Episode 2 Employable Me

This programme contains strong language

I have literally never worked before in my life.

-Ever?

-Ever.

How many jobs would you say you've applied for?

Hundreds of jobs.

-What was your last job?

-Hey! Hey! Stripper.

This interview is not going well.

Employers always say they want candidates who think differently.

But how much do they really mean it?

-HE TICS

-How important is it you find work?

-HE TICS

-I want to lead a normal life, like anybody else does.

Meet the extraordinary job-seekers...

Meow chicken.

..whose brains are wired differently.

What do you think your biggest weakness is?

I shave my pubes.

SHE LAUGHS

-That shouldn't be a problem in this job.

-Good, thank you.

In a world where the workplace is set up for the norm,

it's been impossible for them to succeed at work.

Until now.

Businesses are starting to realise that neuro-diverse conditions

like autism and Tourette's can bring creativity,

innovation and real brilliance into the workplace.

With the help of leading scientists,

they'll uncover their unique abilities...

The numbers just kept coming in the right order. Tick, tick, tick.

How is she even doing that?

Wow, I didn't see that coming. Goodness me.

-That is so impressive.

-..and battle to overcome their challenges...

This, I can't... I don't know how to control this.

I'm hating this. This is so awkward.

Hey! Hey! Hey!

..to prove to employers how their difference...

Trust in thine armour to succeed.

..could actually be a strength.

You think you'd fit in here?

And when the job match is right...

-Sold for £24 to the little gentleman over there.

-Perfect.

..it could change their life forever.

So what would it mean to finally get the right job?

-HE TICS

-It would mean the world.

This programme contains some strong language.

Meow. Meow.

My name's Tom, I'm 27, and I'm from Staffordshire.

How do you find interviews?

-HE TICS

-Stressful.

HE TICS

HE TICS

Yeah, you can see people look at you sometimes and think, "What are you doing?"

As if you are mad. For me, it's not the case.

Obviously, I know I've got Tourette's.

-What are your typical ticks?

-BLEEP

-off. That.

I do both, I verbally tick and I motor tick.

Meow. Meow.

Tom showed signs of Tourette's from the age of six,

but he wasn't diagnosed until he was 15.

I tap my nose, I tap my legs.

I meow, which is quite a cool one. Meow.

There's a lot of chicken related ticks at the moment,

which are a bit interesting.

Chicken. There are areas that intensify the ticks.

If you're in a very public area...

-HE TICS

-People don't know I have Tourette's.

Meow. When you know people are staring at you or pointing at you,

that's hard, that's really hard.

Meow.

I'm gay.

The pressures of the condition meant he struggled through school

and had to drop out of university.

I just thought I'd drop in a CV if that's possible.

-I'll keep it on file and give you a call or something.

-All right, brilliant. Thank you very much.

Get out now.

-Meow, chicken.

-Why do you want to work?

I want everything that normal people have.

I want independence, I want to have my own place, my own flat,

-what ever it is...

-HE TICS

..family and a chance to achieve in life what I believe I'm capable of.

-Have you got any sort of qualifications?

-Not as such.

-Lifeguards or...

-Not lifeguard, no.

-Gym instructor or anything like that?

-No, no.

Do you think you've got something to offer an employer?

-HE TICS

-Yeah, I have, you know,

all the basic skills that anyone would have, as well as the fact that

it's harder for me to find a job means I want it even more.

-Have you got any qualifications, HGV or...

-No, I haven't.

I need somebody to take a punt on me,

so I can show people what I'm capable of.

I'm willing to work my backside off to show that to someone.

-BLEEP

-off.

Sorry. Sorry, sorry, sorry.

HE TICS

Spoon, spoon, spoon.

At 27, Tom's still living at home with his parents,

who support him financially.

-How are you doing, Thomas?

-I'm all right.

-Right, jobs page.

-No mind the

-BLEEP

-jobs.

