Most books about autism are written by professionals, mums, or people who've got it all together and figured out. Gaz and Andy are not those people. The founders of the Autism Dadcast, one of the UK's fastest-growing SEND platforms, they're just two dads who were completely floored by the early years, made every mistake going, carried a ton of guilt, and slowly learned how to survive it.
Along the way, they discovered something important: Dads are struggling quietly. Really quietly.
They're scared, confused, ashamed to say how they feel, trying to stay strong at home, pretending to be fine at work, and dealing with more pressure than anyone realises.
If you - or your husband, partner, friend or family member - are that dad, this book is for you. It's the conversation dads have at 1.00am but never out loud. It's the mess, the fear, the humour, the love, the small wins, and the "holy shit, what now?" moments. It covers: diagnosis, grief, meltdowns, the challenges of the early years, the emotional and mental health challenges you'll face as a dad (and as a couple, if you're together), how to balance with, and meet the challenges of, work, how to support your partner, how to navigate the world of education, EHCPs and school battles, and how to protect and preserve your own mental health.
This isn't a clinical guide; it's not a 'ten steps to fix your life' book. It's a handbook for all those dads who never realised they'd need one - and the families who love them.
