November 11, 2022 • 38 mins
This episode I’m joined by Rohit who’s an Autism advocate, it was great to get his thoughts and we discussed a range of topics.
Rohit talked me to about what his school life was like and how he unfortunately experienced bullying simply for being different, it’s brave when someone opens up about something so personal to them.
Rohit talks to me about his Autism diagnosis, the quirks that make him unapologetically him and the way he can now freely express himself without judgement.
Rohit spoke about the importance of Mental Health and doing more to allow people to open up.
We talked about shared interests such as gaming and football so it was nice to see that we had stuff in common
One of the best episodes of the series
Rohit talked me to about what his school life was like and how he unfortunately experienced bullying simply for being different, it’s brave when someone opens up about something so personal to them.
Rohit talks to me about his Autism diagnosis, the quirks that make him unapologetically him and the way he can now freely express himself without judgement.
Rohit spoke about the importance of Mental Health and doing more to allow people to open up.
We talked about shared interests such as gaming and football so it was nice to see that we had stuff in common
One of the best episodes of the series
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello, everyone, welcome to a brand new episode of the
podcast Stay. I have ro Hit on with me today.
It's going to be talking all things mental health, autism,
and other things as well. So really good to have
you on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How you doing, Yeah, thank you for having me. I'm
very very excited to be on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited to have you on there as well.
And my first question to you is, so you've got
so you're autistic. So I'm just wondering, really, when did
you first get a diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So I got a diagnosis when I was three years old,
and basically doctors found out that because I was doing
something with building blocks, so I would always have them
in like a ggical order, it's yeah, in order, And
(01:03):
basically they'd noticed that, and that's how I got my
autism diagnosis because they noticed that I was dimming when
I was younger as well, and I sometimes used to
like bite my nails, and I was very like non verbal,
so I didn't start talking until I was like four
years old. So that's how I got my ortism diagnosis.
(01:25):
And I think twenty years later or twenty years later,
twenty two years later, here we are.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Now well it's certainly here to sell this out. It's
interesting as well because there's people that got diagnosed rarely
early on, there's people that get diagnosed very late, which
can then be delayed, and that sort of thing, which
is you know, which sometimes it just doesn't happen. It's
(01:56):
interesting because I think I got diagnosed to three years old,
and I was nonverbal until I was about the age
of six. I mean, I was obsessed with washing machines.
I just a lot of spinning them around. I was
a very weird child and I yeah, I like trains
as well, Thomas the Tank Engine and pretty much sure
(02:18):
your standard like childhood shows that everyone needs to watch
back then. So yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I mean, like I think you've heard about with Thomas
the Tank Engine releasing, they've got an autistic person voice
acting a new train which is which is quite interesting
and I'm really excited for that.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, I've heard about that. It's interesting because well, they're
including more neuro diversity into shows and stuff now, which
is brilliant. Obviously I haven't read too much into it,
but when I heard it released in a character, I
think it's good for autistic representation. It's like, well, it's
(03:06):
almost like finally we've got a bit of representation and
it's an amazing feeling exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, And I think that hopefully because it's not just
with Thomas the Tank Engine. There's been recently a new
Netflix series I know I'm called Heartbreak High and basically
it's around the old nineteen nineties to two thousand series,
like it's like a reboot and Chloe Hayden is being
(03:35):
cast as Quinnie. It's already out, it's on Netflix, and
it's really good autism representation as well. So having Thomas
the Tank Engine Heartbreak High, it's a really good positive
outlook for mainstream media having autistic people on there, so
that a lot of people feel represented and that people
(03:55):
kind of understand that we are autistic people and kind
of understand are traits and it's not what you see
in mainstream media, like the whole stereotypes of the the
Light Blue campaign and all that.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Oh yeah, yeah, there's I mean, there's other series on
Afflis there as well, as Atypical, which is about an
eighteen year old autistic lad who is navigating his way
through social and relationship issues and he finds someone. And
there's another one as well, which recently came out Attorney
(04:35):
Wu and she's a I don't know if you've heard
of it, but she's a female lawyer who's autistic and
is trying to navigate her profession and the field and
the way people will perceive her. It's it's interesting. I
think we're getting a lot more representation instead of just
(04:56):
your stereotypical rain Man and and other films and documentaries
and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Exactly like it's it's important that you say a to
any word because like I've heard of it and I
really want to see it for it, but I recently
saw Love on the Spectrum, so the Australian version and
the US version, so it's like it's like an autistic
dating show. I don't know if you've heard of it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I've heard of it, never said it though.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It's on It's on Netflix, and it's pretty good because
it goes through the experiences of what autistic people go
through when they're dating and finding love of course is
hard for anyone, but autistic people and trying to be
understood it's even more harder, and dealing with social cues
and being in a different environment. And it's an interesting
(05:51):
look like I really like the US version. I think
it encapsulated that better than the Australian version. But it's
a really good watch.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So yeah, yeah, yeah that does sound good. So you
obviously you spoke a bit about your diagnosis and stuff.
What was school like for you? Did that have Did
any aspects of school have an impact on your overall
(06:20):
well being?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah? I think being at school, I didn't realize how
badly it would like really affect me until like I
went into secondary school because primary school I was like
on my own. I felt like very isolated because I
didn't meet many friends there. I just felt like I
was just like I liked my alone time. But sometimes
(06:45):
I always wanted that friendship, but it never came because
people thought I was always wicked. And in secondary school,
being autistic finally hit me when I was just like
doing stems or when I was just being my autistics
of when I was like no, like unmasking in front
of people, and people saw me as a very very
like troubled, weird kid. And that's why I don't think
(07:09):
school was good for me, And especially there was so
much like internalized trauma and extern life trauma that school
was not good I'm glad it's gone. I'm glad that
I left school, but I think the after effects when
I went into college, I was just like, Okay, is
college going to be like school? Is it going to
(07:31):
be like? Are people going to believe me for my stems?
Are people going to bully me from like my speech impediment?
Because sometimes I say words and then sometimes you know
that feeling when you trip trip over your own words
and you're just like, it wasn't meant to say that,
Or when you're supposed to understand a joke or sarcasm,
was You're like, was I supposed to get that joke?
(07:52):
Did I do something wrong? And it's just like self
doubt and yeah, school wasn't good.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
It was yeah, oh yeah, I yeah. School. Everyone has
so many different experiences of school, especially when you're autistic
like us, and whether that do you go to mainstream
or specialist education?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
So I went mainstream mainstream school.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Yeah, that's that's interesting because like if you go, I mean,
often it's not really support out there. Some schools just
simply will not accommodate and make reasonable adjustments for autistic
people in those schools, which can cause bad mental health,
(08:42):
lose bad mental health, bad wellbeing, and and and because
they're different, and that can then sadly cause them to
get bullied and mocked and humiliated and and ultimately it's
just it's not just me criticizing just for the sake
(09:07):
of criticizing. But I do find often that schools brush
any big issue to the side because that why should
they have to deal with it? That's what that's the mentality.
