[Garfie]

For many years I have worked with young people on the autistic spectrum and, although it would be wrong to try to diagnose someone without knowing them, from my experience, Arthur displays many traits of high-functioning autism or Aspergers and I had wondered if he was on the spectrum myself.

Every single person on the spectrum is different, and has varying degrees of each trait, so a simple checklist is a hard way to make a diagnosis. Major signs for me, however, were the way he became overwhelmed when everyone was shouting at him, the way he obsessed about the rule being they should keep all food in the store cupboard, his social difficulties and lack of understanding, his childlike behaviour, and the way he responded so positively to Raph's kind, gentle and compassionate approach to him.

Not everyone who is on the spectrum is diagnosed, however, especially if their traits are mild. Either way, to me, those on the spectrum are just the loveliest people in the world.