Page 14 - Community Living Magazine 35-2

in conversation
A creative powerhouse have his own support worker “for my own

stuff like my book and my documentary”.
He is also part of a social group in
Stockton called Autism Matters. “The staff
there are very…” – he searches for the
Songs, books, plays – Bobby Latheron has written them all, right word – “nice!”
The group has obviously been very
including an account of his life with autism. He tells Sean Kelly important to him: “Yeah, I think coming to
about a future film and podcast, and his next, darker book Autism Matters, you do make friendships.
And those friendships are forever.”
obby Latheron is a young man with Story, song, script
autism. He is also an explosion The decision to write a book came after a
Bof creativity. discussion with one of his teachers at the
Latheron has written a book that has ESPA college: “He said your life has been
been published. He has released songs such a journey you should write a book.”
that are available to buy. He has written The book, My World in My Words,
plays. Currently, he is working on his published by New Generation Publishing
second book and filming a documentary in September 2019, is a unique take on his
about his life – which may include part of own life. The cover features a
our interview. (psychedelic) image of Latheron inside a
I was able to speak to Latheron along cloud of words including honest, unique,
with his support worker Charlotte Rix and bubbly, dramatic, inspired, autism,
I asked him to tell me more about his life. struggles, songwriter, script and funny. It’s
“I would say it’s been a struggle. I didn’t the most accurate cover I have seen
get diagnosed till I was 15. Secondary in years.
school was very hard for me. Because The book itself starts with more than 20
I couldn’t do up a school tie, I used to mini-interviews in which Latheron asks
get detentions. other people to define autism and to give
“The work was too hard. And they their opinions about him as a person
would put me in front of like a million living with autism. Contrasting and
students to do an exam and I would just I wanted a little push but not too much of comparing different answers to the same
break down. And they wouldn’t a push,” he laughs. questions is fascinating.
understand what it was.” After school, Latheron went to Stockton The book also features a diary section
Latheron found himself labelled a College to study performing arts, which he about a trip to America and a selection of
“naughty child” and tells me he was loved, but he could not stay because he Latheron’s song lyrics (printed in different
bullied by other children and by some did not have the maths and English grades colours) as well as photos of him with
staff too. required. So he moved to a specialist ESPA many friends and associates.
Then, at 15, he went to a specialist (Education and Services for People with Latheron is a gay man and the book
school for children with autism. This Autism) college in Sunderland. ends with a lengthy fictional script for a
was a bit of an improvement but the That was fine except that he was the play featuring him and some fairly
drawback was that his educational needs only student there for two years. “It was complicated relationships and
were neglected. very lonely,” he says. During his final year, developments, including a dramatised
“The autistic school was very laid back. however, other students began to arrive. version of his coming out. Without giving
You would go on trips more than work if Nowadays, Latheron’s day job is as a too much away, I can say it involves
you know what I mean. I think there carer for disabled people, working for a murder as well as convincingly faked
needs to be something in the middle. company called MAIN. He continues to deaths. I found myself reading some parts
out loud in character because the writing
is so irresistibly dramatic.

Dark fairy tale
Latheron says his second book will be
edgier. Part fiction, this “dark fairy tale” as
he calls it will tell of a future in which he
has a record deal and is living in America,
and describe some more of his
relationships. Sounds gripping.
As if that is not enough, he has been
writing and releasing his own songs. It Steven McDonald Photography; Bobby Latheron
started when his sister bought him singing
lessons. Latheron discovered his teacher
was going to be Carl Pemberton of
Journey South, a pop group who had
Out with friends: Latheron includes friends and associates in his book become famous through the X Factor.
14 Vol 35 No 2 | Winter 2022 Community Living www.cl-initiatives.co.uk