Why should why should we have to deal with a
big issue that should never be about like just simply oh, yeah,
(09:28):
kids are kids. You know, boys will be boys. That
kind of mentality that I think schools have, And they
don't like to deal with the big issues because it
requires them to actually sort it out and parent sort
of careers have to go to the last resort, which
is getting police involved, or which shouldn't have to be.
(09:50):
But unfortunately that is just the way it is.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, And I think I think with bullying when so
for example, I think was just like you know, when
people just like Chuck wa bowl was just for fun,
or someone was like trucking over me and making fun
of my stems, and whenever I would tell the teacher
or you know, if like even in anyone position, you
can tell the teacher that, as you said, they always
(10:15):
brush it aside, and I feel like there needs to
be more attention to that. And it's kind of why
I didn't know what so PhD. I didn't know what
that was like when it was discussed in like the
session we had with Says, I was just like, what,
what's PhD? I have no idea what that is. And
(10:36):
apparently it was to do with like mental health, and
I was just like, oh wow, I wish I had
that score because we didn't have any sort of like
PHS education, any sort of mental health awareness education, Like
I remember this is this is a big taboo, like
like autistic people and you know sex, that's that's a
(10:57):
really big thing. And we never had an education on
sex education. And I wish I had that because it
just felt like it wasn't really about life, because I.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Felt like school was supposed to teach.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
You a journey about life amongst all the other like
other curriculums like English, maths, science, PE and I don't know,
I felt like school was like a journey, but I
feel like it was a really good journey. But I
feel like at the same time, it was a very
hazardous journey because of you met so many different people
(11:31):
and people weren't actually accommodating you. Yeah, it was a bit.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, I get you because because we because we were
both on the says Francis Puberty Panel shouts that says,
I remember.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Like when I was at school, sex education was because
I was a specialist education. And I'm just not just
saying it's for the sake of it, but I feel
like sex education when I had it was very infantilized,
like if that's even a word, because I there was
(12:11):
so much that I didn't know then that I know
now about like sex and stuff like that, because it
because the videos they'd show you and the portrayals and
the way they'd explain it is very infantilized because they're like, oh, yeah,
they won't understand, so we're going to baby them, and
(12:32):
you know, show show a random video of Charlotte and
Timmy doing this like weird portrayal of them trying to converse,
and it's just like, how's that good? How's that going
to benefit us? How's that actually going to help in
that in that situation? Because I think, like you said earlier,
(12:52):
there's a to be subject when it comes to sex
and autism, because they think that we're not able to
consent to that, when actually there's you know, there's many
of us that you know can obviously some who can't,
like obviously speak themselves. They can't consent because they don't
(13:13):
have the capacity. But people like us who can, you know,
they shouldn't infantilize us for it.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I mean, like they don't teach about I think
certain subjects like consent, what's the right consent when no
means no, the use of you know, the use i'd say,
from guy's perspective, say sex as well. They don't teach
us about those specific topics and things that people will
(13:44):
need later on in life, because you know, people do
go to micclubs, people do go to parties, people mingle,
and you know, the right things happen, but sometimes the
wrong things do happen, and they don't teach us the
precautions and ads worth or like school is getting it
a little bit wrong. They need to just be like, Okay,
(14:06):
this is when no means no, and when they say no,
you back way, you just don't engage, or this is
what content means, or this is what I know this
is what save sex means. This is what it means
to use protection for example, and yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Absolutely as well, you can be more spot on. I
found as well that when I was at school, they'd
almost say like obviously they didn't directly say it, but
they soon imply at times, oh, sex is dangerous to
get all these diseases, which yeah, okay, that can happen,
(14:43):
but not if you I don't know, if you're both
clean and and you know, and all protection is used,
like you know that that is fine. I don't think
we were really educated at school around like you say
consent when no means no, or stop or stuff like that.
And I think I got more out of those types
(15:07):
of lessons that when I was at college compared to
when I was at school, I knew. I feel what
I know now because of research and documentaries, and the
education I got when I was at college was you know,
purely because of that.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, I feel like there's I think it's not just
education now, I think it's more awareness is needed, because
you can't just educate someone and they're not like fully
aware of what it means. Otherwise what's the point of education?
So awareness education on what's content what's right, what's wrong.
(15:46):
And I think it will help autistic people, especially autistic good,
especially growing up. Because I said before, people will mingle,
people will go out and do certain things. So it's
important that we educate our kids or as we like
to say, the new generations or generations that will come
(16:08):
for us after us. But yeah, it's important to educate
and it's important to be aware.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah, definitely. So I guess I just wanted to go
on a little bit more about your educational background. So
you experienced school, and you got and you experienced a
bit of bullying. What was What was that like for
(16:35):
you having to deal with that on a daily basis,
because I can imagine it must have been incredibly tough
for you because you were different.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, exactly. I think that mixed in with what was
going on because obviously I was studying art, so like
we had to do a lot of coursework on that,
and then there was like RMS, maths, science, English, and
I think dealing with all of that, Yeah, it was hard.
It was hard. Like usually I would just walk at home.
(17:05):
I'll try and walk home. To be honest, home wasn't
the aven option either, because sometimes home was okay, but
sometimes home was absolutely I wouldn't say close to toxic,
but it was just very very unsettling, so almost ill
there was like nowhere to go, no, not anywhere to do.
So I think the escape would just be just to
walk around, Like I'd walk home. But here's the funny thing.
(17:29):
I'd walk home, but then I'd just walk around and
go back home and do it again like five times,
mainly because like I was just like do I really
want to go home? I just didn't feel comfortable there,
and I think that was like my escape. And going
to beletters like library to a relative's house as well,
(17:50):
that was another escape and it kind of helped me
get on with coursework and stuff. But once school finished,
I was like I could breathe sire relief because it
was like it was over. I was done with it,
and other people was just like you know when people
are just like, oh my god, I'm going to miss
you in year eleven, and oh yeah. My response was
(18:13):
just like yeah, me too. Well I don't miss maybe
like one, two, three of my friends. But apart from that,
I didn't really miss anyone at all, if I'm being
very very honest, I was just like bye.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I always say to people when they've
like there's people leave school and it's like, oh, yeah,
I'll try and in with as many people as I
can and stuff like that, and gradually that does fade
off over the upcoming months and years. I I think, Oh,
(18:49):
it's just just my opinion anyway. I think you find
your people in college or UNI. That's when you find
your group people. They're the ones that you vibe with,
They're the ones you hang out with and do things with.
