November 25, 2022 • 47 mins
I was delighted by the return of a good friend of mine Sez Francis who’s the last guest to appear on this podcast for now.
It was a great general chat about Autism, Mental Health and all things to do surrounding that.
Sez spoke to me about paid employment and the need to get more Autistic people into paid work because the statistic is very low in that regard.
Sez spoke more in detail about what school was like for her and being singled out for simply being different.
Sez spoke about her first job and her journey to becoming a swimming teacher which she throughly enjoys helping those with all different abilities.
We both agreed that the conversation around those with LD and/or autism going into paid work needs to improve
Sez has spoke to me about her ambitions for the future, where she wants to be and it was really inspiring to hear this.
Sez spoke about her passion for not only swimming but her history channel and the podcast she does too.
What a great final episode :)
It was a great general chat about Autism, Mental Health and all things to do surrounding that.
Sez spoke to me about paid employment and the need to get more Autistic people into paid work because the statistic is very low in that regard.
Sez spoke more in detail about what school was like for her and being singled out for simply being different.
Sez spoke about her first job and her journey to becoming a swimming teacher which she throughly enjoys helping those with all different abilities.
We both agreed that the conversation around those with LD and/or autism going into paid work needs to improve
Sez has spoke to me about her ambitions for the future, where she wants to be and it was really inspiring to hear this.
Sez spoke about her passion for not only swimming but her history channel and the podcast she does too.
What a great final episode :)
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
There we go. Hi everyone, Welcome to a brand new
episode of the podcast. I have the return of says Francis,
and it's a special It's a special episode for a
reason because this is going to be the last episode
that I'm ever doing for this podcast, and also it's
(00:20):
the fiftieth episode, so when it comes out, this will
be the fiftieth episode. So it says, how does it
feel knowing that you are on episode fifty?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I mean, that is really amazing that you've done so
well with fifty episodes. Now, I'm so proud of you
are like everything that you've done, and I know that
with your podcast I've been listening to it since day one,
and do you know what it has been. Look, you've
had the most incredible journey and the most good experience
as well, and you've talked to the different people. But
(00:55):
I'm just kind of like sad that I got to
like you. I'm on your I'm on the excuse me, sorry,
I am the last guest on your episode. But also
it is such a huge honor to help you end
this wonderful journey you've been on. Really, and I think
it's fair to say that you've worked so incredibly hard,
(01:15):
and I couldn't be more proud of you.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It means a lot. I really appreciate that. And doing
this over the last two years has just been absolutely incredible.
I've spoke to so many amazing people over those episodes,
you know, some have been just absolutely brilliant, and they've
told the most incredible stories, which is something I'm proud
(01:40):
of and I can look back on. But sometimes all
good things must come to an end before it becomes stale,
I think. So I don't want this to become stale
and just feel like I'm doing this just for the
sake of it. Like I've been going at one hundred
miles an hour for probably the part probably two years, really,
(02:03):
so it's just time for me to say this step back,
focus on other projects, and yeah, I think it will
be beneficial for me really.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I mean, it's such an incredible journey to do a
podcast for about two years. And I know that with
many many podcasters, they do go on a bit longer,
sometimes they go a bit shorter, but it just depends
on the time and the energy that everything and everyone
gets into. Really, so it's kind of good just to
know your limits, but also to enjoy your moments as
(02:34):
much as you can, I think.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, like you say, it's it's the best way as well.
And there's some other podcasts out there as well. They're
absolutely brilliant, so I mean myself, I listened to Steven
Barlett podcasts recently. That's become one of my favorites. He's
just had the most incredible guests on there. And I've
listened to other podcast the True Joy podcast and Jack podcasts. Yeah,
(03:01):
so many good ones out there. But yeah, like I say,
there's plenty of other really good podcasts to listen to
out there. I mean, as loads as millions. There's something
for everyone, I think. So yeah. So it says you've
been quite busy recently with all of your stuff that
(03:24):
you've been You've had going on on a YouTube channel
as well. I know you've got a History like type
of YouTube channel.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Now I've been like, yeah, it's it's been really crazy
and it's been like a very emotional journey throughout the
History channel.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And I of course I still go on with my
main YouTube channel, but because of the time and dedication
I have. I recently started a job and I'm training
to be a swimming teacher and the class I'm assisting
our children with learning disabilities. And then also I've been
working two other jobs at top with a charity call Sunnyside,
and I just really haven't had much time to focus
(04:05):
on YouTube. And then recently I've joined my local church
choir as well. Well it's in a cathedral, and it's
it's been such an emotional journey going through thick and thin.
But I wanted to do something for a long time
that was associated associated Becky Pad and associated with history,
(04:28):
and I always loved history since I was nine, and
I actually felt like, even though I'm doing YouTube, I'm
neglecting one of the most favorite things that I really
truly love, and that is through the history. But I
have been following some historical YouTubers for a long time,
(04:50):
and just recently there's a person who I know called
Sam who has a YouTube channel called Historic Travels, which
focuses on maritime history, and inspired by him, I decided
to actually take up the YouTube channel to start maritime
history because there's not a lot of women who actually
(05:11):
talk about ships and a history of the ships on YouTube.
But unfortunately it came at a time when I was
tested positive for COVID back in July, and it was
so gussed because I've felt like, Okay, I want to
narrate this and do this as like you know, my own.
(05:31):
And then when I was tested positive, I thought what
am I going to do? What I'm actually going to
do about it? And I was just panicking and also
trying to write scripts because of like, Okay, I've got
this plan in my head, but do I have to
wait to record once I've tested negative or do I
have to ask someone? And then a friend of mine, Barry,
(05:53):
who runs a YouTube channel called Very Very True Crime Yeah,
and she came forward and she said, hey, do you
want me to do one video to help you record?
And I'm said yes, thank you. So she did it
one for me, and by the time I tested negative,
the first video came out and it became a tradition
(06:13):
for people to come onto the History channel to narrate
and it's been going ever since. And then some people
have volunteered to narrate more than one video. So I've
decided to create a group chat that focuses on like
ideas and just talking about if the people want to
narrate stuff or give feet back or anything like that.
(06:38):
And then also I've been getting lots of requests to
do not just a maritime history, but for regular history.
So for example, I had one recent request of someone
asking me to do a video about Margaret Thatcher, the
Iron Lady. This could be so controversial, and I kind
(06:58):
of like wondered what did he mean? And he's like, okay,
I'm probably like the life of Margaret Thatcher, and he
said I will happily to narrate that, and I thought, okay,
that's fair enough. And I've been focusing like other people's
lives as well, and I've been getting loads of Christmas
requests in as well, and it's been left all right
all over the place. But it's been a blessing because
(07:21):
even though I take time with myself to write scripts
or get special guests on, because I at the moment
I'm interviewing for the Channel historians and also descendants of
Titanic survivors as well.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That is so crazy to actually have like connections really,
and I have become really great friends with a few
of them as well, and most of them are doctors,
which is absolutely amazing. And then I recently had a
connection through a family friend who had a relative who
sadly died during the sinking. But he also had two
(08:00):
connections because one of his ancestors I believe, was the
creator of Dolby Sound, you know, like with the sound
speakers and all that, he's a descendant. And then also
his other relative was an agent for Charles Dickens and
they went on like a tour in America. So he
went on with Charles to do the American tour for
his books like Oliver Twist and The Great Expectations. And
(08:25):
I haven't really interviewed him yet, but I really keep
meaning to because I know that it's always so good
to actually go along. And it has helped build my
confidence a bit more, and that's helped me to actually
talk to the children at work a bit more. It
helped me to be more socialized with the members who
are with the choir at the cathedral as well. So
(08:48):
it's been really really lovely and a blessing. But I
feel like I have been regretting, like or not regretting,
I have been neglecting my main YouTube channel. But hopefully
when I get the energy and the time, I will
focus on that because I've got so many projects I
want to do, including like create educational puberty videos with
(09:09):
victoria of actually asking and I think you were part
of that as well from now because you wanted to
take part in that. And then also everyone's just been
like and I really wanted to have that time and
dedication to the puperty. But since history is taken over,
I thought, ah, okay, this is going to be interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, it kind of That point is so if you
you to divorce yourself into doing many projects all at once,
you're obviously going to get overwhelmed and a future going
like like I said it the slot one hundred miles
an hour, then you're going to feel You're going to
feel over stimulated and overwhelmed. So it's always best, like
(09:52):
you say, to just focus on one project at the time,
and the time the project where you can actually put
all of your efforts and energy into, like like you said,
with Puberty panel, which I was on, and that was
really that was really good. So I believe that'st on Spotify.
So if you haven't listened to that already, please do.
