‘It's hard when people stare at MY CHILDREN'

Christine McGuinness is a mum to three children with autism and she’s determined to educate others on signs of the disorder

- JACK WHITE

At Southampton Harbour on Paddy’s birthday As any parent to a child with autism will tell you, everyday life is not without its challenges – something Christine McGuinness knows all too well.

She and husband Paddy have twins Leo and Penelope, six, and three-year-old Felicity, who have all been diagnosed with the development disorder.

Leo and Penelope received their official diagnoses at three years old, with Felicity also being confirmed as autistic after her third birthday last month.

Christine, 31, says that, after being thrown in at the deep end with her twins, she saw the signs in Felicity much earlier.

‘The first time around with the twins it was a shock; we didn’t know anything about it,’ model Christine explains. ‘All we knew then was that they would have trouble through life and things would be a little different for them.