I've obviously I'm not saying I'm not saying your school
friends aren't your people, But for me, I truly found
my people when I was in college.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Mm hm, so I'm having a bit of water, but yeah, exactly,
like I'd always find some of my friends who were
in college because I was part of this thing called PIP,
not like Personal Independence but but not that bit, but
something called Personal Independence Program or I think it was.
(19:34):
It's called POP Personal Options Program. Pop's quite a funny
abbreviation for it, Yeah, But basically what it was, it
was a course for disabled people, but it was mainly
for autistic people, I think, to develop employment skills, skills
that you would need for employment, like I think we did. Male.
(19:57):
I think we held our own macmonon coffee. Mor like,
I think I did about two of those, And it
was just getting to know each other. Like it was
basically like basic life skills that would help you in
the real world, and it kind of helped, like it
helped me like communicate with other people, It helped me
socially interact better with other people. But I think that
(20:19):
came across in time because after those two years when
I had my apprenticeship at my local council and then
from there it was just like, Okay, now I can
actually communicate with this person. Now I know what it
feels like to understand. Well, I kind of still don't
understand what suck archaem is or what social cues are.
(20:40):
But I think being back at college it helped me
a great lot. And yeah, I'm what thing.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Now, No, No, you're fine, And yeah, I think I
think as well. It's interesting you mentioned like the transition
from a city school to college to women and and
yeah we'll go on to that. I think as well.
I find really interesting. It's like the obviously, the obviously
(21:11):
you stand out regardless of where you are, you stand
out simply because who you are and how you perceived
and I don't know, I guess how different you are
to newer typical switch you know. To be honest, I'm honest.
At that point, I think it was over. I think
it was like months ago that was like, I'm done masking.
(21:34):
I'm done just masking myself for you know, because masking
is exhausting, and that hadn't and that had an effect
on my well being and and my mental health just
having to mask all the time. Because I think everyone
has a social battery and like you, like you're find
(21:57):
for example, when use this analogy, like you wouldn't let
your phone drain, so why let your social battery drain
to the point of, you know, and to the point
where you just every lead, every single little thing annoys you.
That's what I found, Like when my social battery just
runs out, I find that just people and every single
(22:19):
little thing just annoys me.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I don't know why, No, I totally get what you mean,
because there is a time where social like talking to people,
communicating with people, socializing with people is very exhausting. And
I think that sometimes or most of the time, I
(22:41):
actually give myself a break and more of that so
let's say I don't know, you go on a three
day not maybe not a three day hike, but like
a three day or go for a week on holiday
in New York and say or to reown Brazil, and
then you're done like socializing a day or two days,
and you're just like, I want to break I always
(23:03):
give myself like at least a day or two days
break away from everyone because socially exhausted, like socializing with
other people is very exhausted. I'm just like, Hi, how
are you? How are you? I'm I getting this right, Okay,
this is exhausting. I'm going to take a break now.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Mm yeah. I I have to like just almost hide
myself away and just being complete silence for I don't
know at an hour and I just I just spend
the rest of the time just either gaming or you know,
if you're just finding watching Netflix or just finding ways
to recharge my batteries and go again. So we're gonna
(23:46):
go running on to like how you got into employment
and stuff. So you transition from college to employment, which,
as you know, the employment statistics for artistic people was low.
I think it's about sick it's about six percent or
something like that. I could be wrong, but it's around
that figures, you know, it should be more and that's
(24:08):
something we we've got to do a lot more of.
So you said you got an apprenticeship at your local council.
How was that experience for you?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I think I think it was good. Like they knew
that I was autistic, so they did that, I think
back then, because this was like gosh gos, this was
like six seven years ago, and I don't think they
knew much about Alison back then. But what I have
carried on going forward because there were no like quiet rooms,
(24:44):
there were no like use use of headphones wasn't there,
of course, but there was no like people thought if
I brought in a stim toy, no one would really
look at me, but I would get one of two
like really cold stairs, just like, ah, can I help you?
Does this? Like just like what? And basically I feel
(25:07):
like there needs to be more correct accommodations. So like
quiet rooms have said these things, not cancling headphones, stim toy.
I think I have one here? I do I have
one here? Oh? Yeah, I do? I do. It's here.
This it's been a it's like a ring thing th
thing and we need some of that, and I think
(25:31):
more of an awareness of understanding of what autistic people
go through. I think it is also needed within employment
because not a lot of people are aware that we exist.
Like I know, a lot of people are aware that
we exist, but I don't think they know yet how
to like properly accommodate us. And that's why I think
(25:54):
they need to either do an awes minuthentication or listen
to autistic people. Both options would be good.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Yeah, yeah, definitely, there does need to be some awareness
and acceptance around that and to make reasonable adjustments. Because
in the workplace, we make those reasonable adjustments, it can
make all the difference. And I found as well that
some of some of my friends so I who had
(26:23):
left school with they some of them have found it
really hard to get employment because the I don't know,
I guess like your bog standard CV and it doesn't
always it doesn't always show your true capabilities. It doesn't
show you for you truly are. And and you know, employers, employers,
(26:47):
some employers just look at that and just going now,
they wouldn't even look like if you mentioned the word
autism on an application. Oh no, they hate looking at
that absolutely, no way would they look at that because
but I think there is fear having the reason it work.
Look at it's because of fear, and they're like, oh,
I'd have to make adjustments and accommodations for that person,
(27:10):
Like how do we do that? Oh no, we're not
educated and you know, we don't know enough. And that's
when the importance of training schools and colleges and workplaces
needs to come in. It should be mandatory, it should
be national.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Yeah, definitely, it definitely should be managedory national. I think
mainly because like, for example, autistic people are very good
at certain things like inventing. Autistic people can work with
it technicians, administrators. So like I work or I'm planning
to work in the TV and film industry and there's
(27:47):
a very very tiny, small minority of autistic people working there,
and there's a lot of things like we have great ideas,
like we can comp back on our experiences, Like some
of us are great camera directors, some of us are
great camera operators. Some of us can I don't know,
some of us can work as great production assistance. And
(28:10):
we have the talent, but it's not nurtured enough by employers.
Employers aren't taking that risk or taking the opportunity to
be like, Okay, this person's really good, but they're quite raw,
and we still need to learn about what autistic people
go through how to better accommodate them. Because if you
better accommodate someone, or you give someone the tools and
(28:30):
the experience that they need, they can actually be a
very good success, very good success. Yeah, they can be
very good within that company. They just need the tools
and the I won't say the right maybe yeah, the
right mindset of course, but also the right know how
to succeed. A kind of waffling again, but.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, yeah, And there's a very hidden talent pool in
regards to neurodiverse people that that they don't really want
to go into that I guess Paul of you know,
un untouched talent that's within there's within that pool because
(29:13):
it's the fear of the unknown, and it's the oh,
if we employ this person, like what what could happen?