(10:14):
It was great to meet and collaborate with fellow creators
and to get to know them really and to know
their experience of what going through puberty was like for them,
so overall a really good experience.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh, it was definitely a really good experience. And I
keep meaning to do one more, but again just because
of the time and energy. But I've learned so much
through other people, and I felt like I wasn't really
alone in this really because people like when they go
puberty it's such a difficult time, especially those who are autistic,
because I found out that through autistic teenagers they suffer
(10:51):
puperty a bit more. But I think some safer is
the wrong word, probably just find it a bit more difficult. Yeah,
and it it's just one of those things that you
just don't realize on that until you look back. And
I was having a chat with one of the panelists
who was on there, Jack who I believe was with
(11:13):
you Connor from the Instagram account called Too Dads Can
Do It and he actually has an adopted son's still
in the toddler stage. But we just had a chat
about like what will happen in the future and what
Jack has learned through his puberty experience with his son Bubbs,
who would be talking about like how to mentally prepare
(11:36):
for the future, And I thought, yeah, that's really good
to actually have like this kind of plan prep and
just to learn learn through each other's experiences really, and
I think that's why that those panels were so incredibly important,
not just for our generation to look back on the past,
but for future generations as well. And I hope that
(11:57):
in time, in Jack's case, if bub looks back on it,
but like when he's a bit older, hopefully that will
give him more confidence and the experience.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Really, I think, I think as well at the time
when you do go through PUBERC. It's different for boys
and girls obviously, but I think with I think with
like the masking and stuff and trying to fit in.
Because I saw victoriat place the other day that really
resonated with me, and it was in primary school. I
(12:26):
was observing watch him trying to mimic my friends I
could fit in, and then secondary when I was going
through PUBERC, I was then trying to mimic that, you know, actions,
gestures and masking to try and fit in. And I
kind of relate to that in a way because you
trying to spend your whole life fitting in. I mean,
(12:46):
this world's not made for people like us. It's it's
wired in an entirely different way. And it's it's why
it's wired so differently in a way that that just
doesn't make sense at times, and it and yeah, for
some reason, I just really resonated and related to that
(13:09):
because I just for a lot of my life, I
spent so much time masking that I was repressing my
true identity and my true self. And that was, Yeah,
that's something I've learned a lot, especially just you know,
whether that's content creating more just collaborating with other people
(13:32):
and learning about their experiences and learn and learn and
what they did and what helped them and and yeah,
it helped me in a way because it made me realize,
you know, why should I have to mask myself just
for other people's like sacks fashion, Oh yeah, I have
to have multiple personalities for each friend group on with
(13:54):
you know. I'm sure, I'm sure you can relate to
that yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Oh yeah, definitely. And I always tend to think that
I'm the opposite because primary school was a bit fifty
to fifty and it was just a little bit easier,
and secondary school it was a bit of a tough one,
but it was a tough one on so many levels.
Really because it was a religious school like the secondary school,
(14:19):
which made it a bit of a problem. And then
also it was an all girls school, so it was
like the nightmare of like things. And I just thought
really that it was so difficult to fit in, and
you know, because of girls, and sometimes some girls can
be cruel and when they're in the teenage stage. I'm
(14:40):
saying not all of them, but a few of them.
And I have come across a few girls in my
life who have bullied me. And I got the worst
bullying in both primary and secondary just because I was different.
But I always tend to wonder, really if I was
in a mixed school, would it be different, And because
(15:01):
I can't really focus on the past anymore because you
just kind of question, and questioning doesn't really make a
difference or it makes any changes. But I always feel
that the setting around both of the schools was a
bit tough because when I was in secondary school, some
of the facilities were a bit better for me compared
(15:22):
to primary school because in primary school there was no
loan supports department. Because I also have a learning disability,
which meant that I can't really go to a few
classes like languages, and all that because there were a
bit of barriers and I had to sit separately in
primary school for my class peers at times to concentrate.
(15:43):
And then the worst thing about the once just because
they didn't have the facilities, I was either actually put
in the room near where the storage cupboards were with
a lack of space, or in the corner of the
classroom near where the toilets were, and that I just
think that's so awful, and that no one did anything
about it, which was just like, really really bad. But
(16:06):
with the secondary school, it was a lot better because
they did have an actual space for a loan support department,
which was fantastic, and then they got like the better
facilities as well, but their bullying policies weren't that fantastic,
and especially because they might have been a bit stricter
in the rules, but then it just didn't really cover
(16:27):
that really and I felt like I had to mask
because I felt like I don't want to be bullied,
I want to settle in and in the majority of
the time it did work, but now I really seriously
regret it, and I wish I could just say to myself,
just don't listen to all the negativetivity and just don't
listen to what people say, especially if you get told
(16:50):
off of doing something ron like seeming in a ron
note in a choir or just basically just saying it online.
I don't really know, but I definitely think if I
was to make a change, it would be possible. But again,
you can't really go back in time, and you just
have to leave it as that.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
The past. It's, you know, something I just do quite
a lot, and I had to get counseling as time
to sort of clean cleanse myself from the past, to
heal and to move on and and well not move on,
but move forward in my own life. And yeah, I
think you hit hit the oil and head with like
(17:32):
in regards to like bullying policies and schools have all
schools have a bullying policy that's you know, compulsory, and
it's something they all should have. But do they'd heard
of it always? I don't think so, because the trouble.
The trouble is the way schools are now because most
of them are academies. It's a money making machine for
(17:53):
the government. And I've said and if you and if
it's the focus isn't on the child's while being the
skills development and creative learning, it is focused on them
getting high marks, high scores and sitting and sitting between
(18:13):
the same four walls in the classroom. And that was
something I didn't really like doing when I was at school.
I absolutely, I look back on it. I hated it,
to be honest with you. And that's why I excelled
at subjects like pee and drama because I was I mean,
the written part of drama wasn't great, but I but
most of the time when I was in like drama
(18:33):
and pe, like I felt like I could truly be
myself at that time because it was up moving about.
And I'm a person. I don't know if you've heard
of learning styles says, but you know, well I did one.
I'm a stronkin aesthetic. I prefer watching someone doing something
(18:56):
and then doing it myself.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Ohs like mirroring as it's just say that picks up
that that's what exactly I do, because it just actually
because when I think about it, it's kind of like
having a photographic memory. If you watch and observe someone
you do and then you could just pick it up
through photographic memory. And that's and I think some times
(19:18):
really that there are autistic people, many teenagers and adults.
Especially when you do something like performing art, you get
to pick up things or what they do or say
and it just quickly comes to you. And I always
found that with autistic people, the good thing to do
is that do practical stuff because they're getting more understanding
(19:42):
impractical by watching rather than written work. And then when
I went to the Chicken Chad Theater, we always used
to do practical work eighty five percent of the time
with the ten percent being written work. And it absolutely
works because I always found that it's very good for
social skills and it's good for your mental.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Health as well, Oh definitely. And like like like you say,
some of us just excel at practical subjects. You know,
for example, like I say, pe performing arts, it could
be woodwork, engineering, you know, and a lot a lot
(20:22):
of those types of subjects. A majority of it's practical
and some of it's written. And yeah, and that's probably
where some of us excel because the stereotype is where
but we're bookworms were we can do maths and science
and we can and we're and we've got we've got
savant syndrome. You know that that's the step, that's the
(20:43):
general stereotype. I mean, don't watch train Man because that's
not the true representation of what is it actually is.
And although there's a couple of series out now, I
mean on Netflix and stuff, there's Atypical. That was one
series based on a man who's trying to navigate his
(21:05):
way through the world and trying to find love. So
it was I've watched a few episodes and I'd say
they did a pretty good job with the portrayal. So
I definitely look at documentaries and stuff like that rather
than films, im because it's doesn't give you a good
(21:27):
idea of what Watson actually is. Hm, that's it.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
And I know that they recently put out a film
called Oh what was it? It was about the Oh
my gosh, I can't remember, but it was the latest
one up at Netflix, and it was oh, no, I
got it. I used to be famous. And I still
haven't watched it. And yeah, I heard it's really good,
(21:52):
but I still haven't watched it because unfortunately I don't
have Netflix, so I'm just so bummed. But I heard
it's really good because it focuses on the first time
looking at autistic people, mainly teenagers and young people, through
the world of performing arts, rather than focusing on mathematics,
(22:12):
which is the general stereotype of what autistic people are
associate to when people think about, oh, what topics do
you think they're very good at, and it's always mathematics.
