a question-and-answer session on her book and its contents.

She is also planning on running workshops latet this year and enquiries can be made on her website.