UFC Heavyweight Sensation Tom Aspinall Breaks Silence on Son’s Autism Diagnosis: A Champion Inside and Outside the Octagon
UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall shares a deeply personal journey, discussing his eldest son’s autism diagnosis. While he’s a formidable fighter in the octagon, Aspinall’s toughest challenge unfolded outside of it, navigating the intricate world of autism.
Tom Aspinall, a force to be reckoned with in the UFC, isn’t just a fighter; he’s also a loving father of three. His brood includes a seven-year-old son and twin four-year-old boys. Aspinall’s world took an unexpected turn in 2021 when the UK was grappling with a coronavirus lockdown, and one of his twin boys began to exhibit signs of falling behind in speech and key developmental milestones. [Via BBC]
Like many parents facing the unknown, Aspinall initially found himself in a state of denial. He brushed off the signs, attributing them to the extraordinary circumstances of the lockdown. As he candidly confesses, “I always was like: ‘He’ll catch up. He’s just not as socialized as usual because of the lockdown.’ Then I watched a program with Paddy McGuinness.”
Serendipity intervened when Tom Aspinall crossed paths with TV personality Paddy McGuinness, who, like Aspinall, is a father of three, including twins. McGuinness had faced a similar situation with his own children and admitted to his reluctance in confronting the possibility of autism in his eldest child. His advice to Aspinall was crystal clear: “Push for a diagnosis.”
The National Autistic Society defines autism as a “lifelong developmental disability which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.” It comes with various symptoms, including difficulty in communication, sensory sensitivities, anxiety in unfamiliar situations, and repetitive behaviors. Aspinall’s son exhibited some of these traits, leading to his diagnosis just after turning three.
Raising Awareness and Finding Hope
Aspinall speaks thoughtfully about his son’s unique interactions with the world, emphasizing that every autistic individual is different. While his son is social and loves strangers, he can shut down when overwhelmed. Tom explains, “Sometimes with autistic people, and children in particular, they are perfectionists, so if a toy, for example, isn’t moving in the way that they want it to move, that can be the end of their little world.”
The UFC powerhouse is on a mission to raise awareness and understanding about autism. Aspinall believes that public awareness and acceptance are vital, not only for autistic individuals but also for parents who face the daily challenges of raising a child on the autism spectrum. He recounts moments in public when his child’s behavior drew unwarranted judgment, saying, “If people were more aware, it would be a little bit easier.”
Tom Aspinall, a heavyweight fighter both inside the cage and in life, is determined to make a difference. He encourages parents who have concerns to seek a diagnosis early, stressing the importance of intervention and support. With a heart full of hope, he looks ahead, saying, “It’s absolutely massive because between the ages of two and three, he wouldn’t even look at you or answer his name. And it just gives you hope moving forward.”
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