One of the things I really enjoy getting the chance to do as an Autism advocate is going into schools and speaking to younger students about my experiences with the condition. I feel it’s a great way to help them understand how Autism effects other people. I also feel it’s a good way to teach them how even if they have a disability like Autism, they can still lead a happy life and achieve everything they’ve always dreamed of achieving.
I recently got the chance to visit a school, where my mum worked, and gave an assembly on what I’d achieved since primary school, despite my Autism. It was very well-received and some students even wrote me thank you letters – several of them were Autistic, too. Giving the presentation brought back a lot of memories of my early years in education.
I don’t remember when exactly my Autism first started influencing my behaviour, but I think I remember the day I was diagnosed with it. I remember my mum and dad taking me to a facility of some sorts, where I spent half an hour playing games with a lady – who I assume now was a social worker. All the while my mum and dad were watching me from another room, behind a one-way mirror. Of course I didn’t know why I was there at the tine or why my mum and dad were sitting in a room that looked like a small movie theatre (with the mirror covered). But now I know it was all set up to observe my behaviour and confirm if I had Autism or not. As I’ve said before, nothing is more important than getting an early diagnosis. I don’t know how my parents reacted to the news when they first heard it, but because they found out about my Autism early, they had a full two years to arrange things with my primary school to ensure I’d have the right support.
My earliest memories of primary school go all the way back to nursery. I even remember the names of my two teachers, Mrs Swain and Miss Dowetty. Actually, I remember the names of all my primary school teachers (with the exception of Year 4). There was Mrs Swain (nursery), Mrs Andrews (reception), Miss Barack (Year 1 and 2), Mrs Rigby (Year 3), Mr Lindsy (Year 5) and Miss Hammond (Year 6).
My Autism first started effecting my behaviour in school when I was in reception. Sometimes I was more interested in colouring something in than doing my work. Other times I would talk about things I’d seen or heard on TV, when I should’ve been having a normal conversation. And, apparently, there were times I refused to listen, because I was too busy watching a pigeon outside. These behaviours would continue until Year 6, but I learned to keep my focus in the right place as the years progressed. For instance, I kept my fantasies in my head and I don’t think I was as fascinated by pigeons after learning they all did the same things.
Nonetheless, I still needed help focusing in my lessons. From reception to Year 6 I always had a teaching assistant helping me. They’d explain the work again if there was something I missed or couldn’t understand. They’d show me how much I had to write in my text book before it was enough. And they would bring my attention back to the lesson if my mind wondered too much. I had several TAs over the years, but one I always remember having was a lady called Sue. Sue was firm but friendly with me, and she helped make my learning bearable and enjoyable. I also think it was good for me to always have her, since my Autism made changes difficult. Although I kept changing classes every year, Sue was the one thing I count on to stay the same about my learning, and it was a comfort to me. I think if a TA is assigned to an Autistic child, they should be prepared to stay with them until they graduate – they may not realise just how much the child will come to appreciate their help and be used to their help specifically.
Looking back on it now, I know I wasn’t the best behaved boy in school, particularly during my infant years. There were some pretty outrageous things I did and it often got me into trouble. Not all my bad behaviours, like spiting, scratching and pulling hair were caused by my Autism – rest assured I got over those terrible habits quickly. But there were times I did things or overreacted, because of how my mind worked. I set off the fire alarm (because I was ‘tricked’), I picked unripe apples the school were trying to grow, and the worst thing I did was run down the school corridor in an angry fit, because a video we’d been watching was turned off before the end – the result had me sent home early. So I was a little terror sometimes. They even came up with a method where, if I misbehaved, I got my name written on the board. Three names on the board meant I couldn’t play computer games when I got home.
However, I wasn’t always a bad seed. Sometimes I did really caring and generous things for others. I gave daisies to the dinner ladies who were on break time duty. Sometimes I found frogspawn, or a trapped frog, and helped return it to the pond. There was even one time I noticed a bird trapped in some bushes and asked some teachers to rescue it. So I had my good points, too.
But what I think was most important about my time in primary school was that I had friends. Sometimes it’s hard for children with Autism to make friends, but I was fortunate enough to be friends with everyone in my class. There were a few bullies now and again, but I always patched things up with them eventually. Also, I did all the normal things for a boy my age; I went to birthday parties, visited friend’s houses, played with them in the playground, etc. My Autism didn’t effect me all of the time and I was happy to have others accept me for who I was, even if I did act a bit strangely sometimes.
However, even at this early stage in my life, there were times when I just liked being alone. Sometimes I’d have a desk to myself in the classroom, and at break times I would often just wander the playground not speaking to anyone and thinking about all the fantasies in my mind. Fantasies which I still have to this day (see ‘Into My Autistic Mind’ and ‘Into My Autistic Mind 2’).
In conclusion, primary school was a very happy time in my life, even though I was bullied and misbehaved sometimes. I should note that at this time I didn’t know about my Autism. I’d never even heard of the word before. Which is why I was so happy to see so many students raise their hands in my mum’s school when I asked if they knew what Autism was. It helped me see that so many more children today are being made aware of the disability and it makes me proud to be an advocate.
What’s interesting is that I hated reading and writing in primary school. And now I’m writing and reading for a living. So many things changed for me after I left primary school. But that’s a story for another time.
If you’ve enjoyed this post, please leave me a comment and check out the other things I’ve written for this blog. As always, keep an eye out for the next post. Stay tuned.
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