I vote for Anna for her tireless work and for giving these children a voice and a value.

She is absolutely inspirational in every way.

I am now The people’s autism hero.

Anna is an amazing lady who does so much for the autism community!

Anna is a tireless advocate for people with Special needs

I wanted to attend the Autism Hero Awards, and I am so glad I did. The awards celebrated siblings, parents and guardians, businesses, teachers, and autistic individuals. 

I sat in a room filled with people that fight for autistic people. I heard stories of those with the greatest of empathy for the affect autism has.

To hear of siblings, like my brother, who stand by their siblings as they fight through life. The awards are run by Anna Kennedy who has championed autism for many years as her two sons are autistic.

The charity, Anna Kennedy Online, does incredible things for those who are autistic and their families, raising awareness and supporting us.

If Anna hadn’t taken up the gauntlet there would be hundreds or thousands of kids who did not receive the right schooling.

I only wish she had been fighting the good fight in our town where the majority are forced to endure main stream schooling and all the bullying that entails.

Anna has helped our local area since becoming a patron of our local support group and I have had the pleasure of meeting her on several occasions.A worthy recipient of this award.

I would like to share my experience as a SEN Parent during the transition time of my son (ASD and Cerebral palsy) from Primary School to Secondary School.

After going through a very difficult time through inappropriate provision which broke down which resulted me keeping my son at home and I contacted the Charity under some very difficult and unforeseen circumstances.

Within a matter of weeks with the support of one of the Charity Champions (Mala), who helped me through the process and she guided me through appropriate placements and the legal rights of my son, and drafted negotiations and explained the processes.

The LA finally agreed to the specialist provision we had found and knew would meet our son’s needs and after months of turmoil my son finally got the education and support that he was entitled to.

The Charity Champion handled the situation so perfectly and proved true professionalism at every stage and most of all I felt comforted during such a difficult time and also learnt so much about how the SEN process should work.

We as family would like to thank Anna Kennedy Online and Mala from the bottom of our hearts and through this support and understanding, made all of our dreams come true..

Anna gives nothing but unconditional love and support for years, amazing lady!

Attended Charity relaxed performance of Snow White

Anna

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for arranging events like this. My father has just died after a long, awful battle with cancer… He was also a much loved and supportive grandfather to the children in our family and we all miss him.

We are facing a very different Christmas this year and to have some respite from all the grief, legalities etc that we have been going through was just simply beautiful … It allowed our whole family to have fun. My Mum went and saw Santa as well as the children. So what you do not only touches the children, but also reaches out into the family too – giving us all a lovely experience. 

My Autistic son, who is normally quite deadpan and it more interested in the scenery and how the special effects work, was clapping and dancing in his seat and thoroughly enjoyed it. I looked around the audience and saw the vast range of different challenges that are faced by all our children and watched them laughing, singing and really getting involved. It was magical.

Thank you once again, and I wish you well with your continued work.. it’s priceless.

Best regards

Jackie Stein

Anna is a tireless campaigner for children and adults on the autistic spectrum and continues to educate members of the public about autism.

She travels the length and breadth of the UK and manages to combine her charity with looking after her two sons (both of whom are autistic).

The AKO Awards was a lovely evening celebrating the extraordinary parents/carers/school staff/nurses and members of the public who do so much to support the autism community.

Anna Kennedy does a fantastic job of bringing us all together and making every single person in the room feel worthy. For Calvin and for me as his mum it is the only place we can truly be ourselves without judgement.

Everyone in the AKO family just gets it. Listening to stories again last night there is still so much work to be done to raise awareness and promote equality of opportunity. It makes me sad to hear of eight year old children still facing the same discrimination and challenges as Calvin faced ten years ago. I hope together one day autism will truly be accepted for the gift it is.

I know everyone in that room will keep working towards full acceptance as will Calvin and I.

What can you say about this lady…..inspirational, smiley, true advocate, dancer and a lady that gave my child a chance when everything was going wrong for them, believed in them and made a tough situation liveable for my child by putting them on stage in their comfort zone to shine in a dark time.

This lady is someone everyone needs in their life .

Thank you Anna for all you do and being you!

What a wonderful evening, so proud of Liam and all the nominees, such inspiring people who all deserve recognition for everything they do and achieve.

I’m so grateful for the opportunities Anna Kennedy has given Liam, also the friendships that have been made not only for Liam but myself too.

