AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me)
Chris Bonnello has set up a website to help other people with forms of autism.
Chris Bonnello decided to help others over the internet after he had spent his childhood years thinking he was "weird".
The 29-year-old had always felt out of place as a child. The lack of knowledge on mild autism in the 90s had psychologists conclude he simply had "a slightly odd personality".
Chris, of Trent View Gardens, Radcliffe-on-Trent, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome five years ago, which came as a shock to him and his family.
He said: "None of us saw it coming, myself included, so there was a moment of surprise. But for me there was a huge relief as it gave me a reason as to why I was a weird kid and why I didn't fit in."
Apart from talking to his family and a few close friends, Chris kept his condition a secret as he was afraid people wouldn't understand.
"I was anxious about how others would interpret the news especially because at the time I was training to be a teacher," he added. "I thought it would be easier to pretend to be like everyone else but it wasn't the best idea!"
Getting onto the teaching ladder was a struggle for Chris, despite having a first class degree in maths with education and a primary PGCE from Nottingham Trent University.
He said: "I've struggled with employment because I can't handle interviews and the anxiety."
Yet despite the interview setbacks, Chris went on to teach in many mainstream and special education schools around the East Midlands.
The time Chris spent with students who had mild learning difficulties inspired him to be honest about his own condition.
He said: "Personality wise, the students were strikingly similar to me. I told them I was also on the autism spectrum so they knew they weren't alone.
"It made me think there could be thousands of people out there that might benefit from my insight."
In April 2015 Chris decided to announce to the world he had Asperger's and launched AutisticNotWeird.com.
He said: "I chose the website name because Autistic Not Weird spreads a positive message that just because people don't match social norms, doesn't make them weird."
According to The National Autistic Society there are 700,000 people in the UK with different severities of autism.
"Having mild autism is an awkward mid-point between being "normal" and expected to act normal, and being autistic enough not to meet those expectations," added Chris.
"People I know have even said to me they wish they were more autistic to make it more apparent to people."
The aim of the website is to help young people with non-disabling autism and to inform others of what it's like from their perspective.
Chris, or Captain Quirk as he's known online, injects humour into the website with posts such as "Taking things literally: When having autism's actually pretty funny," and has a comical way of describing why he finds social interactions difficult.
He said: "The best way I can explain it is if someone said to me at Sunday dinner 'would you like the last potato?' I'd say yes and take it because they offered it me. It has taken me until adulthood to realise that when people ask you it's because they want the potato themselves!"
Autism Not Weird.com received over 150,000 hits within the first three months of it being online and has been viewed in 150 countries.
The site's Facebook page has a community of over 4,500 followers and a reel of comments of thanks.
Chris said: "Shocked is a good word for all of this. I've had a bunch of fantastic compliments and feedback that left me frozen in my seat."
Right now, the online hero has a part-time filing job and volunteers at a Christian youth group but he will be returning to Nottingham Trent University to study for a masters in creative writing.
Chris said: "University is just one of my plans for the future. Since the blog I've had plenty of demand for a book, which I'm planning to write.
"I've also been invited to do lots of public speaking and training courses so hopefully Autistic Not Weird will become full-time work for me."
As well as helping to change other people's lives, it seems the website has changed Chris's life too.
"A lot of people online are telling me I'm an inspirational person and that's made me feel very grateful," he said. "I've never felt more appreciated in my life than I do right now."
Chris's parents, Martin and Clare Bonnello, are incredibly proud of their son.
"We are extremely proud of what Chris has achieved at growing up with Asperger's without him even knowing he has it," they said.
And Chris has also won praise from the National Autistic Society.
"Increasing public understanding of autism is an absolute priority for the National Autistic Society," said a spokesman from the charity.
"Hearing from autistic people about their everyday lives gives the non-autistic community a powerful insight into autism, which is what makes initiatives like Chris Bonnello's Autistic Not Weird blog so important."
For more information visit autisticnotweird.com or search for autisticnotweird on Facebook.
Chris's advice for teenagers growing up with autism:
1. Whatever you're going through, you are not alone.
2. The only person who can decide who you are is you.
3. Sometimes your pace and methods will be different, and that's totally fine.
4. Once your school days are over, they're over forever.
5. Find the places where you can play to your strengths.
6. Don't blame yourself for things that aren't your fault.
7. If you need help, ask for it.
8. Everyone else finds things difficult too.
9. I'd rather be happy than normal.
10. Remember how much you're loved.
11. Finally, listen to other people's advice.
SOURCE: http://www.nottinghampost.com/teach...bsite-spread/story-27661735-detail/story.html
Chris Bonnello has set up a website to help other people with forms of autism.
