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James Hunt never imagined his autistic son Tommy would be able to express his love verbally. Yet, three months ago, the 14-year-old—who is non-speaking—sent his father a text saying exactly that. “I immediately started crying,” James recalls. “I know we have a good relationship and he is affectionate towards me but it was so emotional when he was able to confirm it. After so many years of limited communication, it has been life-changing.”
Originally from Burnham-on-Crouch in Essex, James used to run a marketing business in London. However, after his two sons, Jude, 17, and Tommy, were diagnosed with autism as toddlers, he chose to become a full-time carer for them. Following a separation from his wife Charlotte, they made the difficult decision to live separately and to care for Jude and Tommy on different days due to the boys’ inability to tolerate living together. Now, James and Charlotte reside opposite each other, with the children dividing their time between the two homes.
For the past decade, James has openly shared their family’s journey through blogging and social media under the name Stories About Autism. What began as a way to update friends and family about their lives gradually turned into a powerful platform that resonated with many others. “Jude and Tommy struggled with social occasions, so we stopped going,” James explains. “I could never find the words to explain, and I wanted to show how proud I was of them, so I started writing instead. I didn’t realise how much our stories would resonate with others, or how much it would help me.”
The impact of sharing Tommy’s messages has been tremendous, attracting millions of interactions online. James has heard from countless parents who say it gives them hope that their own children might one day communicate similarly. Despite Tommy’s limited verbal abilities, James sees the texts as evidence that his son understands far more than he can express. One particularly poignant exchange was when James told Tommy he was with Jude, and Tommy simply replied, “brother.” Although Jude and Tommy have faced challenges in their relationship, James is optimistic about their future and hopes they will eventually live together under his roof. Equipped with a communication device for the past seven years to explain basic needs, Tommy had never before conveyed his emotions—until recently. During James’s trip to Australia to speak at an autism conference, he sent Tommy video messages to help him adjust. “Tommy will rest his head on mine, he likes to be cuddled but this is the first time he has shown me any real emotion, and it means so much,” James says. “He is able to explain how he is feeling or tell me about what he did in the day. He always messages me at bedtime when he’s at his mum’s and I can’t wait to receive them. Not so long ago conversations like this were beyond my wildest dreams.”
James also started a clothing line promoting positive messages about autism, disabilities, and neurodivergence, which evolved into a physical shop featuring a sensory room. This space became a supportive hub where parents, carers, and autistic individuals could share experiences. Through this venture, James connected with the Independence Project charity and helped organise festivals specifically for children with special needs and their families. Sharing these experiences, James recalls one family who hadn’t ventured outside for months but felt safe attending the events. Additionally, James fulfilled a dream for Jude, who shares Tommy’s non-speaking autism and has a passion for music, by taking him to a nightclub organised by the charity. “That was a real highlight for me this year,” James reflects. “He’s 17 so he should be going out and enjoying himself like that. It was a special moment.” Looking ahead, James has a book coming out in March titled *Love Needs No Words*, chronicling his life with his sons. He admits that previously, he would have been too anxious to participate in book signings because of Tommy’s need for routine, but now their enhanced communication has eased those worries
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