The support within the AKO charity is priceless, people that truly understand, accept and support each other without judgment, a place where perceptions and barriers are removed so each and every person can shine.

Thank you for letting us be part of it all. #AKOAwards #autismheroawards

As a mother of 18 yr old twins, one of which had performed at Autism’s Got Talent, I have followed her since my daughters were 11 yrs of age.

I see that Anna’s enthusiasm, hard work and relentless dedication towards improving the lives of children and young adults with autism as well as their siblings and families is apparent on a daily basis, basically sacrificing her own time solely to help others.

She is an amazing woman who’s strength has inspired me to never give up through times of emotional struggles raising my children with autism.

In fact, I used to self medicate with Alcohol as a coping mechanism and although Anna doesn’t know this, she is the person who has inspired me to give up alcohol completely in order to be a stronger and more emotionally stable parent to my now grown up girls and I have been alcohol free for 2 years completely!

Seeing her strength and determination in caring for her 2 autistic sons as well as all her charity work was just what I needed to stop feeling sorry for myself and improve my own well-being as well as my children’s.

Anna just wanted to say thank you for all your posts about your sons Patrick and Angelo and about what you get up to.I don’t know how you do it but I am glad you do. You keep me going and I feel like I know you and your boys since I have been following you for a few years.

When I am feeling really rubbish I look at your posts some make me laugh , some make me feel emotional or just being informed about what’s going on in the world of autism.

Don’t stop being you or doing what you do!!! We as an autism community need you to be our voice and I most certainly need your daily posts.

Thanks for taking time out from your busy days in keeping us informed and for helping me to keep going in my feeling lonely days.

Bless you and your family xxx

I’m a mother of three children with autism, Anna was there for me during a hard time with my daughter, I will forever be grateful for all she did for me and what she continues to do for others. Much deserved!!

Why do we have awards? Yes, in some cases award ceremonies are money-making projects or exist to boost egos. But awards also bring together like-minded people who inspire, excel or selflessly lead others in their fields with a heart you may not find in others.

The latter is exactly how you would describe the unique, annual “Autism Hero Awards” produced by the charity, Anna Kennedy Online. As a proud patron of this charity, I have attended these awards since their conception four years ago.

Just judging these award ceremonies leaves me feeling moved and close to tears. Really, when you hear people say ‘everyone should have won’ at award ceremonies, nothing could be more accurate in the case of the Hero awards. Every story of courage, bravery, diversity or kindness leaves you wanting to award every nominee.

The evening is not just about the actual awards; it’s an evening bringing love and strength all under one roof. You don’t have to be living with autism or even need to have a  friend or family member on the spectrum. Anna Kennedy is not just about fighting for what is right. It is also about educating as many people as we can about autism.  Having empathy for this community and choosing to come along to enjoy the events can truly be life changing

Anna’s relentless endeavour to empower society about ASD (Autistic Spectrum Disorder) needs to be recognised (and she has 2 sons on the spectrum too).

Her prominence gives parents with autistic children a voice in a society where people with a “special need” are bullied, frowned upon or tutted at.

I have known Anna for over 10 years now and she helped me get my son from an awful atu.

Anna is the reason I contribute to bringing change. Anna inspires me her energy is infectious. When I feel like retiring and take up less campaigning and training work, Anna pops up on my Facebook with yet another new post to make Autistic people’s lives better.

So Anna keeps me going spurs me on. Anna has consistently is available to thousands of families when needed. Anna you rock.

Dear Anna,

I just wanted to let you know what an absolute honour  it was to be one of the finalists for the Outstanding Education Autism Hero awards and then to win it was a joy beyond words.

The whole evening was so special – extremely well organised and totally inspirational. It will forever be one of the most important highlights of my teaching career and, indeed, my life.

Thank you to you and your amazing team for everything you do to raise awareness and highlight the work and contribution of so many people in the autism community who would otherwise remain ‘unsung’ heroes. My very best wishes to you all, and thank you again,

Regards

Melanie Whitfield

Anna has amazing has an incredible passion for promoting anything Autism and giving opportunities as part of Autism’s Got Talent.

She tirelessly promotes the awareness of autism and providing support for parents and their children.

Anna is a fabulous role model for autism diversity. She has single handedly managed to raise the profile of Autism spectrum disorders.

She has campaigned tirelessly to help ensure ASD children and adults are properly supported at schools and further education while at the same time showcasing their abilities to the world in events around the UK.