Dicky fish. Is definitely not the ad.

HIS DAD LAUGHS

Part-time, temporary administrator in an office,

-not going to work.

-No! No.

Couldn't work in a quiet office because I know I couldn't be quiet.

-And it's not because...

-HE TICS

And it's not because I feel bad for myself,

I feel bad that I'd be disturbing everyone else,

and that would make it worse.

-HE TICS

-But for me...

But for me, that industry wouldn't work for me.

-Cattery assistant.

-Prepare and provide food and water for the cats.

-Meow! Attend to...

-Meow would fit.

That's quite a fitting tick for that one, isn't it?

I'd fit in a cattery quite well actually.

It is actually deeply depressing looking through this, Tom, I have to say.

-We need a very significant of faith from a potential employer...

-Yeah.

..not to see the downside.

It is not to say I'm not a capable person, I am.

HE TICS

I'm as driven, I'm as committed and as hard-working as anybody else.

And I want it as much as anybody else.

What really gets me sometimes is the fact that,

and it gets me really down sometimes,

is the fact that I don't have a choice about having Tourette's.

But I have got it. And the fact that someone is willing to go,

-"Well, he's got Tourette's, I'm not going to take the risk," or...

-HE TICS

..not look through that barrier and think, "Actually,

"what's he like as a person? You know, the CV says he can do it.

"So, why don't we give him a shot?"

Can you sum up your employment history so far?

This is it.

That's it.

I have literally never worked before in my life.

VACUUM CLEANER WHIRRS

29-year-old Ashley has a form of autism called Asperger syndrome.

He lives on his own in Liverpool.

Well, this is my humble abode, my casa,

my bachelor pad, if you will.

It's not much, but it serves my needs.

So, this is my living room. This is where I spend most of my time.

One of the first things you'll notice

is that it's completely purple.

I, for one, like purple. It's my favourite colour.

Purple is considered the colour of madness, for some reason.

The colour and myself have something in common.

We're unusual, something that's rarely seen,

yet sadly misunderstood.

Like many people with Asperger syndrome,

Ashley has above-average intelligence,

but he's never even been offered an interview.

He occupies his mind with his very particular interests.

Ever since I was very young, I have had this passion for...

the Victorian era.

Ashley's even turned his passion into a Victorian-inspired novel.

"Balthazar Bazalgette had chocolate-brown hair

"and a handlebar moustache so broad

"it covered the width of his entire face."

Is that you?

Yes, I heavily based this character on myself, I don't deny it.

"The planetary ring that circled his world

"arched across the blue sky like a giant rainbow."

And he spends hours memorising television sitcoms.

Oh, Richie!

Why didn't we just stay in Hammersmith?

Because the police were after us, remember?

Oh! Let's take in some ecstasy, you said. Remember?

A nightmare 12-hour dance, we couldn't stop doing for 12...

-BLEEP

-..hours. The fight,

the ambulance, stealing the ambulance...

DOORBELL RINGS

-Hello, darling.

-Hello, Mum.

-How are you?

-Um...

somewhat OK.

Ashley has just one regular visitor, his mum, Jan.

I made some blackberry and apple crumbles for you for the weekend.

She supports him financially and is determined

to help him get his foot on the employment ladder.

What would you say your strengths are?

Highly creative, powerful imagination.

And what would you say your weaknesses are?

Tendency to obsess...

Oh, hang on a minute.

Oh, dustbins.

Too late.

JAN LAUGHS

Oh, hang on.

-Have the recycling people...?

-Yeah, they must have been, yeah.

-Oh!

I just hate it when I don't get things right.

I mean, I know it's just recycling bins, this is going to nag,

and gnaw at me for the next two weeks.

Oh, forgot, I'm not doing that...

No. Oh, God, now it's going to be two weeks.

I've been meaning to mark all the days of my calendar,

-but I never got round to it.

-Mm.

You know, times like this, I feel like you're right,

that I can't take care of myself.

