David Gill shares his personal experience living with autism. He was diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome at age 8. He struggled in mainstream school with large class sizes until moving to a specialist school with smaller classes. After finishing school, he attended a residential college to learn independence skills. Now he lives independently in his own flat with support and holds two jobs, as a learning disability advisor for NHS England and a peer support worker.

1. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
David Gill – Autism Advisor, NHS
England
AUTISM
A personal
perspective

2. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
David Gill – Living with Autism

3. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
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 myself
david.gill8@nhs.net

4. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

5. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

6. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

7. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

8. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

9. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
• 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

10. www.england.nhs.uk/learningdisabilities
Any questions