And like you say, if reasonable, just adjustments are made,
then it's going to make all the difference and they
can actually become a productive, dedicated, passionate employee who will
work for the company. Like I think, if you have
(29:36):
a I think you have. If you I'll say to
anyone out there, if you have a dream and you
really want to if you really want to do something,
then go and do it. Like there's there should be
absolutely nothing stopping you from going to achieve that, Like
no condition, no conditional disability, should ever ever stop you
(29:56):
from doing that. And if people stand, if people just
stand in your way, then this should give you the
even more determination to reach that goal exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, and even more termination and passion that you have
for any particular subject or anything that you really want
to do, go do it. Like if you have a
dream or you want to aspire to be something, go
do it because like at the end of the day,
(30:28):
you have a very you have a very short time span,
even though it could be like twenty years, thirty, forty fifty,
I would go do it regardless of what barriers there
may be, because you never know what could be at
the end of the rainbow or the treasure, the treasure chest, treasure,
(30:48):
treasure chest at the end of the day. Do you yeah,
by words.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
No, yeah, definitely. And you know there's just listen, celebrities
off the top of my head that I know they're
autistic and I don't and have you know, achieved great
things like you know, there's as Bill Gates, El musk
Lean or Messi, There's Anthony Hopkins, there's I think Steven Spielberg,
(31:18):
and you know so so many people that have like
achieved great things and you know and didn't let anything
or anyone stop them from what they wanted to do
or to do and achieve.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Yeah wait wait wait autistic. Yeah yeah I didn't. Oh wow,
I didn't know that because I knew I knew Leo
had like was it to do something with with growth?
And I know I know that, but I didn't know that. Wow,
I've learned something every day. Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Nice?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Okay yeah yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
What can I say? The goat?
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Yeah yeah, definitely to go my eyes, my goog.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Yeah yeah, yeah, you're you're into football. It's just just
off the back question. What's seeing D support Blue Manchester?
You sport Man City? Yeah, I'm a Chelsea fan.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Okay, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Oh Arsenal Spurs or anyone like that, So you're kind
of cool.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Yeah yeah. So how did I start? So? I started
sporting them very young, very young, yeah, very young, about
like eight or nine. It's kind of a little bit.
I was in an odd reason for an interesting reason,
so I supported them because I like the light blue
color and I like the color light blue. I was
like really obsessed with it. So I got a seat shirt.
(32:59):
That's how it all start. Although my relatives really wanted
me to support Liverpool, and I was just like because
I was like a little Twitter kid, so I didn't
really understand what the concept of football was until I
was just like, Hi, I'm getting this shirt because I
like it. So from then on I started to pointing
them and yeah, here we are thirteen fourteen years later,
(33:21):
long ride.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Football is amazing for so many reasons.
And you're into gaming and stuff like that as well,
I see, yeah, yeah. I think I think it helps Scientifically,
it's proven to help solve problems, and it helps you
(33:42):
become more logical and analytical. It helps you solve problems.
I think I think people really put such a negative
on the benefits of gaming. I mean, obviously there's there
is a thing as too much gaming, which I've we've
all been guilty of in the past, but uh, yeah,
(34:04):
it's I find it really beneficial. It's an escape from
the real world.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, exactly. It's really good for, as I said, analyticlogical thinking.
It's also very good for hand coordination as well, like
especially when you're playing around with the buttons and controllers
and especially when you look at the screen. It allows
you to think quickly and add quickly. Like I don't
know what games you play, but I play games like BEFA,
(34:31):
But I don't play it like all the time because
it's stressful.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Stress don't The team is so stressful, man. I've spent
hours just playing on the team and just raging at
the game. So yeah, I mean, to be fair for
us to choose, I mean I'll play games off faith
(34:59):
for SAS and Creed Horizon. I've played Life Strange and
you know games like that. I like a game with
a good story. It's it's you know, it's good to
be a faith that is so stressful. But yet we
still play it.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, like I don't play it that much
because I played it. So I played it from five
oh six through to fifteen, and then when they introduced
price ranges, I completely stopped. Not because I didn't want
to play, it's because I actually I didn't want to
play it, and because I know the decision was really
weird at the time, but it was I knew it
(35:36):
was a money decision for me. I just knew it.
So I stopped playing until like twenty twenty one when
I came back, And obviously I don't really rage at
it March. Like I think a couple of years ago,
back in maybe few twelve thirteen was when I was
like peak stressed about it. But that was then. That
was when you know, you do things when you're young.
(35:57):
So by now I'm like, it is what it is
because you get used to the game. So I play
other games like so I can play a lot of
the games. I play a lot of Marrow games. I
play uncharted, I've played on Yeah, I've played well, I've
played three and four, and then I've played GTA as well.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
Did I mention Cord, No, you didn't mention Cord.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Yeah. No, I play a lot. Well, I wouldn't play
a lot, but I played card Yeah. I think that's
it is it. I played a bunch of RPG stuff
and a bunch of random things.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Like yeah, yeah, I've played random like interactive games just
to start trophies on PlayStation.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I love you to do that. Sometimes I just pick
a game that it's like on discount and I'll just
buy it and play it, just because the opportunity to
start pad trophies is there. That's kind of the reason.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
That's fair. That's fair. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Yeah, So we've spoken quite a bit throughout this episode,
So have you got any final words for the listeners
out there.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I think my advice would be from an autistic perspective,
my advice would be listen to what your child is
telling you, or listen to how they're feeling, because one
of their feelings matter, and two they are trying to
tell you something. So I would say that. The next
thing I'd probably say is the education system. It needs
a reform from top to bottom, especially with as we spoke,
(37:39):
with the awareness about the aultism and sex and other
taboo subjects within the autistic community that do need fixing,
and especially imployers as well. From an employment side of things,
things need fixing. Accommodations need to be met because that
is the only way you're going to get the best
(38:00):
out of autistic people. But I think the main thing
would just be to listen to autistic people, because listening
is the best tool of trying to make things better,
because if you try and speak over us, it will
not get better. It will just try and make things worse.
And there's nothing worse than talking over someone and guest
(38:21):
like someone.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
So yeah, oh yeah, yeah, you've hit it now on
the head. And I just want to say thank you
for taking the time today to come on to the podcast.
It's greatly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Yeah, thanks for inviting me to come on the podcast
to talk because it's been nice and I've enjoyed it.
It's been a good time.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Yeah, it's been good chatting with you. And yeah, anyways,
to listeners out there, thank you for listening and goodbye.
Hello, everyone, welcome to a brand new episode of the
podcast Stay. I have ro Hit on with me today.
It's going to be talking all things mental health, autism,
and other things as well. So really good to have
you on the show.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
How you doing, Yeah, thank you for having me. I'm
very very excited to be on the podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, yeah, I'm excited to have you on there as well.
