Doncaster woman is sharing autism stories to help raise awareness

Jackie Kaveney has grown up with an autistic brother which is what drove her to wanting to raise money for charities who support those with autism.

Jackie, 27, from Scawthorpe, said: “I really want to get people’s stories out there to raise awareness about what autism actually is.

“As well as sharing an individual's story I am also selling wax melts to raise money for charity.”

Jackie owns a small business called Pretty Scented Wax which she started in January 2020.

The individual whose story she shares each month will pick the scent and the colour of the wax melt.

The first story she is sharing is that of her brother’s Owen.

She said: “Owen is my 17-year-old brother.

“Owen was diagnosed with Autism when he was four.

“Owen's Autism impacts him a lot, he struggles not having a routine and consistency.

“If there is a lot of sudden change Owen struggles to handle this and this can lead to a meltdown where he will be physically and verbally aggressive towards family.”

Jackie wants to share such details on social media to educate others about autism and what it’s like for people and families.

“Owen is also nonverbal,” she continued.

“He uses makaton and his own made-up signs to communicate.

“This is also a big trigger for Owen because he can really struggle to get his point across and this can lead to challenging behaviour as he can get himself wound up.”

But Jackie shares the good and the bad memories she has linked to her brother’s autism.

She said: “Owen is one of the funniest people I know.

“He is a very caring person and loves to make people laugh.

“Me, my mum and our family work so hard to make sure we do everything we can for Owen to have the best fulfilled life.”

The charity she is raising money for is Autism East Midlands who have plans in the near future to branch into Doncaster

You can check out more information on her Instagram account here.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.