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People looked back at their school days and talked about their experiences which were often before they had been diagnosed. They had attended a mix of mainstream schools, special schools, boarding school and private schools. One person was home schooled from the age of 13 [click here for his mother's story].

 

Many people did not enjoy school; they didn’t have many friends and several talked about being bullied. One man said “I was bullied a lot. Everyday actually. I think it was because I was slightly different and they thought ‘Oh he’s an easy target’”. Another talked about how he avoided bullying by staying in the background; “That was how I negotiated school, I suppose, I kept a pretty low profile. I was eccentric essentially.”

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Education >> Education

People looked back at their school days and talked about their experiences which were often before they had been diagnosed. They had attended a mix of mainstream schools, special schools, boarding school and private schools. One person was home schooled from the age of 13 [click here for his mother's story].

 

Many people did not enjoy school; they didn’t have many friends and several talked about being bullied. One man said “I was bullied a lot. Everyday actually. I think it was because I was slightly different and they thought ‘Oh he’s an easy target’”. Another talked about how he avoided bullying by staying in the background; “That was how I negotiated school, I suppose, I kept a pretty low profile. I was eccentric essentially.”

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Education >> Education

Education

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Education >> Education

Education

• Clip
• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Debbie - Interview 19 >> Debbie describes her schooling from primary school through to secondary school.

Debbie was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 35 years old after experiencing bullying in the workplace. She now does voluntary work and looks after the home for her father.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Neil and Catherine - Interview 55 >> Catherine thought things would get better at secondary school but the teasing carried on.

Catherine, 27, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 23. She works part time as a volunteer gardener.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> John - Interview 52 >> John was “very good at English and Maths and pretty useless at everything else”.

John, 65, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 62. He had a series of jobs and started some university courses over the years but is now unemployed and fills up his days ‘by wasting time’.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Duncan - Interview 51 >> Duncan found the transition between schools difficult and changing timetables.

Duncan, 17, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was thirteen years old after originally being diagnosed with dyspraxia. He is currently in sixth form doing his A levels and hopes to go to university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> James describes his schooling at the specialist base.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> James summarises the ways in which the base helped him.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Luke - Interview 35 >> Luke talks about the things that could have helped him at school.

Luke was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was eight years old. He has written three books and is a keen photographer.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Duncan - Interview 51 >> Duncan who went to a mainstream school explains how they supported him.

Duncan, 17, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was thirteen years old after originally being diagnosed with dyspraxia. He is currently in sixth form doing his A levels and hopes to go to university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women in employment/education: >> Gail – Interview 06b >> Gail felt she was seen as geeky as a teenager and was ashamed when she didn’t fit in with other teenagers.

At 18 year old, Gail suspected she may have Asperger syndrome, but did not feel the need to get diagnosed until more recently. She was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary explains her synaesthesia.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary thinks some people with Asperger syndrome come across as shy but they aren’t shy.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Alex – Interview 04b >> Alex describes what she has done since she left school.

Alex was diagnosed with classic autism aged three years old. She lives independently in an adapted house, with some care assistance. A few years ago she was injured in a road accident and, as a result, now has epilepsy.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Simon – Interview 16b >> Education professionals should have more autism awareness training, and they should involve people with autism in this.

Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary has discovered that she really enjoys learning but didn’t like the form of working at school.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Simon – Interview 16b >> Simon thinks that teachers assume you can’t do anything, rather than acknowledging you find certain things harder than other people.

Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary was called “an enigma” at school because the teachers couldn’t understand why she was so good at English and so poor at maths.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> John – Interview 08b >> John’s problems with attention have not received the support he would have liked.

After having a lot of contact with mental health services over the years, John was diagnosed with mild Asperger syndrome aged 45. Previous employment has proved problematic for John and he feels employers should be more aware of Asperger syndrome.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Simon – Interview 16b >> Simon thinks that people with autism should be used to help support people, as they actually understand what the difficulties are.

Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Tim and Julie – Interview 09b >> Tim and Julie discuss the ways in which Tim was different when he was at school.

Tim was diagnosed with autism eight years after a paediatrician suggested that there was a family link between himself and his son. Tim has a very supportive wife and they have two sons who also have autism.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Simon – Interview 16b >> It took Simon a while to learn what a friend was and explains how he finds it hard to trust people.

Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> James describes his schooling at the specialist base.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> The educational psychologist didn't think James would go to university.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women in employment/education: >> Laurie - Interview 53 >> Laurie has been offered a laptop and a recorder but said no to a note taker because she didn’t want piles of notes at home.

Laurie, 46, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 44. She is starting a university course in journalism and works part time as a market researcher.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Neil and Catherine - Interview 55 >> Catherine describes her experiences of doing an NVQ.

Catherine, 27, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 23. She works part time as a volunteer gardener.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Mark - Interview 58 >> For Mark the diagnosis means a “little magic piece of paper that says can you treat this person a little differently”.

Mark, 27, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 26. He is returning to university to study economics and accountancy.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Mark - Interview 58 >> Mark is more optimistic about his new course at university because he has a diagnosis now and can access support.

Mark, 27, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 26. He is returning to university to study economics and accountancy.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women in employment/education: >> Catherine - Interview 63 >> Catherine describes her route through college to employment.

Catherine, 25, was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 19. She works part time in a dog rescue home and hopes to increase her working hours.

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Further education >> Further education

Further education

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Debbie - Interview 19 >> Debbie talks about her experiences of further education and the different courses she did.

Debbie was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when she was 35 years old after experiencing bullying in the workplace. She now does voluntary work and looks after the home for her father.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Stephen - Interview 32 >> Stephen talks about how he enjoys going to art college a few days a week.

Stephen was diagnosed with autism at the age of five. He has drawn and painted since childhood and has exhibited his work internationally.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> James was worried about going to university but it has been “brilliant”.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary did some research after feeling that her diagnosis of OCD “wasn’t the full story”.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary has discovered that she really enjoys learning but didn’t like the form of working at school.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Alex – Interview 04b >> Alex describes what she has done since she left school.

Alex was diagnosed with classic autism aged three years old. She lives independently in an adapted house, with some care assistance. A few years ago she was injured in a road accident and, as a result, now has epilepsy.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Simon – Interview 16b >> An expert in autism has helped Simon deal with his depression.

Simon, aged 22 was diagnosed with autism when he was 5 years old. He has developed his own strategies to cope during social situations. Simon is interested in animals and aims to find employment in this area. Simon does talks on autism to help people to understand.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Sam – Interview 17b >> Sam finds a lot of people “banal” but found having a friend at university made a “massive difference” to him.

Sam was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome two years ago. He is studying for a PhD and lives by himself.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Further education >> Further education

Further education

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men not in employment/education >> Jamie – Interview 02b >> Jamie worked for two years in a warehouse but is now looking for work.

Jamie was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 9 years old. He uses certain techniques which helps him gain comfort and confidence in social interactions. He’s working towards finding employment and leaving home to live independently.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> Damian – Interview 03b >> Damian is constantly studying after dropping out of school and being written off by teachers. He is now doing a PhD.

Damian was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome a year ago. He is well educated with a degree, Master’s degree and a PGCE, and is now studying for a PhD. Damian lives with his son, 7, who has classic autism.

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Further education >> Further education

Further education

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Men in employment/education >> James - Interview 49 >> The educational psychologist didn't think James would go to university.

James was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12 years old. After spending some time in a psychiatric ward, James went to a specialist unit on the site of a mainstream school and is now in his third year studying psychology at university.

• >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Further education >> Further education

Further education

• Autism >> Life on the Autism spectrum >> Women not in paid employment/education >> Mary – Interview 01b >> Mary was called “an enigma” at school because the teachers couldn’t understand why she was so good at English and so poor at maths.

After researching various conditions on the internet, Mary was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome aged 21. She also has OCD and experiences anxieties.