And my first question to you is, so you've got
so you're autistic. So I'm just wondering, really, when did
you first get a diagnosis?
Speaker 2 (00:43):
So I got a diagnosis when I was three years old,
and basically doctors found out that because I was doing
something with building blocks, so I would always have them
in like a ggical order, it's yeah, in order, And
(01:03):
basically they'd noticed that, and that's how I got my
autism diagnosis because they noticed that I was dimming when
I was younger as well, and I sometimes used to
like bite my nails, and I was very like non verbal,
so I didn't start talking until I was like four
years old. So that's how I got my ortism diagnosis.
(01:25):
And I think twenty years later or twenty years later,
twenty two years later, here we are.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Now well it's certainly here to sell this out. It's
interesting as well because there's people that got diagnosed rarely
early on, there's people that get diagnosed very late, which
can then be delayed, and that sort of thing, which
is you know, which sometimes it just doesn't happen. It's
(01:56):
interesting because I think I got diagnosed to three years old,
and I was nonverbal until I was about the age
of six. I mean, I was obsessed with washing machines.
I just a lot of spinning them around. I was
a very weird child and I yeah, I like trains
as well, Thomas the Tank Engine and pretty much sure
(02:18):
your standard like childhood shows that everyone needs to watch
back then. So yeah, it's interesting.
Speaker 2 (02:28):
I mean, like I think you've heard about with Thomas
the Tank Engine releasing, they've got an autistic person voice
acting a new train which is which is quite interesting
and I'm really excited for that.
Speaker 1 (02:43):
Yeah, I've heard about that. It's interesting because well, they're
including more neuro diversity into shows and stuff now, which
is brilliant. Obviously I haven't read too much into it,
but when I heard it released in a character, I
think it's good for autistic representation. It's like, well, it's
(03:06):
almost like finally we've got a bit of representation and
it's an amazing feeling exactly.
Speaker 2 (03:14):
Yeah, And I think that hopefully because it's not just
with Thomas the Tank Engine. There's been recently a new
Netflix series I know I'm called Heartbreak High and basically
it's around the old nineteen nineties to two thousand series,
like it's like a reboot and Chloe Hayden is being
(03:35):
cast as Quinnie. It's already out, it's on Netflix, and
it's really good autism representation as well. So having Thomas
the Tank Engine Heartbreak High, it's a really good positive
outlook for mainstream media having autistic people on there, so
that a lot of people feel represented and that people
(03:55):
kind of understand that we are autistic people and kind
of understand are traits and it's not what you see
in mainstream media, like the whole stereotypes of the the
Light Blue campaign and all that.
Speaker 1 (04:12):
Oh yeah, yeah, there's I mean, there's other series on
Afflis there as well, as Atypical, which is about an
eighteen year old autistic lad who is navigating his way
through social and relationship issues and he finds someone. And
there's another one as well, which recently came out Attorney
(04:35):
Wu and she's a I don't know if you've heard
of it, but she's a female lawyer who's autistic and
is trying to navigate her profession and the field and
the way people will perceive her. It's it's interesting. I
think we're getting a lot more representation instead of just
(04:56):
your stereotypical rain Man and and other films and documentaries
and stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Exactly like it's it's important that you say a to
any word because like I've heard of it and I
really want to see it for it, but I recently
saw Love on the Spectrum, so the Australian version and
the US version, so it's like it's like an autistic
dating show. I don't know if you've heard of it.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
I've heard of it, never said it though.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
It's on It's on Netflix, and it's pretty good because
it goes through the experiences of what autistic people go
through when they're dating and finding love of course is
hard for anyone, but autistic people and trying to be
understood it's even more harder, and dealing with social cues
and being in a different environment. And it's an interesting
(05:51):
look like I really like the US version. I think
it encapsulated that better than the Australian version. But it's
a really good watch.
Speaker 1 (06:00):
So yeah, yeah, yeah that does sound good. So you
obviously you spoke a bit about your diagnosis and stuff.
What was school like for you? Did that have Did
any aspects of school have an impact on your overall
(06:20):
well being?
Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah? I think being at school, I didn't realize how
badly it would like really affect me until like I
went into secondary school because primary school I was like
on my own. I felt like very isolated because I
didn't meet many friends there. I just felt like I
was just like I liked my alone time. But sometimes
(06:45):
I always wanted that friendship, but it never came because
people thought I was always wicked. And in secondary school,
being autistic finally hit me when I was just like
doing stems or when I was just being my autistics
of when I was like no, like unmasking in front
of people, and people saw me as a very very
like troubled, weird kid. And that's why I don't think
(07:09):
school was good for me, And especially there was so
much like internalized trauma and extern life trauma that school
was not good I'm glad it's gone. I'm glad that
I left school, but I think the after effects when
I went into college, I was just like, Okay, is
college going to be like school? Is it going to
(07:31):
be like? Are people going to believe me for my stems?
Are people going to bully me from like my speech impediment?
Because sometimes I say words and then sometimes you know
that feeling when you trip trip over your own words
and you're just like, it wasn't meant to say that,
Or when you're supposed to understand a joke or sarcasm,
was You're like, was I supposed to get that joke?
(07:52):
Did I do something wrong? And it's just like self
doubt and yeah, school wasn't good.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
It was yeah, oh yeah, I yeah. School. Everyone has
so many different experiences of school, especially when you're autistic
like us, and whether that do you go to mainstream
or specialist education?
Speaker 2 (08:17):
So I went mainstream mainstream school.
Speaker 1 (08:21):
Yeah, that's that's interesting because like if you go, I mean,
often it's not really support out there. Some schools just
simply will not accommodate and make reasonable adjustments for autistic
people in those schools, which can cause bad mental health,
(08:42):
lose bad mental health, bad wellbeing, and and and because
they're different, and that can then sadly cause them to
get bullied and mocked and humiliated and and ultimately it's
just it's not just me criticizing just for the sake
(09:07):
of criticizing. But I do find often that schools brush
any big issue to the side because that why should
they have to deal with it? That's what that's the mentality.
Why should why should we have to deal with a
big issue that should never be about like just simply oh, yeah,
(09:28):
kids are kids. You know, boys will be boys. That
kind of mentality that I think schools have, And they
don't like to deal with the big issues because it
requires them to actually sort it out and parent sort
of careers have to go to the last resort, which
is getting police involved, or which shouldn't have to be.
(09:50):
But unfortunately that is just the way it is.
