“I want people to see my truth. I want to raise awareness. I want people to know what it’s like to be autistic.”
Bobby Latheron is a 26-year-old autistic man. And he wants people to talk about autism.
Alongside his day job, he’s penned a book about his life, is working on a documentary and writes songs about his experiences.
A lot of people might be satisfied with that. Bobby isn’t.
“I want everyone to read my book. I’m writing a second one now as well,” he said.
“And I want to get on big TV shows – I’d love to go on This Morning! Not to be famous, but to tell people about my life with autism so they can understand my journey.”
Autism is a lifelong developmental disability.
It can affect how people communicate and interact with the world, but it affects different people in different ways.
Like everyone, autistic people have their own strengths and weaknesses.
Bobby’s strength is his passion to help. He wants to smash stigmas and get people talking about autism.
He met We are Middlesbrough along with Charlotte, a support worker from Autism Matters, a charity which supports autistic people and runs groups and activities which Bobby regularly attends.
“People do not seem bothered about normal people with autism,” said Bobby, who lives in Marton, Middlesbrough.
“They’re more worried about celebrities. That’s a kick in the teeth, to be honest.”
Bobby Latheron outside Middlesbrough Town Hall
Bobby said he was diagnosed when he was in Year 8 at school – at around 12 years old – and remembers being bullied as a young child.
“I want to promote awareness, because I remember how I was in school,” he said.
“I knew I was different to other kids. I had friends but I was lonely at the same time.
“I would like to see mainstream schools adapt to welcome autistic people. If there’s 30 people in a class, it’s hard for people with autism to get help.
“And I want to go into schools and help raise awareness about mental health.”
Bobby is currently a support worker for the autism charity MAIN – and he loves his job.
“Sometimes, I think we have fewer chances. I’ve applied for some jobs and you don’t even get a response,” Bobby continued.
“I think there should be someone with autism in every job. I do feel we can be excluded.
“If I didn’t have this job I don’t know where I would be.
“Everyone needs someone to show faith in them. I would be in my room going mad because there would be nothing to do.
“Deep down there are still barriers but I try to get on with it.”
Bobby Latheron
One of the ways Bobby expresses himself is through music.
“When I was little, I would say from around four-years-old, I used to love karaoke.
“I would always be singing and I will always remember singing to my grandma, our favourite was the Celine Dion tune ‘My Heart Will Go On’.
“I just remember a microphone was always in my hand. My love for music just grew and grew.”
For his 21st birthday, Bobby’s sister bought him singing lessons with a local music teacher.
“I turned up at this house and I was quite nervous, and I met Carl Pemberton the teacher,” he continued.
“I looked at him and I thought – ‘I recognise him, is he famous?’ In the end, I had to ask him – ‘are you Journey South?’
“He said he was and I didn’t want to sing for him!
“But we had a laugh about it. He has helped me and my songwriting so much.
“With my music I write and talk about my relationships.
“I am a gay person with autism. I’ve had some bad times, especially in past relationships.
“I remember I’ve come home crying and I didn’t want to be here any more.
“But being able to write about it has helped me.”
Through his music and his writing, Bobby “just wants to help people”.
“I keep everything inside. Nobody really sees me. Everyone thinks I am happy and jolly.
“I want people to think they can talk to Bobby about anything.”
Bobby has two sisters – aged 36 and 37 – and an older brother, 27. He lives with his mum Angie in Marton.
“We can be quite a dramatic family – we’re a bit like the Kardashians,” he laughed.
“But my mum is my rock. She has a heart of gold.
“It’s especially hard being gay. Because some people still do not accept that.
“The world needs to be kinder. I just want to change people’s minds about autism. I want to be an advocate.”
You can order a copy of Bobby’s book, My Life in My Words, from here and you can listen to the latest song he has written here.