Chris Bonnello decided to help others over the internet after he had spent his childhood years thinking he was "weird".
The 29-year-old had always felt out of place as a child. The lack of knowledge on mild autism in the 90s had psychologists conclude he simply had "a slightly odd personality".
Chris, of Trent View Gardens, Radcliffe-on-Trent, was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome five years ago, which came as a shock to him and his family.
He said: "None of us saw it coming, myself included, so there was a moment of surprise. But for me there was a huge relief as it gave me a reason as to why I was a weird kid and why I didn't fit in."
Apart from talking to his family and a few close friends, Chris kept his condition a secret as he was afraid people wouldn't understand.
"I was anxious about how others would interpret the news especially because at the time I was training to be a teacher," he added. "I thought it would be easier to pretend to be like everyone else but it wasn't the best idea!"
Getting onto the teaching ladder was a struggle for Chris, despite having a first class degree in maths with education and a primary PGCE from Nottingham Trent University.
He said: "I've struggled with employment because I can't handle interviews and the anxiety."
Yet despite the interview setbacks, Chris went on to teach in many mainstream and special education schools around the East Midlands.
The time Chris spent with students who had mild learning difficulties inspired him to be honest about his own condition.
He said: "Personality wise, the students were strikingly similar to me. I told them I was also on the autism spectrum so they knew they weren't alone.
"It made me think there could be thousands of people out there that might benefit from my insight."
In April 2015 Chris decided to announce to the world he had Asperger's and launched AutisticNotWeird.com.
He said: "I chose the website name because Autistic Not Weird spreads a positive message that just because people don't match social norms, doesn't make them weird."
According to The National Autistic Society there are 700,000 people in the UK with different severities of autism.
"Having mild autism is an awkward mid-point between being "normal" and expected to act normal, and being autistic enough not to meet those expectations," added Chris.
"People I know have even said to me they wish they were more autistic to make it more apparent to people."
The aim of the website is to help young people with non-disabling autism and to inform others of what it's like from their perspective.
Chris, or Captain Quirk as he's known online, injects humour into the website with posts such as "Taking things literally: When having autism's actually pretty funny," and has a comical way of describing why he finds social interactions difficult.
He said: "The best way I can explain it is if someone said to me at Sunday dinner 'would you like the last potato?' I'd say yes and take it because they offered it me. It has taken me until adulthood to realise that when people ask you it's because they want the potato themselves!"
Autism Not Weird.com received over 150,000 hits within the first three months of it being online and has been viewed in 150 countries.
The site's Facebook page has a community of over 4,500 followers and a reel of comments of thanks.
Chris said: "Shocked is a good word for all of this. I've had a bunch of fantastic compliments and feedback that left me frozen in my seat."
Right now, the online hero has a part-time filing job and volunteers at a Christian youth group but he will be returning to Nottingham Trent University to study for a masters in creative writing.
Chris said: "University is just one of my plans for the future. Since the blog I've had plenty of demand for a book, which I'm planning to write.
"I've also been invited to do lots of public speaking and training courses so hopefully Autistic Not Weird will become full-time work for me."
As well as helping to change other people's lives, it seems the website has changed Chris's life too.
"A lot of people online are telling me I'm an inspirational person and that's made me feel very grateful," he said. "I've never felt more appreciated in my life than I do right now."
Chris's parents, Martin and Clare Bonnello, are incredibly proud of their son.
"We are extremely proud of what Chris has achieved at growing up with Asperger's without him even knowing he has it," they said.
And Chris has also won praise from the National Autistic Society.
"Increasing public understanding of autism is an absolute priority for the National Autistic Society," said a spokesman from the charity.
"Hearing from autistic people about their everyday lives gives the non-autistic community a powerful insight into autism, which is what makes initiatives like Chris Bonnello's Autistic Not Weird blog so important."
For more information visit autisticnotweird.com or search for autisticnotweird on Facebook.
Chris's advice for teenagers growing up with autism:
1. Whatever you're going through, you are not alone.
2. The only person who can decide who you are is you.
3. Sometimes your pace and methods will be different, and that's totally fine.
4. Once your school days are over, they're over forever.
5. Find the places where you can play to your strengths.
6. Don't blame yourself for things that aren't your fault.
7. If you need help, ask for it.
8. Everyone else finds things difficult too.
9. I'd rather be happy than normal.
10. Remember how much you're loved.
11. Finally, listen to other people's advice.
SOURCE: http://www.nottinghampost.com/teach...bsite-spread/story-27661735-detail/story.html