Speaker 2 (09:54):
Yeah, And I think I think with bullying when so
for example, I think was just like you know, when
people just like Chuck wa bowl was just for fun,
or someone was like trucking over me and making fun
of my stems, and whenever I would tell the teacher
or you know, if like even in anyone position, you
can tell the teacher that, as you said, they always
(10:15):
brush it aside, and I feel like there needs to
be more attention to that. And it's kind of why
I didn't know what so PhD. I didn't know what
that was like when it was discussed in like the
session we had with Says, I was just like, what,
what's PhD? I have no idea what that is. And
(10:36):
apparently it was to do with like mental health, and
I was just like, oh wow, I wish I had
that score because we didn't have any sort of like
PHS education, any sort of mental health awareness education, Like
I remember this is this is a big taboo, like
like autistic people and you know sex, that's that's a
(10:57):
really big thing. And we never had an education on
sex education. And I wish I had that because it
just felt like it wasn't really about life, because I.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
Felt like school was supposed to teach.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
You a journey about life amongst all the other like
other curriculums like English, maths, science, PE and I don't know,
I felt like school was like a journey, but I
feel like it was a really good journey. But I
feel like at the same time, it was a very
hazardous journey because of you met so many different people
(11:31):
and people weren't actually accommodating you. Yeah, it was a bit.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
Yeah, I get you because because we because we were
both on the says Francis Puberty Panel shouts that says,
I remember.
Speaker 1 (11:49):
Like when I was at school, sex education was because
I was a specialist education. And I'm just not just
saying it's for the sake of it, but I feel
like sex education when I had it was very infantilized,
like if that's even a word, because I there was
(12:11):
so much that I didn't know then that I know
now about like sex and stuff like that, because it
because the videos they'd show you and the portrayals and
the way they'd explain it is very infantilized because they're like, oh, yeah,
they won't understand, so we're going to baby them, and
(12:32):
you know, show show a random video of Charlotte and
Timmy doing this like weird portrayal of them trying to converse,
and it's just like, how's that good? How's that going
to benefit us? How's that actually going to help in
that in that situation? Because I think, like you said earlier,
(12:52):
there's a to be subject when it comes to sex
and autism, because they think that we're not able to
consent to that, when actually there's you know, there's many
of us that you know can obviously some who can't,
like obviously speak themselves. They can't consent because they don't
(13:13):
have the capacity. But people like us who can, you know,
they shouldn't infantilize us for it.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah, I mean, like they don't teach about I think
certain subjects like consent, what's the right consent when no
means no, the use of you know, the use i'd say,
from guy's perspective, say sex as well. They don't teach
us about those specific topics and things that people will
(13:44):
need later on in life, because you know, people do
go to micclubs, people do go to parties, people mingle,
and you know, the right things happen, but sometimes the
wrong things do happen, and they don't teach us the
precautions and ads worth or like school is getting it
a little bit wrong. They need to just be like, Okay,
(14:06):
this is when no means no, and when they say no,
you back way, you just don't engage, or this is
what content means, or this is what I know this
is what save sex means. This is what it means
to use protection for example, and yeah.
Speaker 1 (14:22):
Absolutely as well, you can be more spot on. I
found as well that when I was at school, they'd
almost say like obviously they didn't directly say it, but
they soon imply at times, oh, sex is dangerous to
get all these diseases, which yeah, okay, that can happen,
(14:43):
but not if you I don't know, if you're both
clean and and you know, and all protection is used,
like you know that that is fine. I don't think
we were really educated at school around like you say
consent when no means no, or stop or stuff like that.
And I think I got more out of those types
(15:07):
of lessons that when I was at college compared to
when I was at school, I knew. I feel what
I know now because of research and documentaries, and the
education I got when I was at college was you know,
purely because of that.
Speaker 2 (15:23):
Yeah, I feel like there's I think it's not just
education now, I think it's more awareness is needed, because
you can't just educate someone and they're not like fully
aware of what it means. Otherwise what's the point of education?
So awareness education on what's content what's right, what's wrong.
(15:46):
And I think it will help autistic people, especially autistic good,
especially growing up. Because I said before, people will mingle,
people will go out and do certain things. So it's
important that we educate our kids or as we like
to say, the new generations or generations that will come
(16:08):
for us after us. But yeah, it's important to educate
and it's important to be aware.
Speaker 1 (16:15):
Yeah, definitely. So I guess I just wanted to go
on a little bit more about your educational background. So
you experienced school, and you got and you experienced a
bit of bullying. What was What was that like for
(16:35):
you having to deal with that on a daily basis,
because I can imagine it must have been incredibly tough
for you because you were different.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Yeah, exactly. I think that mixed in with what was
going on because obviously I was studying art, so like
we had to do a lot of coursework on that,
and then there was like RMS, maths, science, English, and
I think dealing with all of that, Yeah, it was hard.
It was hard. Like usually I would just walk at home.
(17:05):
I'll try and walk home. To be honest, home wasn't
the aven option either, because sometimes home was okay, but
sometimes home was absolutely I wouldn't say close to toxic,
but it was just very very unsettling, so almost ill
there was like nowhere to go, no, not anywhere to do.
So I think the escape would just be just to
walk around, Like I'd walk home. But here's the funny thing.
(17:29):
I'd walk home, but then I'd just walk around and
go back home and do it again like five times,
mainly because like I was just like do I really
want to go home? I just didn't feel comfortable there,
and I think that was like my escape. And going
to beletters like library to a relative's house as well,
(17:50):
that was another escape and it kind of helped me
get on with coursework and stuff. But once school finished,
I was like I could breathe sire relief because it
was like it was over. I was done with it,
and other people was just like you know when people
are just like, oh my god, I'm going to miss
you in year eleven, and oh yeah. My response was
(18:13):
just like yeah, me too. Well I don't miss maybe
like one, two, three of my friends. But apart from that,
I didn't really miss anyone at all, if I'm being
very very honest, I was just like bye.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Yeah, yeah. Yeah. I always say to people when they've
like there's people leave school and it's like, oh, yeah,
I'll try and in with as many people as I
can and stuff like that, and gradually that does fade
off over the upcoming months and years. I I think, Oh,
(18:49):
it's just just my opinion anyway. I think you find
your people in college or UNI. That's when you find
your group people. They're the ones that you vibe with,
They're the ones you hang out with and do things with.
I've obviously I'm not saying I'm not saying your school
friends aren't your people, But for me, I truly found
my people when I was in college.
Speaker 2 (19:13):
Mm hm, so I'm having a bit of water, but yeah, exactly,
like I'd always find some of my friends who were
in college because I was part of this thing called PIP,
not like Personal Independence but but not that bit, but
something called Personal Independence Program or I think it was.
(19:34):
It's called POP Personal Options Program. Pop's quite a funny
abbreviation for it, Yeah, But basically what it was, it
was a course for disabled people, but it was mainly
for autistic people, I think, to develop employment skills, skills
that you would need for employment, like I think we did. Male.
