Seven-year-old Huddersfield girl acts as voice for her autistic sister

Jun 4 2009 Huddersfield Daily Examiner

“Sarah wasn’t learning to talk and we recognised some of the signs of autism from Chris”.

Mum Elisabeth Jones, 39, said: “Sarah is fully autistic and doesn’t talk.

“She can say a few words but a stranger wouldn’t be able to understand what she’s saying.

“When you call her she won’t answer.

“Because she doesn’t talk it will cause problems in the future so she has a speech therapist at school.

“Charlotte helps her out because she understands her.

“If Sarah wants something Charlotte will come to me or she will tell me if Sarah is doing something dangerous.

“It can be very difficult. One time when we went to her grandma’s in Batley, Sarah escaped and she went across the main road. It was really scary.

“She’s quite prone to running off because she doesn’t realise that it’s dangerous.

“Charlotte can help prevent her doing these things and report where she is.

“She’s helped Sarah since she was little.

“I think it would be an awful lot harder if Charlotte wasn’t there to help,” mum Elisabeth added.