I am Frazer Stansfield, I work as Peer Support Worker in the NHS, working with children and young people who are autistic, have learning disabilities and other neurodiversity's. I am diagnosed with autism and dyspraxia. I started this role via the government’s Kickstart employment scheme officially as of January 2022 after two years of being unemployed. Working in the NHS has transformed my confidence. During the two years of job searching, I became a recluse, my anxiety controlled my life and at the time my autism wasn't yet diagnosed. As of December 2021, I received confirmation of my autism diagnosis and then had the interview for my current job a few weeks later.

 

Being in work has changed everything from my confidence improving, gaining friends, not being as anxiety driven, I'm going out places and socialising and I'm now learning to drive. Knowing that I'm working to help other neurodiverse individuals in similar situations as my previous is a big driving force and I ironically believe that my lived experience is the most valuable asset to my work as being able to empathise with and share my experiences with others can be powerful for neurodiverse individuals.

 

If I wasn't autistic, I wouldn't have my current job and that's not a bad thing. Most autistic people take pride knowing they are different however, when I was diagnosed, I felt the opposite but now I feel more like a person than I ever have. I'm cared about and respected amongst my colleagues, friends and family alike. It may look bleak at the beginning but that may change for you in the future as it did for me.