So it's a really nice change to see that the
mathematics is just stepping out into the light and performing
(22:32):
artists just going through in as well. And I loved
the idea of the storyline because it just felt like
so relatable and the team were absolutely fantastic because the
director had an autistic son, and then the actor, the
actor who played the boy, Stevie. From what I can remember,
(22:53):
the actor is autistic in real life as well, so
it's really great to see that they're making so much
of a huge development over time. And then also, although
it's not autism related, there's a new program on the
BBC called Katy and Ralph which has like the same perspective,
(23:14):
but it focuses on a couple with Down syndrome and
it's I haven't watched it yet, but a friend of
mine from Sunnyside has because I recommended it to her
and she said she's absolutely loving the show because she
liked how the like the ideas play out and all that.
But it's kind of like an inclusisive version of Gavin
(23:35):
and Stacey. And if you are a fan of Gavin
and Stacey, I would recommend watching it. Yeah, So it's
just brilliant to see that. And also the show is
under a for Forming Arts scholarship or scheme program. I
can't remember when it was all like the directors and
(23:55):
then the producers have like a different various needs and
I believe the director cerebral palsy as well. But it's
just so good to see that with these examples, it's
becoming more inclusive. The performing arts is becoming more inclusive
with autism, cerebral palsy downs. It's just absolutely amazing, and
(24:16):
I'm so glad we're putting the step forward in it
because times are changing and I think that's a good
way to go.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Oh for sure, I'm personally glad that the times are
now changing, the attitudes and are shifted towards positive reinforcement.
So I guess this is going to go on to
my next question. So a bit way back, you said
you were training to become a swimming teacher, just out
(24:43):
of interest. How's that been going for you and what
are some of the things that stood out to you
or what have you learned since becoming a a trainee
swimming teacher.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Ah, yes, now I cannot really say light things just
because of safeguarding of course, but my bars and like
the teacher who's training with me, they don't know. I
have a YouTube channel at the moment, but I just
want normally I just put YouTube to the side of
the jobs. But what I will say is that I've
learnt a lot from all of this and I recently
(25:19):
got into the job. I applied for the job back
in October of last year and I actually got accepted
two days afterwards, which is amazing. But then throughout the
whole swimming time, because at my local sports center, and
it's basically for most sports centers in the UK, you
have to do something that's part of Swim England. So
(25:42):
Swim England is an organization that supports teachers and organizations,
whether it's everyone active or independent leisure centers, just to
support organizations to encourage children to swim during swimming lessons
and also supporting teachers well, but it's really interesting to
(26:04):
have that opportunity because once I found out about the job,
and of course it came at a very challenging time
because a very close friend of mine died a month
before I started, and I decided to dedicate my teaching
role to him because I can remember him saying that
(26:26):
he wanted to be a dad, and even though he
never got the chance to be, I just thought, well,
you love children so much, I'm going to work so
hard for you because it's just the thing that I
will try. But when I did the Level one, it
was really interesting to know what they're doing. So throughout
(26:48):
the whole time we had to do things like practice assisting.
We have to do like various different exams and talks,
role plays, and also what they call shadow now. Shadowing
is where you have to sit down and watch the
other teachers do at the swim and you pick up
the techniques really so again it's practical theory and when
(27:10):
you watch, it's absolutely great to see and then you
get to pick up some stuff like that in the future.
But then once I passed level one, I started being
assistant to a send class and so, but for those
who don't know, send class stands for special educational needs,
and I've been working with children who have various needs
(27:32):
like autism, downs, cerebral palsy, and of course behavior problems
as well, and sometimes it can be very challenging, especially
if the kids don't like if they're out of the
zone a little bit because they have one day at
school and the swimming lessons are half an hour, and
that they just feel like sometimes everything gets a bit
like vazzold and all of that, which I can personally understand.
(27:56):
And I try not to be too too soft, because
you have to be like a cur But I've learnt
so much from the children. Even if I have a
rubbish day, they teach me so much from it, and
I'm just so grateful for that. And then one of
the children, from what I can remember now, the child
that I sometimes support with and then I shadow as well,
(28:20):
she has epilepsy like I do as well. And the
mum who has the child sometimes she she gets a
little bit worried and panicky. Now I don't know the
history of the child, but when I'm not supporting with
the sistering or anything, one I'm watching because she has
one to one sessions at the moment, because sometimes she
(28:40):
finds groups a bit overwhelming and things overwhelming as well.
And the mom said to me, well, my daughter has
like two to three seizures, two no, not to just
one seizure out of two to three days a week.
And I said to her, and I just I didn't say,
(29:01):
and I asked her questions a bit what it's like
in all of that, But she in return asked me
questions like recently this week for an example, she said,
what's it like when you come out of the seizure?
And that gave me a little hint to basically to
say that she was not too long diagnosed. And I
(29:25):
said to her, well, it's kind of like in an
adult point of view, it's kind of like waking up
from a handover after having too much alcohol. But in
a child point of view, it's like you're waking up
from bed. You can't move, You just feel exhausted because
your body feels dropping, and you just want to have
(29:45):
a rest. But she understands that because she knows that
I have epilepsy. And then the parents of the other
children know I have additional needs as well, and some
of the parents they actually come up to me and
they always say thank you for each time, and then
when one parent said that to me for the first time,
(30:07):
I just wanted to cry, but I'm like, no, don't cry,
your professional pull yourself together, come on. But it's so
lovely to have like different each shift. And then some
of the parents do actually actually say and suggested like
things to me, like some have sensory overloads with hats
and goggles, and it's really amazing for them to suggest
(30:31):
what's friendly and not friendly because one a few of
the children they don't like, you know that, like the hats.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Oh yeah, I don't like them myself.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
No, and it was so awful, and some of them
actually cried when the parents put them on. I'm like, no,
it shouldn't be like the hat. But some of them
actually got like sensory friendly hat, swimming hat, and I'm
just so grateful that they did bring it in, and
I'm so grateful that you'll and would have more opportunities
now to have them. But I think overall, I'm really
(31:05):
enjoying the swimming a lot. And I don't know when
I'm going to start my Level two because basically level
one is just like you just are trained to be
the assistant and I don't know when I'm going to
go to level two, but it's likely in the next year.
And I'm so scared because that means that I'm going
to have to lead sessions on my own, and I've
(31:27):
never led something on my own before, apart from being
like leads and all that in drama. And I just
just think, how am I going to do this, because
it's going to be so overwhelming. But I made a
plan in my head because I said to my mum
the other day, even though I can pass the level
two if I want to, I can only do cover
(31:49):
teaching because I know that I can plan easily. Because
with teachers, if they want to find cover teachers if
someone's going away, they have to give the stuff. In
any of the leisure centers need to know two weeks
in advance, so that means that I might get time
(32:11):
to plan and then come structural and make it more engaging, interesting, fun,
and then just basically just have a good time. And
it can be very hard because some swimming teachers have
to work four to five hours a day with like
about ten shifts for each class in like different stages,
(32:31):
and yeah, and it does get overwhelming, and it does
get a lot, and luckily with the classes that I have,
with exception of like there were one one to one,
I actually do three classes, which suits me fine and
because it's just a bit more easier for me. But
there is going to be a time where I might
(32:53):
have to see how I go because I might be
comfortable just doing one to one or just an occasional group,
but I don't really you know, yeah, and I might
just stay there for a few years and seeing how
everything goes, I might change to like adult swimming, or
maybe just go find a different job. But just having
that qualification and knowing if I want to come back
(33:13):
in the near future, then the opportunity is just there exactly.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
I mean, I'm kind of the same as you, but football,
so obviously the qualification for football and swimming is a
bit different. I mean, I've got an FA Level one
and I had to do first aid and safeguarding as well,
so I need to redo those two. But I'm hoping
(33:39):
within the next probably year or two, I could do
my fair level two. I've all experience of coaching. I've
coached adults and recently children, so I was at an
organization called Sport for Confidence, so I was basically I
progressed assistant and then I was more or less head
(34:01):
coach for a bit, and it was leading different types
of sports. So I don't know if you've heard a botcher,
but that was one of the sports that I led,
and there was multi sports, so every week it's a
different sport, and then football. I did that for two years,
and the journey that I progressed from and the stuff
(34:25):
that I did made me become a much better or
rounded coach. And to them, I'll always be grateful for
that because they taught me the skills and developed me
in a way that and they equipped me to be
able to lead sessions and not feel overwhelmed by the
possibility of the fact that I don't know, someone might
(34:46):
all of a sudden, someone might have happened, and I
then have to go in and lead a whole day
or something. And that was at first, it was daunting.
It was a very daunting prospect, and I was like, oh, gosh,
what the hell am I going to do here? But
but you know what it was, it was good and
I'm I did it for two years. I left a
(35:08):
couple of months ago just because I wanted to just
do something a bit more fresh, and so yeah, I'm
I will always forever be grateful to them because the
skills and skills that I've been equipped now of helping
me coach my under eights team that I've got, which
(35:28):
is like, I know they're so there's so little, there's
so little, bless them, but you know they're they're a
good group, really really good little group. So what what matters?
It doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter whether they
win or lose, doesn't matter to me, what Matt. What
(35:49):
matters most to me is having fun on pitch, smiling
and enjoying themselves. And some coaches can get too competitive.
I've seen that first hand when I sort of coached
in like mainstream grasstroies football. I'm and some I've seen it,
which is which is sad. But I have my sort
(36:12):
of own style. I think it's some I think it's
best to like go down to eye level with them,
and you know, when you're explaining something like I always
believe like going down to eye level with them because
then you're getting down to their level and they and
then they can actually listen to you. But every but
every kid you know that to kick footballs into girls,
(36:33):
you know. That's that's their age. They like to do that.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Yeah, And that's the same with swimming as well, because
you have to get down to eye level, which is
really really hard, and.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I find it. I find it hard because I'm awful
making eye contact.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
No so am I actually because I didn't like something
with my boss and that was one of the things
that she pointed out, and I thought, Okay, this is
going to be really hard even though I'm trying, because
I'm not very good at focusing, and especially when I'm
tired and I'm out of the zone like a little bit.
But it's lucky for me because with like the youngest
(37:09):
stages like stage one. In stage two, I get in
the pool and I just do activity games like like
jumping and running. And then with like them like the
round like plastic stuff. We call them noodles, and we
used to like do like create the children's imagination with
the noodle, so for example, they can imagine them like
(37:30):
they're riding a seahorse or a pony or that thought
of thing. But it's just getting that imagination out there.
And also for any any sport really it's always good
for mental health.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
It's creative learning. Creative learning is very good because, for example,
I've done drills where it's like, I don't bulldog crocodiles,
whatever you want to call it, and you know that
that gets their imaginations going because it's almost like you've
got to try and evade the crocodile, and if the
crocodile tackles you, then you get eating. The kind of thing.
(38:05):
For me, I always like to bring a sort of fun,
fun but professional approach. I think I think that's the
best way to go about it. I've built a bit
of a rapport with the group now I've been doing
it for a few weeks, and I think the hardest
part for me, especially recently was like talking to parents
(38:25):
as well. I'm doing it with another coach, which does help,
so yeah, I think. Yeah, like I say, the hardest
thing for me that sort of the start was talking
to parents and building a rapport with them as well,
because you want to get them on side. I think
that's the most important thing because otherwise you're not going
to do well. But yeah, like I say, one of
(38:49):
the most important things to me when I'm coaching is
that they're smiling, having fun and enjoying themselves. That's they're
the three most important things for me.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Oh yeah, definitely. And I'm the same with like swimming
as well, and of course, like with parents, it's really
enjoyable just to see them smiling, yeah, and confident as well,
because some of the parents they always worry about whether
their child's going to fit in, especially within a mainstream environment.
But if you bring something to the table to including
(39:21):
that mainstream environment, then that's great because parents will feel
at ease a bit more.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
And yeah, trying me trying to coach you mainstream football,
which is completely new to me. It's like so different
because I've coached in a disability football before and you know,
I was with you know, with people who are kind
of like me in a way. But no, it's it's
it's been a really enjoyable experience to me so far,
(39:48):
and it's something that I'm looking forward to continuing doing
for the foreseeable future. Really though, it's, like I say,
really enjoyable. I've my passion for, you know, just coaching
for when generals come back when it was going a bit.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Stale, So it's just like one of those things you
have to get back into really, and especially when we
did like the swimming because in the sports center. Again
I won't say the location because I was still starting,
but what happened when I started, the swimming classes started,
(40:25):
and our sports center is the first one in the country,
I believe, really actually go through and do swimming ten
classes within a mainstream environment. And the teacher who was there,
she fought so hard to get She fought for years,
especially after the pandemic. And I just think she's such
an inspiration in your teacher. And I couldn't have like
(40:48):
the most wonderful person ever in the world really to
actually be like working along side really, and I try
not to get too emotional about it, but she has
been like a other figure to every single child she
works with, really, and I think she's just a huge
inspiration and we.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
Need more people like that, Yeah, definitely. And I think
as well, what I find is, especially when you're coaching
any sport, like you're essentially their role model, the person
they go to for when when I don't know, there's
a little dispute in a session, or you know, you've
got to be reliable, you've got to be punchure, you've
(41:27):
got to be patient, patient. I can't emercize that enough,
especially with kids, because you know, they go through a
lot of emotions. For they're going through a lot of
emotion so much their tiny little bodies can't handle it sometimes,
you know, it's it's a lot of it's a lot
for them to you know, deal with sometimes. And yeah,
(41:50):
and sometimes as well, like the reason I'd like to
be that role model in a ways because some of
them might not have that role model figure at home,
and that's you know, kind of that's kind of something
that I do in a way because like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
I mean it's the same with me really with the
swimming because but even though you've got organizations like the
Special Olympics, which I am part of because I've decided
to get back into competitive swimming with them as well
on top, but it's nice to have organizations that are
part of that. But I feel that parents don't want
(42:31):
to really exclude to children to have like separate organizations.
They just want their children to be in the environment
just like any other child really, and that's just so
important to realize and understand that. And then especially at
the moment. As of twenty twenty two, only twenty nine
percent of autistic adults are in any kind of employment,
(42:53):
and with like you coaching Carnelle and then me training
to be a swimming teacher, I hope that because of
these examples, and I hope if there's any job organization
that is listening to this, they all encouraged to employ
more autistic adults and if the number keeps growing to
like as high as they can get, and then that
(43:14):
will be so fantastic. And I'm dreaming for the day
it will happen, because if it does happen, I'm going
to dance around the room and celebrate the la break
good times come up.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely, And yeah, I mean I'm coming
to the end of an apprenticeship that I'm doing and yeah,
like I say, I've been doing it for the past
two years, and again it's been a great experience. I've
got these transferable skills that I can use to sort
of go into sports and stuff, probably like full time
(43:46):
instead of doing it like just weekends like I've been recently.
And yeah, it's always something that I want to do.
And to any organization out there, there's there's a talent
pole that you haven't even pill scene that's just destined
to be unearthed. And if you if you unearthed that talent,
(44:08):
statistics go up, productivity goes up, punctuality, productivity, yea, all
of the all of those things will go up if
you employ an autistic person. It's as simple as that, exactly.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
I couldn't agree.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
More so, says have you got any final words for
this episode?
Speaker 2 (44:33):
Oh gosh, okay, I'm trying to look. I think it's
going to try in this case of me not to
be too emotional. But I think with the final words,
all I can say is well done, well done for
the podcast Canal. And then it's been a pleasure to
listen to everybody during the episode as well. And yeah,
hopefully this podcast will continue to run in the future. Really,
(44:53):
and I think everyone should look up to Canals an
inspiration really for everything. So yeah, good on for Boddy.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
I think that's well. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to
be fair. When anyone like compliments me, I'm just I
just look away because for some reason I just compliment.
I'm like, I'm like cringing of embarrassment because when I
got complimented by one or two parents the other day
(45:23):
and it was just I almost like look down a bit.
Sometimes or just look away because I'm a little bit
I'm grateful for the compliment, but sometimes I get you know, naturally,
I just cringe a little bit. And so I'm not
very good at receiving compliments, but I'm good at giving them.
I'm good at giving them, but not good at receiving them.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
No, so have I actually because it was just like
it was the Cathedral choir just like today. Really as
an example, someone actually a couple of I cannot see
them say the word what's wrong with me? Like complimented
me saying, oh, your voice is really really good. And
(46:04):
I'm a mere so soprano in the choir that they say, oh,
your voice is really good. And it's so nice to
have someone else to be part of the choir because
I joined at the same time another a choir member
left because she was on maternity leave. But it was
just so so difficult to like take a compliment, and
(46:25):
I I just like, oh, the started with the words,
and I honestly thought to myself, why why am I
feeling this way? And then also my knees were like
wobbling like jelly, and I thought, I've just got to
get out of it. So I had to rush outside
and I just thought, says, you're so stupid, why did
you do that? But I think it's just nerves. Really,
(46:47):
when you're taking compliments, it's the nerves, it's the shyness,
and I think that's what some people will go through
and it's relatable and understandable.
Speaker 1 (46:55):
Yeah, for sure. I just want to say it's been
an absolute pleasure to have you back on. I'm sure
we'll collaborate on a future project with yourself and other creators.
So yeah, I just want to say thank you again.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
Oh, thank you so much. Coming now. It's always been
a pleasure, and it was a pleasure to be a
final guest on the final episode as well, so that
is absolutely amazing. And yeah, just thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (47:22):
No worries, and yeah, I just want to say thank
you so much for the donos and shares and for
you for you a lot listening over these last two years.