(19:57):
I think we held our own macmonon coffee. Mor like,
I think I did about two of those, And it
was just getting to know each other. Like it was
basically like basic life skills that would help you in
the real world, and it kind of helped, like it
helped me like communicate with other people, It helped me
socially interact better with other people. But I think that
(20:19):
came across in time because after those two years when
I had my apprenticeship at my local council and then
from there it was just like, Okay, now I can
actually communicate with this person. Now I know what it
feels like to understand. Well, I kind of still don't
understand what suck archaem is or what social cues are.
(20:40):
But I think being back at college it helped me
a great lot. And yeah, I'm what thing.
Speaker 1 (20:47):
Now, No, No, you're fine, And yeah, I think I
think as well. It's interesting you mentioned like the transition
from a city school to college to women and and
yeah we'll go on to that. I think as well.
I find really interesting. It's like the obviously, the obviously
(21:11):
you stand out regardless of where you are, you stand
out simply because who you are and how you perceived
and I don't know, I guess how different you are
to newer typical switch you know. To be honest, I'm honest.
At that point, I think it was over. I think
it was like months ago that was like, I'm done masking.
(21:34):
I'm done just masking myself for you know, because masking
is exhausting, and that hadn't and that had an effect
on my well being and and my mental health just
having to mask all the time. Because I think everyone
has a social battery and like you, like you're find
(21:57):
for example, when use this analogy, like you wouldn't let
your phone drain, so why let your social battery drain
to the point of, you know, and to the point
where you just every lead, every single little thing annoys you.
That's what I found, Like when my social battery just
runs out, I find that just people and every single
(22:19):
little thing just annoys me.
Speaker 2 (22:21):
I don't know why, No, I totally get what you mean,
because there is a time where social like talking to people,
communicating with people, socializing with people is very exhausting. And
I think that sometimes or most of the time, I
(22:41):
actually give myself a break and more of that so
let's say I don't know, you go on a three
day not maybe not a three day hike, but like
a three day or go for a week on holiday
in New York and say or to reown Brazil, and
then you're done like socializing a day or two days,
and you're just like, I want to break I always
(23:03):
give myself like at least a day or two days
break away from everyone because socially exhausted, like socializing with
other people is very exhausted. I'm just like, Hi, how
are you? How are you? I'm I getting this right, Okay,
this is exhausting. I'm going to take a break now.
Speaker 1 (23:21):
Mm yeah. I I have to like just almost hide
myself away and just being complete silence for I don't
know at an hour and I just I just spend
the rest of the time just either gaming or you know,
if you're just finding watching Netflix or just finding ways
to recharge my batteries and go again. So we're gonna
(23:46):
go running on to like how you got into employment
and stuff. So you transition from college to employment, which,
as you know, the employment statistics for artistic people was low.
I think it's about sick it's about six percent or
something like that. I could be wrong, but it's around
that figures, you know, it should be more and that's
(24:08):
something we we've got to do a lot more of.
So you said you got an apprenticeship at your local council.
How was that experience for you?
Speaker 2 (24:21):
I think I think it was good. Like they knew
that I was autistic, so they did that, I think
back then, because this was like gosh gos, this was
like six seven years ago, and I don't think they
knew much about Alison back then. But what I have
carried on going forward because there were no like quiet rooms,
(24:44):
there were no like use use of headphones wasn't there,
of course, but there was no like people thought if
I brought in a stim toy, no one would really
look at me, but I would get one of two
like really cold stairs, just like, ah, can I help you?
Does this? Like just like what? And basically I feel
(25:07):
like there needs to be more correct accommodations. So like
quiet rooms have said these things, not cancling headphones, stim toy.
I think I have one here? I do I have
one here? Oh? Yeah, I do? I do. It's here.
This it's been a it's like a ring thing th
thing and we need some of that, and I think
(25:31):
more of an awareness of understanding of what autistic people
go through. I think it is also needed within employment
because not a lot of people are aware that we exist.
Like I know, a lot of people are aware that
we exist, but I don't think they know yet how
to like properly accommodate us. And that's why I think
(25:54):
they need to either do an awes minuthentication or listen
to autistic people. Both options would be good.
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Yeah, yeah, definitely, there does need to be some awareness
and acceptance around that and to make reasonable adjustments. Because
in the workplace, we make those reasonable adjustments, it can
make all the difference. And I found as well that
some of some of my friends so I who had
(26:23):
left school with they some of them have found it
really hard to get employment because the I don't know,
I guess like your bog standard CV and it doesn't
always it doesn't always show your true capabilities. It doesn't
show you for you truly are. And and you know, employers, employers,
(26:47):
some employers just look at that and just going now,
they wouldn't even look like if you mentioned the word
autism on an application. Oh no, they hate looking at
that absolutely, no way would they look at that because
but I think there is fear having the reason it work.
Look at it's because of fear, and they're like, oh,
I'd have to make adjustments and accommodations for that person,
(27:10):
Like how do we do that? Oh no, we're not
educated and you know, we don't know enough. And that's
when the importance of training schools and colleges and workplaces
needs to come in. It should be mandatory, it should
be national.
Speaker 2 (27:24):
Yeah, definitely, it definitely should be managedory national. I think
mainly because like, for example, autistic people are very good
at certain things like inventing. Autistic people can work with
it technicians, administrators. So like I work or I'm planning
to work in the TV and film industry and there's
(27:47):
a very very tiny, small minority of autistic people working there,
and there's a lot of things like we have great ideas,
like we can comp back on our experiences, Like some
of us are great camera directors, some of us are
great camera operators. Some of us can I don't know,
some of us can work as great production assistance. And
(28:10):
we have the talent, but it's not nurtured enough by employers.
Employers aren't taking that risk or taking the opportunity to
be like, Okay, this person's really good, but they're quite raw,
and we still need to learn about what autistic people
go through how to better accommodate them. Because if you
better accommodate someone, or you give someone the tools and
(28:30):
the experience that they need, they can actually be a
very good success, very good success. Yeah, they can be
very good within that company. They just need the tools
and the I won't say the right maybe yeah, the
right mindset of course, but also the right know how
to succeed. A kind of waffling again, but.
Speaker 1 (28:50):
Yeah, yeah, And there's a very hidden talent pool in
regards to neurodiverse people that that they don't really want
to go into that I guess Paul of you know,
un untouched talent that's within there's within that pool because
(29:13):
it's the fear of the unknown, and it's the oh,
if we employ this person, like what what could happen?
