Link February 2019 Volume 28 Issue 1 | Page 11

Will, 36, said he flew under the radar in terms of his own diagnosis with Asperger’s Syndrome. “It wasn’t until I wrote my book that I realised just how taxing the whole experience had been.” “I never had trouble making bunch of blank looks, I realised there friends, and I was never bullied at was something different about me.” school or in work places. Having said Will was officially diagnosed during “I exercise regularly and am excited about the future for the first time in years,” he said. that, I suffered fluctuating, but near parole, which he said meant he then “The future used to loom large, constant, levels of anxiety,” he said. went back into jail for a shorter stint grey and bleak. Now, I can see specific with knowledge of his ASD. goals and opportunities, which I know I “There was a watershed moment about two years before I went to “That’s what inspired me to write can achieve, because writing the book jail where I mentioned how I often the book – I wish I had access to a has given me the confidence I had found myself thinking about social book like mine while serving (the bulk forgotten I possess. That’s the best interaction, picking the good from of) my time!” he said. thing the book has done – reignited my the bad, and mimicking it. I thought Will, who has a degree in Creative everyone watched, analysed and Industries and wants to return to mimicked! But when my statement university to study social work, said about mimicking was met with a his life now is great. linkonline.com.au belief in myself and my abilities.” Will’s book is available through Footprint Books. www.footprint.com.au news 11