It's been, like I say at the beginning, the truly
tremendous experience doing this and meeting so many inspirational people
(47:43):
along the way and hearing their stories. It's it's been
brilliant and I'm I may may may or may not
do podcasts and again in future, but for now this
is goodbye.
There we go. Hi everyone, Welcome to a brand new
episode of the podcast. I have the return of says Francis,
and it's a special It's a special episode for a
reason because this is going to be the last episode
that I'm ever doing for this podcast, and also it's
(00:20):
the fiftieth episode, so when it comes out, this will
be the fiftieth episode. So it says, how does it
feel knowing that you are on episode fifty?
Speaker 2 (00:32):
I mean, that is really amazing that you've done so
well with fifty episodes. Now, I'm so proud of you
are like everything that you've done, and I know that
with your podcast I've been listening to it since day one,
and do you know what it has been. Look, you've
had the most incredible journey and the most good experience
as well, and you've talked to the different people. But
(00:55):
I'm just kind of like sad that I got to
like you. I'm on your I'm on the excuse me, sorry,
I am the last guest on your episode. But also
it is such a huge honor to help you end
this wonderful journey you've been on. Really, and I think
it's fair to say that you've worked so incredibly hard,
(01:15):
and I couldn't be more proud of you.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
It means a lot. I really appreciate that. And doing
this over the last two years has just been absolutely incredible.
I've spoke to so many amazing people over those episodes,
you know, some have been just absolutely brilliant, and they've
told the most incredible stories, which is something I'm proud
(01:40):
of and I can look back on. But sometimes all
good things must come to an end before it becomes stale,
I think. So I don't want this to become stale
and just feel like I'm doing this just for the
sake of it. Like I've been going at one hundred
miles an hour for probably the part probably two years, really,
(02:03):
so it's just time for me to say this step back,
focus on other projects, and yeah, I think it will
be beneficial for me really.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
I mean, it's such an incredible journey to do a
podcast for about two years. And I know that with
many many podcasters, they do go on a bit longer,
sometimes they go a bit shorter, but it just depends
on the time and the energy that everything and everyone
gets into. Really, so it's kind of good just to
know your limits, but also to enjoy your moments as
(02:34):
much as you can, I think.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Yeah, like you say, it's it's the best way as well.
And there's some other podcasts out there as well. They're
absolutely brilliant, so I mean myself, I listened to Steven
Barlett podcasts recently. That's become one of my favorites. He's
just had the most incredible guests on there. And I've
listened to other podcast the True Joy podcast and Jack podcasts. Yeah,
(03:01):
so many good ones out there. But yeah, like I say,
there's plenty of other really good podcasts to listen to
out there. I mean, as loads as millions. There's something
for everyone, I think. So yeah. So it says you've
been quite busy recently with all of your stuff that
(03:24):
you've been You've had going on on a YouTube channel
as well. I know you've got a History like type
of YouTube channel.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
Now I've been like, yeah, it's it's been really crazy
and it's been like a very emotional journey throughout the
History channel.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
And I of course I still go on with my
main YouTube channel, but because of the time and dedication
I have. I recently started a job and I'm training
to be a swimming teacher and the class I'm assisting
our children with learning disabilities. And then also I've been
working two other jobs at top with a charity call Sunnyside,
and I just really haven't had much time to focus
(04:05):
on YouTube. And then recently I've joined my local church
choir as well. Well it's in a cathedral, and it's
it's been such an emotional journey going through thick and thin.
But I wanted to do something for a long time
that was associated associated Becky Pad and associated with history,
(04:28):
and I always loved history since I was nine, and
I actually felt like, even though I'm doing YouTube, I'm
neglecting one of the most favorite things that I really
truly love, and that is through the history. But I
have been following some historical YouTubers for a long time,
(04:50):
and just recently there's a person who I know called
Sam who has a YouTube channel called Historic Travels, which
focuses on maritime history, and inspired by him, I decided
to actually take up the YouTube channel to start maritime
history because there's not a lot of women who actually
(05:11):
talk about ships and a history of the ships on YouTube.
But unfortunately it came at a time when I was
tested positive for COVID back in July, and it was
so gussed because I've felt like, Okay, I want to
narrate this and do this as like you know, my own.
(05:31):
And then when I was tested positive, I thought what
am I going to do? What I'm actually going to
do about it? And I was just panicking and also
trying to write scripts because of like, Okay, I've got
this plan in my head, but do I have to
wait to record once I've tested negative or do I
have to ask someone? And then a friend of mine, Barry,
(05:53):
who runs a YouTube channel called Very Very True Crime Yeah,
and she came forward and she said, hey, do you
want me to do one video to help you record?
And I'm said yes, thank you. So she did it
one for me, and by the time I tested negative,
the first video came out and it became a tradition
(06:13):
for people to come onto the History channel to narrate
and it's been going ever since. And then some people
have volunteered to narrate more than one video. So I've
decided to create a group chat that focuses on like
ideas and just talking about if the people want to
narrate stuff or give feet back or anything like that.
(06:38):
And then also I've been getting lots of requests to
do not just a maritime history, but for regular history.
So for example, I had one recent request of someone
asking me to do a video about Margaret Thatcher, the
Iron Lady. This could be so controversial, and I kind
(06:58):
of like wondered what did he mean? And he's like, okay,
I'm probably like the life of Margaret Thatcher, and he
said I will happily to narrate that, and I thought, okay,
that's fair enough. And I've been focusing like other people's
lives as well, and I've been getting loads of Christmas
requests in as well, and it's been left all right
all over the place. But it's been a blessing because
(07:21):
even though I take time with myself to write scripts
or get special guests on, because I at the moment
I'm interviewing for the Channel historians and also descendants of
Titanic survivors as well.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
That is crazy.
Speaker 2 (07:37):
That is so crazy to actually have like connections really,
and I have become really great friends with a few
of them as well, and most of them are doctors,
which is absolutely amazing. And then I recently had a
connection through a family friend who had a relative who
sadly died during the sinking. But he also had two
(08:00):
connections because one of his ancestors I believe, was the
creator of Dolby Sound, you know, like with the sound
speakers and all that, he's a descendant. And then also
his other relative was an agent for Charles Dickens and
they went on like a tour in America. So he
went on with Charles to do the American tour for
his books like Oliver Twist and The Great Expectations. And
(08:25):
I haven't really interviewed him yet, but I really keep
meaning to because I know that it's always so good
to actually go along. And it has helped build my
confidence a bit more, and that's helped me to actually
talk to the children at work a bit more. It
helped me to be more socialized with the members who
are with the choir at the cathedral as well. So
(08:48):
it's been really really lovely and a blessing. But I
feel like I have been regretting, like or not regretting,
I have been neglecting my main YouTube channel. But hopefully
when I get the energy and the time, I will
focus on that because I've got so many projects I
want to do, including like create educational puberty videos with
(09:09):
victoria of actually asking and I think you were part
of that as well from now because you wanted to
take part in that. And then also everyone's just been
like and I really wanted to have that time and
dedication to the puperty. But since history is taken over,
I thought, ah, okay, this is going to be interesting.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, it kind of That point is so if you
you to divorce yourself into doing many projects all at once,
you're obviously going to get overwhelmed and a future going
like like I said it the slot one hundred miles
an hour, then you're going to feel You're going to
feel over stimulated and overwhelmed. So it's always best, like
(09:52):
you say, to just focus on one project at the time,
and the time the project where you can actually put
all of your efforts and energy into, like like you said,
with Puberty panel, which I was on, and that was
really that was really good. So I believe that'st on Spotify.
So if you haven't listened to that already, please do.
(10:14):
It was great to meet and collaborate with fellow creators
and to get to know them really and to know
their experience of what going through puberty was like for them,
so overall a really good experience.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
Oh, it was definitely a really good experience. And I
keep meaning to do one more, but again just because
of the time and energy. But I've learned so much
through other people, and I felt like I wasn't really
alone in this really because people like when they go
puberty it's such a difficult time, especially those who are autistic,
because I found out that through autistic teenagers they suffer
(10:51):
puperty a bit more. But I think some safer is
the wrong word, probably just find it a bit more difficult. Yeah,
and it it's just one of those things that you
just don't realize on that until you look back. And
I was having a chat with one of the panelists
who was on there, Jack who I believe was with
(11:13):
you Connor from the Instagram account called Too Dads Can
Do It and he actually has an adopted son's still
in the toddler stage. But we just had a chat
about like what will happen in the future and what
Jack has learned through his puberty experience with his son Bubbs,
who would be talking about like how to mentally prepare
(11:36):
for the future, And I thought, yeah, that's really good
to actually have like this kind of plan prep and
just to learn learn through each other's experiences really, and
I think that's why that those panels were so incredibly important,
not just for our generation to look back on the past,
but for future generations as well. And I hope that
(11:57):
in time, in Jack's case, if bub looks back on it,
but like when he's a bit older, hopefully that will
give him more confidence and the experience.
