We are a group of artists and craftspeople who all live with autism in our families. In fact, as often happens in families like ours, we also live with other so-called 'hidden' disabilities. We met a few years ago on the Isle of Wight, when we were struggling to get our children access to education.

When we discovered the Cultural Olympiad we were very excited about the opportunities and challenges it brings. We saw a great opportunity to celebrate the good things we share, showing so-called 'hidden disabilities' in different and unexpected ways. We decided that if others are striving their utmost to get to London in 2012, using their own particular abilities, then we will too!

'No man is an Island entire of itself,' wrote John Donne in his 'Devotions upon Emergent Occasions'. His poem expresses our feeling of common humanity and we took its opening words as the name of our project. We want our young people and families to really feel, like the poet, '...I am involved in Mankind.' 

Our project will share a different understanding of life with autism. Our name challenges the notion that people with autism have 'islands of ability' - everyone has a range of qualities and skills; it challenges the expectation that people with autism may be 'islands in a sea of humanity' - we all share a common humanity. 

The No Man is an Island project is at the start of an exciting journey, beginning with the work of families on the Isle of Wight. This year we'll be working to create the core of an exhibition which will grow on the way, in a great collaborative venture. We're starting on an Island but, as the Project grows, it will embrace more and more families like ours while travelling across the South East region. 

Workshops, exhibitions and cultural adventures are designed to leave a legacy of hope, new skills, greater understanding and community involvement.  Organisations across the arts, sports, environmental, disability, education and community sectors are giving us fantastic support. To be included in the Inspire programme is real recognition of the amazing support and enthusiasm of everyone who's making this project possible. It's the golden seal for a genuinely inclusive 'whole person' and 'community wide' project, showing us all to be '...a piece of the Continent, a part of the Main.'

We know the importance of nurturing hope in the face of adversity. What fantastic encouragement we could give to others by reaching our goal, sharing our adventures and welcoming others to join us along the way.