A FORMER Pembroke School teacher, who has had an educational book published by international publishing house Bloomsbury, hopes it will help raise awareness of autism.

Claire Bullock, 37, former head of Pembroke School’s autism centre, hopes 100 ideas for secondary teachers: supporting students with autism, will help raise awareness in the run-up to March’s Autism Awareness Week, which runs from March 27.

Claire, currently working for Pembrokeshire County Council as an advisory teacher, said: “The aim of the book is to offer strategies to support mainstream teachers to best help and support the autistic pupils in their class.”

The book includes a foreword by Mair Elliott, who suffers from Aspergers.

Mair said: “Autism, although many people have heard of it, is a misunderstood condition. Many people with Autism feel as though they are often unheard, misunderstood or even mistreated.”

She added: “In my view, I do not see Autism as a disorder, in fact, the majority of the time it is not the Autism which is causing me problems but the way the world is set up and run around me. In a world built for neurotypical people (people who don’t have neuro-difference) it is incredibly difficult for neuro-divergent people to live.”

She went on to say: “I am happy with who I am, and the way I live my life. I am not Autism, however, autism is a part of me. It is not a part I want to get rid of. I am not broken, I am different.

“Autism awareness is growing, and I am glad to be even a small part of that. From speaking recently at a reception at the House of Lords, to opening the Welsh ALN conference in March. Speaking about my experiences, I hope, can and will breakdown those misconceptions of Autism.”

Claire’s book may be purchased at www.bloomsbury.com/(S(2rhg3c45qkkdcy45zqmsik55))/in/100-ideas-for-secondary-teachers-supporting-students-with-autism-9781472928467/