Speaker 1 (12:06):
Really, I think, I think as well at the time
when you do go through PUBERC. It's different for boys
and girls obviously, but I think with I think with
like the masking and stuff and trying to fit in.
Because I saw victoriat place the other day that really
resonated with me, and it was in primary school. I
(12:26):
was observing watch him trying to mimic my friends I
could fit in, and then secondary when I was going
through PUBERC, I was then trying to mimic that, you know, actions,
gestures and masking to try and fit in. And I
kind of relate to that in a way because you
trying to spend your whole life fitting in. I mean,
(12:46):
this world's not made for people like us. It's it's
wired in an entirely different way. And it's it's why
it's wired so differently in a way that that just
doesn't make sense at times, and it and yeah, for
some reason, I just really resonated and related to that
(13:09):
because I just for a lot of my life, I
spent so much time masking that I was repressing my
true identity and my true self. And that was, Yeah,
that's something I've learned a lot, especially just you know,
whether that's content creating more just collaborating with other people
(13:32):
and learning about their experiences and learn and learn and
what they did and what helped them and and yeah,
it helped me in a way because it made me realize,
you know, why should I have to mask myself just
for other people's like sacks fashion, Oh yeah, I have
to have multiple personalities for each friend group on with
(13:54):
you know. I'm sure, I'm sure you can relate to
that yourself.
Speaker 2 (13:57):
Oh yeah, definitely. And I always tend to think that
I'm the opposite because primary school was a bit fifty
to fifty and it was just a little bit easier,
and secondary school it was a bit of a tough one,
but it was a tough one on so many levels.
Really because it was a religious school like the secondary school,
(14:19):
which made it a bit of a problem. And then
also it was an all girls school, so it was
like the nightmare of like things. And I just thought
really that it was so difficult to fit in, and
you know, because of girls, and sometimes some girls can
be cruel and when they're in the teenage stage. I'm
(14:40):
saying not all of them, but a few of them.
And I have come across a few girls in my
life who have bullied me. And I got the worst
bullying in both primary and secondary just because I was different.
But I always tend to wonder, really if I was
in a mixed school, would it be different, And because
(15:01):
I can't really focus on the past anymore because you
just kind of question, and questioning doesn't really make a
difference or it makes any changes. But I always feel
that the setting around both of the schools was a
bit tough because when I was in secondary school, some
of the facilities were a bit better for me compared
(15:22):
to primary school because in primary school there was no
loan supports department. Because I also have a learning disability,
which meant that I can't really go to a few
classes like languages, and all that because there were a
bit of barriers and I had to sit separately in
primary school for my class peers at times to concentrate.
(15:43):
And then the worst thing about the once just because
they didn't have the facilities, I was either actually put
in the room near where the storage cupboards were with
a lack of space, or in the corner of the
classroom near where the toilets were, and that I just
think that's so awful, and that no one did anything
about it, which was just like, really really bad. But
(16:06):
with the secondary school, it was a lot better because
they did have an actual space for a loan support department,
which was fantastic, and then they got like the better
facilities as well, but their bullying policies weren't that fantastic,
and especially because they might have been a bit stricter
in the rules, but then it just didn't really cover
(16:27):
that really and I felt like I had to mask
because I felt like I don't want to be bullied,
I want to settle in and in the majority of
the time it did work, but now I really seriously
regret it, and I wish I could just say to myself,
just don't listen to all the negativetivity and just don't
listen to what people say, especially if you get told
(16:50):
off of doing something ron like seeming in a ron
note in a choir or just basically just saying it online.
I don't really know, but I definitely think if I
was to make a change, it would be possible. But again,
you can't really go back in time, and you just
have to leave it as that.
Speaker 1 (17:10):
The past. It's, you know, something I just do quite
a lot, and I had to get counseling as time
to sort of clean cleanse myself from the past, to
heal and to move on and and well not move on,
but move forward in my own life. And yeah, I
think you hit hit the oil and head with like
(17:32):
in regards to like bullying policies and schools have all
schools have a bullying policy that's you know, compulsory, and
it's something they all should have. But do they'd heard
of it always? I don't think so, because the trouble.
The trouble is the way schools are now because most
of them are academies. It's a money making machine for
(17:53):
the government. And I've said and if you and if
it's the focus isn't on the child's while being the
skills development and creative learning, it is focused on them
getting high marks, high scores and sitting and sitting between
(18:13):
the same four walls in the classroom. And that was
something I didn't really like doing when I was at school.
I absolutely, I look back on it. I hated it,
to be honest with you. And that's why I excelled
at subjects like pee and drama because I was I mean,
the written part of drama wasn't great, but I but
most of the time when I was in like drama
(18:33):
and pe, like I felt like I could truly be
myself at that time because it was up moving about.
And I'm a person. I don't know if you've heard
of learning styles says, but you know, well I did one.
I'm a stronkin aesthetic. I prefer watching someone doing something
(18:56):
and then doing it myself.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
Ohs like mirroring as it's just say that picks up
that that's what exactly I do, because it just actually
because when I think about it, it's kind of like
having a photographic memory. If you watch and observe someone
you do and then you could just pick it up
through photographic memory. And that's and I think some times
(19:18):
really that there are autistic people, many teenagers and adults.
Especially when you do something like performing art, you get
to pick up things or what they do or say
and it just quickly comes to you. And I always
found that with autistic people, the good thing to do
is that do practical stuff because they're getting more understanding
(19:42):
impractical by watching rather than written work. And then when
I went to the Chicken Chad Theater, we always used
to do practical work eighty five percent of the time
with the ten percent being written work. And it absolutely
works because I always found that it's very good for
social skills and it's good for your mental.
Speaker 1 (20:01):
Health as well, Oh definitely. And like like like you say,
some of us just excel at practical subjects. You know,
for example, like I say, pe performing arts, it could
be woodwork, engineering, you know, and a lot a lot
(20:22):
of those types of subjects. A majority of it's practical
and some of it's written. And yeah, and that's probably
where some of us excel because the stereotype is where
but we're bookworms were we can do maths and science
and we can and we're and we've got we've got
savant syndrome. You know that that's the step, that's the
(20:43):
general stereotype. I mean, don't watch train Man because that's
not the true representation of what is it actually is.
And although there's a couple of series out now, I
mean on Netflix and stuff, there's Atypical. That was one
series based on a man who's trying to navigate his
(21:05):
way through the world and trying to find love. So
it was I've watched a few episodes and I'd say
they did a pretty good job with the portrayal. So
I definitely look at documentaries and stuff like that rather
than films, im because it's doesn't give you a good
(21:27):
idea of what Watson actually is. Hm, that's it.
Speaker 2 (21:30):
And I know that they recently put out a film
called Oh what was it? It was about the Oh
my gosh, I can't remember, but it was the latest
one up at Netflix, and it was oh, no, I
got it. I used to be famous. And I still
haven't watched it. And yeah, I heard it's really good,
(21:52):
but I still haven't watched it because unfortunately I don't
have Netflix, so I'm just so bummed. But I heard
it's really good because it focuses on the first time
looking at autistic people, mainly teenagers and young people, through
the world of performing arts, rather than focusing on mathematics,
(22:12):
which is the general stereotype of what autistic people are
associate to when people think about, oh, what topics do
you think they're very good at, and it's always mathematics.
So it's a really nice change to see that the
mathematics is just stepping out into the light and performing
(22:32):
artists just going through in as well. And I loved
the idea of the storyline because it just felt like
so relatable and the team were absolutely fantastic because the
director had an autistic son, and then the actor, the
actor who played the boy, Stevie. From what I can remember,
(22:53):
the actor is autistic in real life as well, so
it's really great to see that they're making so much
of a huge development over time. And then also, although
it's not autism related, there's a new program on the
BBC called Katy and Ralph which has like the same perspective,
(23:14):
but it focuses on a couple with Down syndrome and
it's I haven't watched it yet, but a friend of
mine from Sunnyside has because I recommended it to her
and she said she's absolutely loving the show because she
liked how the like the ideas play out and all that.
But it's kind of like an inclusisive version of Gavin
(23:35):
and Stacey. And if you are a fan of Gavin
and Stacey, I would recommend watching it. Yeah, So it's
just brilliant to see that. And also the show is
under a for Forming Arts scholarship or scheme program. I
can't remember when it was all like the directors and
(23:55):
then the producers have like a different various needs and
I believe the director cerebral palsy as well. But it's
just so good to see that with these examples, it's
becoming more inclusive. The performing arts is becoming more inclusive
with autism, cerebral palsy downs. It's just absolutely amazing, and
(24:16):
I'm so glad we're putting the step forward in it
because times are changing and I think that's a good
way to go.
