A Dunfermline mum has been nominated for a prestigious award at the National Diversity Awards.
Nicole Settle (31), who runs the Instagram account adhdmum_autisticson, has been put forward for the positive role model award for disability.
Her Instagram page offers support and educational content for other people in a similar situation.
Nicole's son Freddie is autistic, she also has two other children, one of whom is on the autism pathway. Nicole herself has ADHD.
The page has 38,000 followers, although Nicole said: “It was never intentional to do that well, it was just to find parents who were like-minded and in the same situation.”
According to the NHS, people with ADHD can seem restless and may have trouble concentrating. Nicole found out she had ADHD as the result of an IQ test at school.
READ MORE: Plans progressing for holiday park near Kelty
“In fourth year we did a random IQ test and no-one could understand how I had the highest IQ but I could never pass an exam," she explained.
“I was always seen to be disruptive.”
She was then diagnosed in 2009 when she was about 15 years old.
Speaking about how her Instagram page began, Nicole commented: “Originally, I started on a Facebook page called My World Matters, and a group for children with disabilities. That went really well for a year.”
Her Instagram page came afterwards and she added: “I try to put up useful content that’s actually educational and bringing together mums that are in the same situation, whether they are diverse themselves or their children.”
Nicole has also started running mum retreats. The first one took place in February and numerous mums of autistic children met and came together for the first time. She plans to do more in the future.
“They are all completely non-profit, I don’t make any money on them,” she added.
READ MORE: Right royal occasion as Aberdour gets ready for this year’s festival
Speaking of her nomination for the award, Nicole added: “I was so, so happy. I felt so proud to be a part of that.
“It’s a really important award. I still don’t know who nominated me!”
Nicole has had to fight to make sure that her son Freddie has everything he needs.
She added: “Basically that completely changed my entire thought process in life. It was absolutely heartbreaking.
“It did really affect my mental health.”
“I am not the only one in that situation.”
As previously reported in the Press, she explained that Freddie would have to fail at mainstream school before he would be considered for additional support.
Nicole described the situation as “being let down every single day".
She went on: “The doors don’t open, they have to be kicked open.”
Both of her daughters attend Fife Young Carers, which she called “a really nice safe space to go to”.
On May 16, Nicole will find out if she has been shortlisted for the award.
You can vote for her here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here