13. autism a personal perspective

www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities

David Gill – Autism Advisor, NHS

England

AUTISM

A personal

perspective


David Gill – Living with Autism


My background:

• I am 28 years and from Rotherham in South Yorkshire

• I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome on the Autism Spectrum aged 8

• Lived at home with my family until I was 16

• I attended mainstream school until I was 8 then attended a specialist school for Children with Autism

• Went to residential college

• Live independently with support from KeyRing and I’m a trustee of Speakup Self Advocacy

• Have 2 jobs now one as a Learning Disability Advisor for NHS England, one as a Peer Support Worker

A bit about [email protected]


• For the first 4 years of my school years I

went to Blackburn School in Rotherham

• Struggled there with the big classes and

it impacted on my behaviour

• Ended up having 1 to 1 support in class

and in the playground

• Didn’t really help and I was in the

headmasters office a lot

• Due to this I was eventually diagnosed

with Aspergers Syndrome

Attending Mainstream School


• Moved to Priory Annexe, Storm

House School which later became

The Robert Ogden School

• This is a specialist school for

children with Autism Spectrum

Disorder

• The classes were smaller and I had

a much more positive time there

Moving Schools


• Grew up living with my family

• Family struggled at times but

supported me

• Went on family holidays

• Took to watch Sheffield United

• Had once a week respite care at

Cherry Tree House

Living with family


• At age 16 I left School to go to a residential

college called Linkage – Weelsby Hall in

Grimsby.

• I went here to learn my independence.

• Didn’t settle at first

• Eventually settled and gained the majority

of my qualifications there

• Made lots of friends

• Learnt to be independent living in a student

flat with a friend

Residential College


• Got my own council flat with support from

KeyRing

• Still live near my family

• Started volunteering at Speakup Self

Advocacy

• I have passed my driving test

• Have a girlfriend called Charlie

After College


• In 2015 I decided with support that I was ready for paid employment

• I ended up with 2 jobs

• Learning Disability Advisor for NHS England

• Peer Support Worker for Rotherham Learning Disability Services

• I have got used to this routine now

Paid Employment


Any questions

Healthcare

13. autism a personal perspective