Speaker 1 (24:23):
Oh for sure, I'm personally glad that the times are
now changing, the attitudes and are shifted towards positive reinforcement.
So I guess this is going to go on to
my next question. So a bit way back, you said
you were training to become a swimming teacher, just out
(24:43):
of interest. How's that been going for you and what
are some of the things that stood out to you
or what have you learned since becoming a a trainee
swimming teacher.
Speaker 2 (24:54):
Ah, yes, now I cannot really say light things just
because of safeguarding of course, but my bars and like
the teacher who's training with me, they don't know. I
have a YouTube channel at the moment, but I just
want normally I just put YouTube to the side of
the jobs. But what I will say is that I've
learnt a lot from all of this and I recently
(25:19):
got into the job. I applied for the job back
in October of last year and I actually got accepted
two days afterwards, which is amazing. But then throughout the
whole swimming time, because at my local sports center, and
it's basically for most sports centers in the UK, you
have to do something that's part of Swim England. So
(25:42):
Swim England is an organization that supports teachers and organizations,
whether it's everyone active or independent leisure centers, just to
support organizations to encourage children to swim during swimming lessons
and also supporting teachers well, but it's really interesting to
(26:04):
have that opportunity because once I found out about the job,
and of course it came at a very challenging time
because a very close friend of mine died a month
before I started, and I decided to dedicate my teaching
role to him because I can remember him saying that
(26:26):
he wanted to be a dad, and even though he
never got the chance to be, I just thought, well,
you love children so much, I'm going to work so
hard for you because it's just the thing that I
will try. But when I did the Level one, it
was really interesting to know what they're doing. So throughout
(26:48):
the whole time we had to do things like practice assisting.
We have to do like various different exams and talks,
role plays, and also what they call shadow now. Shadowing
is where you have to sit down and watch the
other teachers do at the swim and you pick up
the techniques really so again it's practical theory and when
(27:10):
you watch, it's absolutely great to see and then you
get to pick up some stuff like that in the future.
But then once I passed level one, I started being
assistant to a send class and so, but for those
who don't know, send class stands for special educational needs,
and I've been working with children who have various needs
(27:32):
like autism, downs, cerebral palsy, and of course behavior problems
as well, and sometimes it can be very challenging, especially
if the kids don't like if they're out of the
zone a little bit because they have one day at
school and the swimming lessons are half an hour, and
that they just feel like sometimes everything gets a bit
like vazzold and all of that, which I can personally understand.
(27:56):
And I try not to be too too soft, because
you have to be like a cur But I've learnt
so much from the children. Even if I have a
rubbish day, they teach me so much from it, and
I'm just so grateful for that. And then one of
the children, from what I can remember now, the child
that I sometimes support with and then I shadow as well,
(28:20):
she has epilepsy like I do as well. And the
mum who has the child sometimes she she gets a
little bit worried and panicky. Now I don't know the
history of the child, but when I'm not supporting with
the sistering or anything, one I'm watching because she has
one to one sessions at the moment, because sometimes she
(28:40):
finds groups a bit overwhelming and things overwhelming as well.
And the mom said to me, well, my daughter has
like two to three seizures, two no, not to just
one seizure out of two to three days a week.
And I said to her, and I just I didn't say,
(29:01):
and I asked her questions a bit what it's like
in all of that, But she in return asked me
questions like recently this week for an example, she said,
what's it like when you come out of the seizure?
And that gave me a little hint to basically to
say that she was not too long diagnosed. And I
(29:25):
said to her, well, it's kind of like in an
adult point of view, it's kind of like waking up
from a handover after having too much alcohol. But in
a child point of view, it's like you're waking up
from bed. You can't move, You just feel exhausted because
your body feels dropping, and you just want to have
(29:45):
a rest. But she understands that because she knows that
I have epilepsy. And then the parents of the other
children know I have additional needs as well, and some
of the parents they actually come up to me and
they always say thank you for each time, and then
when one parent said that to me for the first time,
(30:07):
I just wanted to cry, but I'm like, no, don't cry,
your professional pull yourself together, come on. But it's so
lovely to have like different each shift. And then some
of the parents do actually actually say and suggested like
things to me, like some have sensory overloads with hats
and goggles, and it's really amazing for them to suggest
(30:31):
what's friendly and not friendly because one a few of
the children they don't like, you know that, like the hats.
Speaker 1 (30:38):
Oh yeah, I don't like them myself.
Speaker 2 (30:42):
No, and it was so awful, and some of them
actually cried when the parents put them on. I'm like, no,
it shouldn't be like the hat. But some of them
actually got like sensory friendly hat, swimming hat, and I'm
just so grateful that they did bring it in, and
I'm so grateful that you'll and would have more opportunities
now to have them. But I think overall, I'm really
(31:05):
enjoying the swimming a lot. And I don't know when
I'm going to start my Level two because basically level
one is just like you just are trained to be
the assistant and I don't know when I'm going to
go to level two, but it's likely in the next year.
And I'm so scared because that means that I'm going
to have to lead sessions on my own, and I've
(31:27):
never led something on my own before, apart from being
like leads and all that in drama. And I just
just think, how am I going to do this, because
it's going to be so overwhelming. But I made a
plan in my head because I said to my mum
the other day, even though I can pass the level
two if I want to, I can only do cover
(31:49):
teaching because I know that I can plan easily. Because
with teachers, if they want to find cover teachers if
someone's going away, they have to give the stuff. In
any of the leisure centers need to know two weeks
in advance, so that means that I might get time
(32:11):
to plan and then come structural and make it more engaging, interesting, fun,
and then just basically just have a good time. And
it can be very hard because some swimming teachers have
to work four to five hours a day with like
about ten shifts for each class in like different stages,
(32:31):
and yeah, and it does get overwhelming, and it does
get a lot, and luckily with the classes that I have,
with exception of like there were one one to one,
I actually do three classes, which suits me fine and
because it's just a bit more easier for me. But
there is going to be a time where I might
(32:53):
have to see how I go because I might be
comfortable just doing one to one or just an occasional group,
but I don't really you know, yeah, and I might
just stay there for a few years and seeing how
everything goes, I might change to like adult swimming, or
maybe just go find a different job. But just having
that qualification and knowing if I want to come back
(33:13):
in the near future, then the opportunity is just there exactly.
Speaker 1 (33:18):
I mean, I'm kind of the same as you, but football,
so obviously the qualification for football and swimming is a
bit different. I mean, I've got an FA Level one
and I had to do first aid and safeguarding as well,
so I need to redo those two. But I'm hoping
(33:39):
within the next probably year or two, I could do
my fair level two. I've all experience of coaching. I've
coached adults and recently children, so I was at an
organization called Sport for Confidence, so I was basically I
progressed assistant and then I was more or less head
(34:01):
coach for a bit, and it was leading different types
of sports. So I don't know if you've heard a botcher,
but that was one of the sports that I led,
and there was multi sports, so every week it's a
different sport, and then football. I did that for two years,
and the journey that I progressed from and the stuff
(34:25):
that I did made me become a much better or
rounded coach. And to them, I'll always be grateful for
that because they taught me the skills and developed me
in a way that and they equipped me to be
able to lead sessions and not feel overwhelmed by the
possibility of the fact that I don't know, someone might
(34:46):
all of a sudden, someone might have happened, and I
then have to go in and lead a whole day
or something. And that was at first, it was daunting.
It was a very daunting prospect, and I was like, oh, gosh,
what the hell am I going to do here? But
but you know what it was, it was good and
I'm I did it for two years. I left a
(35:08):
couple of months ago just because I wanted to just
do something a bit more fresh, and so yeah, I'm
I will always forever be grateful to them because the
skills and skills that I've been equipped now of helping
me coach my under eights team that I've got, which
(35:28):
is like, I know they're so there's so little, there's
so little, bless them, but you know they're they're a
good group, really really good little group. So what what matters?
It doesn't matter to me. It doesn't matter whether they
win or lose, doesn't matter to me, what Matt. What
(35:49):
matters most to me is having fun on pitch, smiling
and enjoying themselves. And some coaches can get too competitive.
I've seen that first hand when I sort of coached
in like mainstream grasstroies football. I'm and some I've seen it,
which is which is sad. But I have my sort
(36:12):
of own style. I think it's some I think it's
best to like go down to eye level with them,
and you know, when you're explaining something like I always
believe like going down to eye level with them because
then you're getting down to their level and they and
then they can actually listen to you. But every but
every kid you know that to kick footballs into girls,
(36:33):
you know. That's that's their age. They like to do that.