And like you say, if reasonable, just adjustments are made,
then it's going to make all the difference and they
can actually become a productive, dedicated, passionate employee who will
work for the company. Like I think, if you have
(29:36):
a I think you have. If you I'll say to
anyone out there, if you have a dream and you
really want to if you really want to do something,
then go and do it. Like there's there should be
absolutely nothing stopping you from going to achieve that, Like
no condition, no conditional disability, should ever ever stop you
(29:56):
from doing that. And if people stand, if people just
stand in your way, then this should give you the
even more determination to reach that goal exactly.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Yeah, and even more termination and passion that you have
for any particular subject or anything that you really want
to do, go do it. Like if you have a
dream or you want to aspire to be something, go
do it because like at the end of the day,
(30:28):
you have a very you have a very short time span,
even though it could be like twenty years, thirty, forty fifty,
I would go do it regardless of what barriers there
may be, because you never know what could be at
the end of the rainbow or the treasure, the treasure chest, treasure,
(30:48):
treasure chest at the end of the day. Do you yeah,
by words.
Speaker 1 (30:55):
No, yeah, definitely. And you know there's just listen, celebrities
off the top of my head that I know they're
autistic and I don't and have you know, achieved great
things like you know, there's as Bill Gates, El musk
Lean or Messi, There's Anthony Hopkins, there's I think Steven Spielberg,
(31:18):
and you know so so many people that have like
achieved great things and you know and didn't let anything
or anyone stop them from what they wanted to do
or to do and achieve.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Yeah wait wait wait autistic. Yeah yeah I didn't. Oh wow,
I didn't know that because I knew I knew Leo
had like was it to do something with with growth?
And I know I know that, but I didn't know that. Wow,
I've learned something every day. Oh wow.
Speaker 1 (31:54):
Nice?
Speaker 2 (31:55):
Okay yeah yeah yeah.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
What can I say? The goat?
Speaker 2 (32:00):
Yeah yeah, definitely to go my eyes, my goog.
Speaker 1 (32:06):
Yeah yeah, yeah, you're you're into football. It's just just
off the back question. What's seeing D support Blue Manchester?
You sport Man City? Yeah, I'm a Chelsea fan.
Speaker 2 (32:22):
Okay, that's cool.
Speaker 1 (32:24):
Oh Arsenal Spurs or anyone like that, So you're kind
of cool.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
Yeah yeah. So how did I start? So? I started
sporting them very young, very young, yeah, very young, about
like eight or nine. It's kind of a little bit.
I was in an odd reason for an interesting reason,
so I supported them because I like the light blue
color and I like the color light blue. I was
like really obsessed with it. So I got a seat shirt.
(32:59):
That's how it all start. Although my relatives really wanted
me to support Liverpool, and I was just like because
I was like a little Twitter kid, so I didn't
really understand what the concept of football was until I
was just like, Hi, I'm getting this shirt because I
like it. So from then on I started to pointing
them and yeah, here we are thirteen fourteen years later,
(33:21):
long ride.
Speaker 1 (33:22):
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Football is amazing for so many reasons.
And you're into gaming and stuff like that as well,
I see, yeah, yeah. I think I think it helps Scientifically,
it's proven to help solve problems, and it helps you
(33:42):
become more logical and analytical. It helps you solve problems.
I think I think people really put such a negative
on the benefits of gaming. I mean, obviously there's there
is a thing as too much gaming, which I've we've
all been guilty of in the past, but uh, yeah,
(34:04):
it's I find it really beneficial. It's an escape from
the real world.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Yeah, exactly. It's really good for, as I said, analyticlogical thinking.
It's also very good for hand coordination as well, like
especially when you're playing around with the buttons and controllers
and especially when you look at the screen. It allows
you to think quickly and add quickly. Like I don't
know what games you play, but I play games like BEFA,
(34:31):
But I don't play it like all the time because
it's stressful.
Speaker 1 (34:38):
Stress don't The team is so stressful, man. I've spent
hours just playing on the team and just raging at
the game. So yeah, I mean, to be fair for
us to choose, I mean I'll play games off faith
(34:59):
for SAS and Creed Horizon. I've played Life Strange and
you know games like that. I like a game with
a good story. It's it's you know, it's good to
be a faith that is so stressful. But yet we
still play it.
Speaker 2 (35:15):
Yeah, I mean, like I don't play it that much
because I played it. So I played it from five
oh six through to fifteen, and then when they introduced
price ranges, I completely stopped. Not because I didn't want
to play, it's because I actually I didn't want to
play it, and because I know the decision was really
weird at the time, but it was I knew it
(35:36):
was a money decision for me. I just knew it.
So I stopped playing until like twenty twenty one when
I came back, And obviously I don't really rage at
it March. Like I think a couple of years ago,
back in maybe few twelve thirteen was when I was
like peak stressed about it. But that was then. That
was when you know, you do things when you're young.
(35:57):
So by now I'm like, it is what it is
because you get used to the game. So I play
other games like so I can play a lot of
the games. I play a lot of Marrow games. I
play uncharted, I've played on Yeah, I've played well, I've
played three and four, and then I've played GTA as well.
Speaker 1 (36:18):
Did I mention Cord, No, you didn't mention Cord.
Speaker 2 (36:21):
Yeah. No, I play a lot. Well, I wouldn't play
a lot, but I played card Yeah. I think that's
it is it. I played a bunch of RPG stuff
and a bunch of random things.
Speaker 1 (36:31):
Like yeah, yeah, I've played random like interactive games just
to start trophies on PlayStation.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
That's yeah.
Speaker 1 (36:43):
I love you to do that. Sometimes I just pick
a game that it's like on discount and I'll just
buy it and play it, just because the opportunity to
start pad trophies is there. That's kind of the reason.
Speaker 2 (36:56):
That's fair. That's fair. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (37:00):
Yeah, So we've spoken quite a bit throughout this episode,
So have you got any final words for the listeners
out there.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I think my advice would be from an autistic perspective,
my advice would be listen to what your child is
telling you, or listen to how they're feeling, because one
of their feelings matter, and two they are trying to
tell you something. So I would say that. The next
thing I'd probably say is the education system. It needs
a reform from top to bottom, especially with as we spoke,
(37:39):
with the awareness about the aultism and sex and other
taboo subjects within the autistic community that do need fixing,
and especially imployers as well. From an employment side of things,
things need fixing. Accommodations need to be met because that
is the only way you're going to get the best
(38:00):
out of autistic people. But I think the main thing
would just be to listen to autistic people, because listening
is the best tool of trying to make things better,
because if you try and speak over us, it will
not get better. It will just try and make things worse.
And there's nothing worse than talking over someone and guest
(38:21):
like someone.
Speaker 1 (38:22):
So yeah, oh yeah, yeah, you've hit it now on
the head. And I just want to say thank you
for taking the time today to come on to the podcast.
It's greatly appreciated.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Yeah, thanks for inviting me to come on the podcast
to talk because it's been nice and I've enjoyed it.
It's been a good time.
Speaker 1 (38:44):
Yeah, it's been good chatting with you. And yeah, anyways,
to listeners out there, thank you for listening and goodbye.
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