New film highlights 'what autism means' to pupils

Jordan Winn has been screening his film in schools and running sessions with students about neurodiversity

Hundreds of students in West Norfolk are being shown a film about autism in a bid to improve understanding around neurodivergence.

It has been made by filmmaker Jordan Winn, 24, who grew up in King's Lynn.

"My Brain My World" tells Mr Winn's story of navigating the school system as a child with undiagnosed autism.

He is hoping the screenings raise awareness and help him make sense of the challenges he faced growing up.

"The film starts off with me in primary school," he explained.

"The way that the teachers were, how bad it was back then with the understanding. It has got better but there is still a long way to go."

Fourteen-year-olds Samuel and Will saw the film at a screening at King's Lynn Academy

Mr Winn was diagnosed with autism in his early 20s.

He said the diagnosis was a relief after he struggled to relate to others and fit in at school.

He wrote, produced, directed and starred in the film, which took two years to complete.

"There were days when I was like 'I can't do this anymore' and I wanted to give up," he said.

"But then I was seeing things online about other children going through this and I started getting messages from them.

"Even though the film wasn't out yet it was already making a difference".

Teacher Brian Reeve-Hayes said schools were getting better at helping autistic pupils

Fourteen-year-old pupils Samuel and Will saw the film at King's Lynn Academy.

Samuel said he felt very sympathetic to Mr Winn's childhood character.

"He always feels alone and he's not ever understood for who he is," he said.

"He can't explain that he can't help who he is."

Will is autistic himself and found the film particularly powerful.

"It's about spreading this out to the world so everyone knows what it is," he said.

"Some people might not know what autism means, whereas now with this film they can know how it feels to be autistic and feel that emotion."

Brian Reeve-Hayes is the mental health lead and head of personal, social, health and economic education (PSHE) at the academy.

He arranged for Mr Winn to visit the school after hearing about his work.

Mr Reeve-Hayes said: "People have good intentions but they don't always understand, they don't always have that ability to see what someone else is dealing with.

"So this was a great opportunity to really show them through the eyes of someone who did struggle."