Dance taught autistic Shannon to speak

MOST parents would not bat an eyelid if their young son or daughter asked them to sit down and watch a DVD together.

But when Katreena Duffin's autistic daughter Shannon bounded up and asked just this, the mum of three struggled to hold back tears.

For the pretty 12-year-old was mute and had never once started a conversation.

Here, Katreena, 35 – who has recently moved to Swindon with husband Derek, 36, a surveyor, and their other children Paige, six, and Ian, 17 – tells HELEN GILBERT the incredible story of how starring in a dance DVD helped Shannon find a voice.

"SHANNON was born with lots of difficulties. She had no muscle tone and, as a toddler, she did not walk or speak — she could only make noises.

"At 12 months old, she would line pegs up in colour order.

"She could not tell you the order they were in because she could not speak but the pegs would line up from one side of the room to the other.       Read Full