My autistic child survived sexual assault.

She then found the courage to do everything that was asked of her.

She reported what happened.

She gave evidence.

She relived her trauma.

She endured a criminal justice process that lasted years.

And she made it all the way to trial.

As her parent, I watched my daughter find the strength to speak about the most traumatic experience of her life, believing that the justice system would protect and support her.

Instead, our family was left feeling unheard, misunderstood and failed.

My daughter is autistic.

Autism affects communication, emotional expression, processing and responses to stress and trauma.

It does not affect the truth.

Many victims of sexual assault do not scream, fight or verbally resist. They may freeze. They may shut down. They may comply. These are recognised trauma responses. They are not signs of consent. They are responses to fear.

For autistic victims, these misunderstandings can be even more severe.

Autism and trauma can affect how a person communicates, reacts and processes events. Yet too often these differences are misunderstood within the justice system, leaving vulnerable victims feeling unheard, unsupported and re-traumatised.

Victims should not have to prove their trauma by reacting in a way that others expect.

Autism affects reactions. Not the truth.

Courts are capable of recognising vulnerability and additional needs when assessing defendants. Vulnerable victims deserve the same understanding and protection.

Section 28 pre-recorded evidence was introduced to support vulnerable victims. However, many families continue to report concerns that important emotional context, communication differences and trauma responses can be lost, particularly for autistic victims.

UK law already provides protections through the Equality Act 2010, the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 and the Victims' Code. Yet too many families continue to feel these protections are not consistently applied in practice.

This must change.

We are calling for:

• Trauma responses to never be used against victims in court

• Specialist expertise in autism and trauma to be available in cases involving vulnerable victims

• Mandatory training for judges, juries and legal professionals on trauma and neurodivergence

• Court processes to become trauma-informed and autism-sensitive

• A review of how Section 28 evidence is experienced by autistic and vulnerable victims

• Better safeguarding, intervention and accountability where serious offences are committed by children and young people

Sexual assault is a serious crime.

Victims deserve protection, not further harm.

The justice system may have failed my child.

Please help us ensure it does not fail others.