17-year-old Nuala has spent much of her life fighting for the support she needs as someone on the autism spectrum. BBC ALBA followed Nuala on her mission to pave the way for change, starting in her hometown in the north-west Highlands of Scotland.
Nuala’s push for change was inspired by a trip to Canada’s first autism friendly town in Channel-Port aux Basques, Newfoundland. The simple changes adopted by the town to make life easier for people with autism inspired Nuala to help her own community in Ullapool, and the surrounding area, become autism friendly.
Produced by MacTV this new 30-minute documentary, Saoghal Nuala / Nuala’s World – #MyAutismFriendlyVillage, explores how autism impacts the way people communicate and process the world around them; and follows Nuala working with schools, businesses and organisations to implement small changes to improve the lives of people with autism.
Nuala said: “Initially, before my diagnosis, I thought that I was odd and stupid and couldn’t understand it… It was a relief to get the diagnosis. It was good to see that I wasn’t just… that I was still sane but just in a different way. This also opened a lot of doors for me.
“Everyone was more willing to help me. The teachers were given extra training. There was extra support there and that was so beneficial for me.”
More than one in 100 people in Scotland have autism – all with skills, talents and ambitions. However, many don’t understand autism which is why Nuala wants to create change so that other youngsters don’t face the same difficulties.
Encouraged by the pioneering work of Joan Chaisson – a retired special education teacher and co-founder of the support group Autism Involves Me (AIM) – with schools, hotels, shops, and the hairdresser in Channel-Port aux Basques’, Nuala’s mum said: “They had drawn attention to how people with autism feel and their daily life.
“It was fascinating … It was clear that the whole town supported her plans. Nuala was so inspired by this. We realised that the same could be done in Ullapool.”
Offering viewers a better understanding of the unique perspectives that she and others on the autistic spectrum experience, and in turn, learning what we can all do as a society to make our communities more inclusive, and accommodating for all, Nuala explains: “I want the local businesses to be better informed about autism and also for the community to be autism friendly.
“People with autism will feel more comfortable here and that includes me… You should be proud of yourself and your capabilities.”
Sharing an insight into her skills, from her photographic memory to her understanding of rhythm which helped her win a bronze medal at the 2022 St Ayles Skiff World Championships, she says: “Lots of people ask me if I would rather not have autism. I tell them that I like having autism because I have these superpowers now and I like that. I’m so proud of myself and of my superpowers.
“I would like people on the spectrum to walk with their head held high. That’s very important. I want to be like that and to create a new stereotype. I look forward to that.”
Saoghal Nuala / Nuala’s World – #MyAutismFriendlyVillage, premiers on BBC iPlayer and BBC ALBA and on Monday 5 August at 9pm (in Gaelic with English subtitles).Watch live or on demand: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0021swp