Transcript

ALEX:

I was statemented at school, but I was in mainstream ever since the age of five.

ILONA:

Thinking about that now, what do you think are the pros and cons of being in mainstream school for a person with autism?

ALEX:

I'd say the pros probably are you mix with more people. And we come back to the busy crowds, saying, you know, you learn-- you're in a bigger environment, so it teaches you, so you can learn to cope with it better.

Because there's more people there, you're more likely to get more friends. But obviously, a con would be that because you're different to everyone else that you're probably more susceptible to bullying, I would say.

ILONA:

Looking back on that now, are there more things the school could have done to help you?

ALEX:

I think they did all they could for me. I think it was partly down to that I was afraid to tell anyone to start with, and that's why nothing was done about it sooner. Because I didn't say anything. I just kept it quiet.

ILONA:

That must have been very painful for you.

ALEX:

It was, yeah. It was only-- I was getting bullied, like, lunch time. I went for about six weeks without eating any lunch because I didn't want to face to get in the queue and do it.

And it was only when my mum found out on my dinner card, that nothing had been gone off it for six weeks. So she realised I was skipping lunch. And that's when she told the school. And that's when I ended up saying about the bullying. And it was only because of that why she found out.