She has helped to make autism more mainstream by demonstrating the positives to the conditions, and showing employers they can utilise the skills of ASD individuals with proper adjustments in place.

This is so important because it means the chance of independence in society is always possible and something to strive for.

This is only possible when people like Anna constantly show the public that having autism does not mean no worthwhile life.

Years ago Anna helped me come to terms with my own children’s autism diagnosis. With her support and guidance at a support group she set up, I realised I was not alone.

My sons are now both grown up and are working after attending university and college. I have hope they will one day be independent themselves.

‘A fabulous night from start to finish, with even a ‘quiet room’ on hand if or indeed when sensory overload became a little too burdensome.

I am so grateful to have won the ‘personal achievement’ award; my life story is my very own autism advocacy, of succeeding after a difficult start, and I hope it can be an example to all those autistic people slogging their way through the education system now, as improved as it undoubtedly is from the ‘nasty times’ during the 1980s.’

Anna is and always has been a champion for Autistic people

Anna is selfless in her advocacy for those in the autism spectrum, and indeed those also with overlapping conditions.

She is passionate about changing the world for the better for those with autism, instead of the world changing autistic people to fit in.

We are all different & Anna stops at nothing to fight help & support those on autism journeys. She is truly amazing. Thank you.

Never got to say thank you for inviting me to the Brunel expo 2016.

Had I had not gone, I wouldn’t have been able to make so many contacts and now friends. All that has lead to my son coming out of ATU and in the fabulous home he is in ( care provider recommended by one of the mums)

Everything has lead to where we are now. Thank the lord for that invite!! Thank Mala so much

Anna is completely selfless and gives inspiration every day

I’m voting for Anna because she has been not just an inspiration to me but many others. She gave me strength when I needed it and made me realise that people care when it felt that no one did.

She is treasured a lot. There’s not a lot of people like Anna about. She’s a very rare diamond.

In September 2017 my family received our little boys diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Condition. It was a very daunting time for us and we suddenly realised we had this whole new journey in front of us that we knew nothing about and was completely unfamiliar with. We quickly learned that there was a major lack of support information and direction.

Then we were introduced to Anna Kennedy and her team via my very lovely sister in law Lisa Robins. And suddenly it felt as though a door had opened into a wider community of understanding and acceptance support and advice. We did not feel alone anymore. Anna and her amazing team gave us direction in a time of confusion and their help throughout our journey so far has been invaluable.

I am very honoured & feel like my heart has been lifted! It’s a massive pick up in emotions especially after a bit of a difficult period in my life. Like my heart has been lifted because I have been recognised for good things in the world of autism & beyond!

If you took the batteries out of the dynamite that is Anna Kennedy OBE.

Truly I swear she would keep going for ever. It is hard to really describe the woman who when the words inspiration, mentor , warrior pop up it is her face that comes straight into my mind.

Anna has not only challenged herself daily but others too. She is not just a super mum but Anna is hero in the autism world breaking barriers and never saying no. If there was a war and this lady was on the front line the enemy would run for cover, she made a huge difference to my life and as a patron of her charity every minute I spend with her is a pleasure and a learning experience.

She has made such a difference to so many peoples lives.

From her amazing “Autism Got Talent” show “Autism Hero” awards she has created and stance on mental health diversity and work with the LGBTQ community . There should be a statue erected to this diversity role model never mind an award .

I have met Anna in person at an autism event in late 2017 and followed her on social media she is a powerhouse in knowledge and sharing. AKO Autism Expo 2018 was personal, professional and above all accessible for young people and families who want to learn more about autism.

When I spoke young families came in with their children reflecting the strong sense of relaxation and calmness throughout the whole day.

This all ties in with ethos and it is clear that Anna’s ethos is open, honest and transparent I believe Anna’s foundations are something that could (or should be!) translated into disability awareness policies in sharing information, something that in essence is so crucial. I enjoyed my day and look forward to coming back again.

Anna has done so much to help not only the individuals with autism but also the wider family.

She’s been helping in more ways than I can explain and as a parent of a son with autism, her efforts definitely deserve awarding as she understands wholeheartedly just how difficult and challenging life can be.

With her knowledge, devotion and care, she\\’s made autism more accessible for so many to comprehend. This dedication needs to be acknowledged.

Inspirational Mom in a neurodiverse family, motivating woman to others via social media platforms and how awesome is her charity and Autism’s Got Talent!

Creates opportunity for those who are not included to shine