Speaker 2 (36:37):
Yeah, And that's the same with swimming as well, because
you have to get down to eye level, which is
really really hard, and.
Speaker 1 (36:45):
I find it. I find it hard because I'm awful
making eye contact.
Speaker 2 (36:48):
No so am I actually because I didn't like something
with my boss and that was one of the things
that she pointed out, and I thought, Okay, this is
going to be really hard even though I'm trying, because
I'm not very good at focusing, and especially when I'm
tired and I'm out of the zone like a little bit.
But it's lucky for me because with like the youngest
(37:09):
stages like stage one. In stage two, I get in
the pool and I just do activity games like like
jumping and running. And then with like them like the
round like plastic stuff. We call them noodles, and we
used to like do like create the children's imagination with
the noodle, so for example, they can imagine them like
(37:30):
they're riding a seahorse or a pony or that thought
of thing. But it's just getting that imagination out there.
And also for any any sport really it's always good
for mental health.
Speaker 1 (37:42):
It's creative learning. Creative learning is very good because, for example,
I've done drills where it's like, I don't bulldog crocodiles,
whatever you want to call it, and you know that
that gets their imaginations going because it's almost like you've
got to try and evade the crocodile, and if the
crocodile tackles you, then you get eating. The kind of thing.
(38:05):
For me, I always like to bring a sort of fun,
fun but professional approach. I think I think that's the
best way to go about it. I've built a bit
of a rapport with the group now I've been doing
it for a few weeks, and I think the hardest
part for me, especially recently was like talking to parents
(38:25):
as well. I'm doing it with another coach, which does help,
so yeah, I think. Yeah, like I say, the hardest
thing for me that sort of the start was talking
to parents and building a rapport with them as well,
because you want to get them on side. I think
that's the most important thing because otherwise you're not going
to do well. But yeah, like I say, one of
(38:49):
the most important things to me when I'm coaching is
that they're smiling, having fun and enjoying themselves. That's they're
the three most important things for me.
Speaker 2 (38:59):
Oh yeah, definitely. And I'm the same with like swimming
as well, and of course, like with parents, it's really
enjoyable just to see them smiling, yeah, and confident as well,
because some of the parents they always worry about whether
their child's going to fit in, especially within a mainstream environment.
But if you bring something to the table to including
(39:21):
that mainstream environment, then that's great because parents will feel
at ease a bit more.
Speaker 1 (39:27):
And yeah, trying me trying to coach you mainstream football,
which is completely new to me. It's like so different
because I've coached in a disability football before and you know,
I was with you know, with people who are kind
of like me in a way. But no, it's it's
it's been a really enjoyable experience to me so far,
(39:48):
and it's something that I'm looking forward to continuing doing
for the foreseeable future. Really though, it's, like I say,
really enjoyable. I've my passion for, you know, just coaching
for when generals come back when it was going a bit.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Stale, So it's just like one of those things you
have to get back into really, and especially when we
did like the swimming because in the sports center. Again
I won't say the location because I was still starting,
but what happened when I started, the swimming classes started,
(40:25):
and our sports center is the first one in the country,
I believe, really actually go through and do swimming ten
classes within a mainstream environment. And the teacher who was there,
she fought so hard to get She fought for years,
especially after the pandemic. And I just think she's such
an inspiration in your teacher. And I couldn't have like
(40:48):
the most wonderful person ever in the world really to
actually be like working along side really, and I try
not to get too emotional about it, but she has
been like a other figure to every single child she
works with, really, and I think she's just a huge
inspiration and we.
Speaker 1 (41:05):
Need more people like that, Yeah, definitely. And I think
as well, what I find is, especially when you're coaching
any sport, like you're essentially their role model, the person
they go to for when when I don't know, there's
a little dispute in a session, or you know, you've
got to be reliable, you've got to be punchure, you've
(41:27):
got to be patient, patient. I can't emercize that enough,
especially with kids, because you know, they go through a
lot of emotions. For they're going through a lot of
emotion so much their tiny little bodies can't handle it sometimes,
you know, it's it's a lot of it's a lot
for them to you know, deal with sometimes. And yeah,
(41:50):
and sometimes as well, like the reason I'd like to
be that role model in a ways because some of
them might not have that role model figure at home,
and that's you know, kind of that's kind of something
that I do in a way because like, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (42:10):
I mean it's the same with me really with the
swimming because but even though you've got organizations like the
Special Olympics, which I am part of because I've decided
to get back into competitive swimming with them as well
on top, but it's nice to have organizations that are
part of that. But I feel that parents don't want
(42:31):
to really exclude to children to have like separate organizations.
They just want their children to be in the environment
just like any other child really, and that's just so
important to realize and understand that. And then especially at
the moment. As of twenty twenty two, only twenty nine
percent of autistic adults are in any kind of employment,
(42:53):
and with like you coaching Carnelle and then me training
to be a swimming teacher, I hope that because of
these examples, and I hope if there's any job organization
that is listening to this, they all encouraged to employ
more autistic adults and if the number keeps growing to
like as high as they can get, and then that
(43:14):
will be so fantastic. And I'm dreaming for the day
it will happen, because if it does happen, I'm going
to dance around the room and celebrate the la break
good times come up.
Speaker 1 (43:24):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely, And yeah, I mean I'm coming
to the end of an apprenticeship that I'm doing and yeah,
like I say, I've been doing it for the past
two years, and again it's been a great experience. I've
got these transferable skills that I can use to sort
of go into sports and stuff, probably like full time
(43:46):
instead of doing it like just weekends like I've been recently.
And yeah, it's always something that I want to do.
And to any organization out there, there's there's a talent
pole that you haven't even pill scene that's just destined
to be unearthed. And if you if you unearthed that talent,
(44:08):
statistics go up, productivity goes up, punctuality, productivity, yea, all
of the all of those things will go up if
you employ an autistic person. It's as simple as that, exactly.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
I couldn't agree.
Speaker 1 (44:24):
More so, says have you got any final words for
this episode?
Speaker 2 (44:33):
Oh gosh, okay, I'm trying to look. I think it's
going to try in this case of me not to
be too emotional. But I think with the final words,
all I can say is well done, well done for
the podcast Canal. And then it's been a pleasure to
listen to everybody during the episode as well. And yeah,
hopefully this podcast will continue to run in the future. Really,
(44:53):
and I think everyone should look up to Canals an
inspiration really for everything. So yeah, good on for Boddy.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
I think that's well. Yeah, I mean, I'm going to
be fair. When anyone like compliments me, I'm just I
just look away because for some reason I just compliment.
I'm like, I'm like cringing of embarrassment because when I
got complimented by one or two parents the other day
(45:23):
and it was just I almost like look down a bit.
Sometimes or just look away because I'm a little bit
I'm grateful for the compliment, but sometimes I get you know, naturally,
I just cringe a little bit. And so I'm not
very good at receiving compliments, but I'm good at giving them.
I'm good at giving them, but not good at receiving them.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
No, so have I actually because it was just like
it was the Cathedral choir just like today. Really as
an example, someone actually a couple of I cannot see
them say the word what's wrong with me? Like complimented
me saying, oh, your voice is really really good. And
(46:04):
I'm a mere so soprano in the choir that they say, oh,
your voice is really good. And it's so nice to
have someone else to be part of the choir because
I joined at the same time another a choir member
left because she was on maternity leave. But it was
just so so difficult to like take a compliment, and
(46:25):
I I just like, oh, the started with the words,
and I honestly thought to myself, why why am I
feeling this way? And then also my knees were like
wobbling like jelly, and I thought, I've just got to
get out of it. So I had to rush outside
and I just thought, says, you're so stupid, why did
you do that? But I think it's just nerves. Really,
(46:47):
when you're taking compliments, it's the nerves, it's the shyness,
and I think that's what some people will go through
and it's relatable and understandable.
Speaker 1 (46:55):
Yeah, for sure. I just want to say it's been
an absolute pleasure to have you back on. I'm sure
we'll collaborate on a future project with yourself and other creators.
So yeah, I just want to say thank you again.
Speaker 2 (47:09):
Oh, thank you so much. Coming now. It's always been
a pleasure, and it was a pleasure to be a
final guest on the final episode as well, so that
is absolutely amazing. And yeah, just thank you so much.
Speaker 1 (47:22):
No worries, and yeah, I just want to say thank
you so much for the donos and shares and for
you for you a lot listening over these last two years.
It's been, like I say at the beginning, the truly
tremendous experience doing this and meeting so many inspirational people
(47:43):
along the way and hearing their stories. It's it's been
brilliant and I'm I may may may or may not
do podcasts and again in future, but for now this
is goodbye.
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