Last week I watched the BBC documentary by naturalist Chris Packham about what daily life is like for people living with autism.

Inside Our Autistic Minds focused on two people – Flo, an improv comedian, and Murray, who is non-verbal and the son of radio legend Ken Bruce.

The Springwatch television presenter, who was Asperger's Syndrome, wanted to show viewers how autism affected how people with the condition thought and conducted themselves in social situations. 

Murray, who communicates through digital technology and pointing at certain written down words, had his personal take on living with autism spoken by someone and those thoughts were put onto a film starring Murray himself.

Flo, who was diagnosed with autism later in life, said she has used masking all her life to cover up the physical and verbal effects of the condition.

She described the emotional and physical toll that masking had on her in a specially made film.

Both the short films were incredibly emotional and hard-hitting.

I have written many stories about the need for better support for people living with autism and have spoken to families who are affected by it.

But hearing the personal stories of people living with the condition made me realise how important it is to listen properly to what they have to say.

The films showed how much value people in the autism community can bring to society and listening to Murray’s animation, it made me think that people without autism could learn a lot from individuals like him.

One of the lines in his monologue was about how he was a deep thinker and people watcher despite not being able to verbalise his thoughts.

He added that everyone with autism deserved the chance to shine.

The programme was very inciteful and I urge anyone to watch it.