Ashley was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome when he was 12.

There we go.

But back when he was six, there was little sign of what was to come.

We'd like to invite everyone to come on stage and have some fun!

-JAN LAUGHS

-He was so sweet.

Didn't speak until he was...three.

There's quite an autistic spectrum trait.

And of course, Einstein didn't speak till he was three, either!

-JAN LAUGHS

-# Things we've done today!

JAN SIGHS

# Dream of the times... #

We had so much hope for him, then.

He was just full of life and now it's not worked out.

I don't want him to end up depressed, alone,

watching the TV as an old man, having done nothing with his life.

There's so much he could do, and I really feel

that if only he could get the chance

and somebody could give him a break that he would be able to

make something quite special out of his life.

I'm not looking for a job for the next six months. Ah!

I want a job where I can go into...ah!

..and progress in something full-time with a career in it.

Chicken fucker.

Today could be a turning point for Tom.

He's being assessed by Nancy Doyle,

an occupational psychologist who specialises in uncovering

the hidden talents of those on the neuro-diverse spectrum.

-Hi. Nice to meet you.

-Hi. Nancy.

-Nice to meet you.

-Nice to meet you.

-Come in.

-Thank you.

Okey-dokey. What have you done since leaving school?

Basically, due to the conditions, I kind of flitted...

INDISTINCT

-..other.

-Mm-hm.

-I couldn't... settle down at anything.

Failed at pretty much everything I put my hand to.

And struggled, confidence-wise, massively doing anything.

'It's very common for people with Tourette's to have low self-esteem,'

-kind of be hiding themselves away a little bit.

-Chicken...

What I want to do with Tom is really spend a lot of time

putting that to one side and saying, what are your abilities?

OK, so the first test is testing working memory.

I'm going to read a sequence of numbers

and you say them in reverse order.

-Meow.

-Six, five....

-eight.

-Eight, one.

-Oh, that one's gone.

-That one's gone.

-Yeah.

-TOM SMACKS HIS LIPS

Just because one area of the brain isn't working well

doesn't mean the rest of it is affected.

The rest of the brain could be doing absolutely brilliant things,

we just haven't been paying attention to it.

-That's it. And that's the hardest one.

-Bloody hell.

-We're just going to do a general knowledge test.

-Yeah.

And this is kind of measuring how well you take in information

-and retain it.

-Yeah.

-What animal group is a spider?

An arachnid.

What is the speed of light?

-186,000 miles per second?

-Yes.

-HE STIFLES LAUGHTER

-The next one is a verbal task.

-Right.

-In what way are steam and fog alike?

They're both water. Gaseous water.

-Meow.

-In what way is hibernation and migration alike?

They're both methods at which animals deal with the seasons,

in the sense that bears will go and hibernate through the winter,

whereas water buffalo will migrate to find different pastures.

-TOM BLOWS A RASPBERRY

-Wonderful. Thank you, Tom.

That was really intense.

-Yeah.

-THEY LAUGH

-You are all done.

-Ooh.

OK, so when we take an aggregate

of these three verbal comprehension scores,

-what we find is that your verbal IQ is 136.

-Yeah.

Which is in the top 1%. You're on the 99th percentile.

I read a study a few years ago which showed that the average IQ

-of somebody doing a degree was 112...

-Mm.

-..and the average IQ of somebody with a PhD was 125.

-Mm-hm.

-So I hope that kind of puts into context for you...

-Yeah.

..your score of 136.

-That is how unusual it is.

-Wow.

That does put it into context, doesn't it?

-It makes you think, definitely makes you think.

-Yeah.

With perceptual reasoning,

that was all the stuff about shapes and patterns...

-Spatial awareness and stuff.

-Yes.

Your IQ was 117, which is in the top 13%.

-So again, very, very high.

-Pff!

Now with working memory, IQ was 95, processing speed, the IQ was 97.

-Yeah.

