Welcome to the website all about Sarah Boxwell.
I was born twenty-eight weeks premature in September 2000, weighing 1 pound 11 ounces. My first three months took place at the Royal Berkshire Hospital on Buscot Ward. When I returned home, I was on oxygen for the next three months.
The most significant move of my life was the transfer from Berkshire to Warwickshire at the age of seven.
While at primary school, I had difficulty in socialising with my peers, in both class and playground. Following complicated instructions also proved problematic and changes in routine disrupted me for the rest of the day. It wasn’t until the end of primary school that I received a diagnosis of Autism, which would explain why I struggled at school.
Secondary school has been easier because there is the correct support in place that allows me to cope. The days that are the hardest for me are the days when the timetable changes, an example of this being Alternative Curriculum Days. However, I am warned of these changes in advance, which helped me get through these days a little easier.
Now that I have finished secondary school, about to transition to university to do a distance learning course, I will share with you my journey including days out that I have with my family, my interests and my day-to-day life and how my autism affects me in different situations.
Sarah’s Autism Blog
I feel that there is not enough information about girls with autism out there, so I want this blog to provide an insider’s view on autism and how I live with it from a day-to-day basis. It also includes strategies that I try to put in place to make me feel comfortable if the normal routine changes. You can check out my blog here. I will also post up on my blog about the university course I’m doing and my journey through distance learning.
Days Out with Sarah Boxwell
My blog also covers the days out I have with my family and how my autism affects my day. As such, there might be certain things that I can’t do, such as staying out for long periods as I get worn out easily or talking to a lot of people at the same time (but the last one doesn’t happen too often). When I go out, I plan it with my family in advance, and I’m thrilled to share my experiences with you. These posts can range from holidays to going out for a few hours.
Special Interests
To me, special interests help me become the person that I am. They also help when the day starts to get stressful, or I need some time out.These interests range from toys and books to films, TV shows (and more recently, a musical).
Over the years, I had many special interests, including dystopian literature, Sylvanian Families, dolls, Doctor Who, reading and writing. These interests change over time or get replaced by new leisure activity, such as Sylvanian Families replacing my interest in dolls recently, or when I read Rainbow Magic during stressful situations rather than teenager novels. It’s these interests that keep me calm after a long day.
Book Reviews
For my creative writing course with the Open College of the Arts, I have to do a lot of reading so I can improve my skill. On my website, you will find many book reviews, either of things I have read for my course or for my own entertainment.
