A THATCHAM teenager has launched a series of animation films to help others understand what it is like to be living with autism.
Charlotte Vicarage, aged 19, of Betteridge Road, has autism and has spent the past year making four films on the subject, which were officially launched last Thursday (15).
She produced the films with Hampshire-based charity project ITV Fixers which helped her use the videos to raise awareness about the condition and, in her films, she describes how she was initially bullied and left feeling isolated because of her poor social skills.
But in her films, which she wrote, produced and directed herself with the support of the ITV Fixers creative team, she gives an insight into events that have since shaped her life.
At first, she is shown as a butterfly caged in a glass jar.
This analogy is then used to depict her journey from the comfort of her special school to dealing with the challenges and obstacles she faced when she moved to a mainstream school.
Ms Vicarage said: "The special school was a very good environment and very protective, but a bit too protective for my own good.
"When I was approaching adolescence, I decided I wanted to move schools and this scene is about me going into the outside world."
Charlotte was diagnosed with autism when she was three years old and because of the condition, which affects learning and behaviour, she was unable to speak until she was five-years-old.
After attending a special school in Reading she was accepted into The Downs School, Compton, where she achieved nine GCSEs.
She then went on to complete a two-year animation course at Newbury College.
After her films won praise from autistic groups as afar as Austin in Texas she said that she was "shocked but proud" at their worldwide effect.
She added: "Now I can get more people to be aware of the condition that scientists are constantly researching and hopefully, I would like to see my film put onto professional DVDs so that I can give the copies out to schools and colleges and a few of my friends.
"I already promised a copy for my godmother who works at the private boarding school for boys with Autism and Aspergers.”
ITV Fixers challenges people aged between 16 and 25 to identify an issue of concern and gives them practical help and guidance to ‘fix’ the problem.
To see Charlotte's films click on the link below.