Henry Normal: life with my autistic son

The Times


There’s a Bafta on the sideboard in Henry Normal’s dining room, overlooking the sea in Brighton. Normal was the writer and producer behind some of the best, most groundbreaking comedy on television. The Mrs Merton Show, The Royle Family, Gavin & Stacey and The Mighty Boosh, to name just a few, were all his programmes.

For 17 years he would commute to London to work at Baby Cow Productions, the company he co-owned with Steve Coogan. He is 61 now, and retired from the high pressure of managing a production company. But he’s still working. A Radio 4 monologue has been adapted into a one-man show about being the father of 19-year-old Johnny, his only child, who is autistic. At the end of every performance, fathers queue up to talk to him about their own autistic child. Often, they’ll cry. Normal might cry, too. Tears come easily, he says. “Sometimes on stage I have to pretend it’s a dramatic pause, but in reality I’m trying not to cry.”

Continue reading here


Related Articles


Bystanders were horrified. But my son has autism, and I was desperate.

What I did to help my 5-year-old autistic son overcome his intense fear of indoor spaces might not have been r ..

read more

Autism and meltdowns to miracles

Meltdowns are something almost every parent of an autistic child is familiar with and although we all know tha ..

read more

How schools can be more inclusive

Among the first few challenges that parents of differently-abled kids face is that of finding a school that is ..

read more

Our Support Community


Join our free support community and connect with thousands of other families and individuals touched by ASD. Find out what’s working for others, coping strategies, and life guides from others living what you’re going through now. Click here to join for free!

Resources in Your Area

Looking for autism resources nearby? Check our listings for professionals and services that might help.

Post your services | Help out in general

Events


Autism social support group for adults
N/A, AR - United States
Sep-22-2021 - 06:30 pm
This is a support group /socializing group for adults on the autism spectrum to meet and talk in a safe environment. The group meets once a month. The meeting meets ..
Go to Event site

view all events