In today’s interview, we meet Shaurya – an autistic teen who has shared his lived experiences in our storybook – Alexander’s Happy School Journey.
Q) How would you like to introduce yourself to our readers..
I am Shaurya Patkar. I am 16 year old with Autism and a rich imagination. I have done my S.S.C from a mainstream school and now pursuing N.I.O.S.
I have noise sensitivity and an obsession with moral rules by citizens . I love making friends and my fear here is that I might lose them and be a loner.
Q) Please share your hobbies and interests with us.
I love reading and writing stories and my favourite genre is horror.
I love to collect masks , gloves and aprons. That gives me comfort.
When I was younger my favourite popular creature was werewolf . Now in my teens it is cat girls .
I love watching films especially with my father .
I am also a foodie and I love to smell things in the kitchen and help my mother whilst cooking.
Q) Would you like to share your thoughts on the incidents narrated in this book..
So whenever I messed up in school, Anirudh would help me and tell me “what is expected behaviour at times he would also threaten me to complain to the teacher “ But that was proof of being a good friend. Whenever I reminisce of good company, I remember KK’s song ‘teri har ek burai pe daante who dost naachein bhi who teri Khushi mein’. So Anirudh once informed me that I am just not his best best friend but the best best friend , during a trip. I love that this book has all of the tales about me and Anirudh and my teachers.
Q) How did it feel to see your lived experience in an illustrated book?
SO THE BOOK WAS GOOD, REFRESHING, BUT NOT LIKE IF I WERE AN ACTOR . It felt happy and refreshing to see me as a character but It wasn’t as cool as it would have been if I were in the movies or this book was made into a movie. Then that would have been more adventurous but all this was also overwhelming for me because I felt emotional looking at
those memories.
Q) Please share your thoughts on inclusion and how we can work towards a better tomorrow.
Inclusion as per me is giving every person importance irrespective of their disability.
we can work towards a better tomorrow by creating awareness about neurodiversity and
we could do it by books like this and you tube, insta videos and also modelling people how to be compassionate towards others. I try my best at self advocacy.
Here’s the animated version of – Alexander’s Happy School Journey!