-That's just in this sort of range, here...

This is where I expected to suffer.

In terms of your condition, the amount of space

that your brain has to process...

er, small, minute, detailed...

tasks like that is compromised by

the amount of effort you're putting into managing your ticks.

So you might not seem as truly bright as you are, to start with.

That's probably why I've flitted from one thing to the other,

cos I wasn't doing as well as I thought or it didn't go quite

to plan and I thought, maybe this is the wrong place.

-We need to get you to fly.

-Yeah.

-Because the world can only benefit from you...

-Potential is..

-..working at the capacity of your strengths.

-Yeah.

Verbal comprehension skills really do lend themselves to

coaching and teaching and training and that sort of thing.

-I think you have a natural aptitude for that.

-Thank you.

TOM BLOWS RASPBERRIES

What she said is to get where my brain is actually

capable of getting to...

HE YELPS

..you might start off slow sometimes in some things,

but if you persist, you will soon start to rocket up

to your full potential.

-You've never actually acknowledged your strengths.

-No.

-We've all known they're there.

-Yeah.

-And you've used them,

but you've never actually admitted that you've got them,

to yourself, stopping yourself going, I can't, I can't, I can't.

-Actually, I can.

-Actually I can do this.

-You know?

-Knowing I've this...

-TOM YELPS

-RISING PITCH

-..academic ability...

Pff! Makes me sort of think that maybe going back

and studying,

with the aim to get into a career in an industry that I'm interested in

is possible.

So, massive, massive, massive confidence boost.

You ever see that old footage of one of the early experiments

in space travel, when the rocket clears the launchpad,

it soars up into the sky for a little a while,

but then something goes wrong,

it curls back down to Earth, crashes and explodes in a huge fireball?

That went infinitely better than my job search.

Ashley's lack of work experience after completing his education

has left his CV unappealing to prospective employers.

This section is skills and achievements. "Creative writing,

"attention to detail, highly intelligent,

"excellent memory."

"Interests - Victorian history, movies, and magic."

In desperation, Ashley has applied for anything

and everything to get on the employment ladder.

Out of between 80 and 100 applications,

petrol station attendant,

warehouse worker, a bingo caller,

not once did I even make it to the interview stage.

If it weren't for the money that my parents gave me

I would end up completely destitute in a very short time.

I feel like I'm this useless, worthless person...

and my CV is this little,

little tiny thing, trying to contend with the big boys.

To help turn his job hunt around,

Ashley's travelling to Cambridge to meet an authority in autism.

If I take advice from this expert it might be advantageous,

cos I've always thought you should defer to the experts.

-Professor Simon Baron-Cohen...

-Hello, Ashley.

..director of the autism centre in Cambridge, has dedicated

over 20 years to researching the condition.

It's a depressing statistic

that only 15% of people with autism

are in full-time work.

It's time for employers to recognise

people with these conditions can really contribute to the workplace.

When I met you, you were wearing a top hat.

Yes, ever since I was little, I've loved the look

-and the style of the Victorian era.

-Right, OK.

My childhood hero was Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

I like to call him the Da Vinci of the industrial age.

Very interesting. I can hear you've got a really good mind.

-How did you tell that?

-Because you describe things very carefully.

It's a mind that prefers precision and order.

People with autism often have obsessions,

it's actually part of the diagnosis,

where they become fascinated by one particular topic.

'The word obsession sounds like it's not very positive.'

But actually, we could think of it as an area of expertise.

What I'd like to hear about next is a little bit

about your situation. Have you been looking for work?

-You know that expression, getting your foot in the door?

-Yes.

I couldn't even get the door to open to get my foot in.

So that's demoralising, not even to get to the interview stage.

I just wish someone could tell me what I'm doing wrong.

Yes, so you're not getting any feedback.

You have to have experience to get any kind of job at all.

Employers might exclude someone with Asperger syndrome,

believing that they're not able to do the job,

when they're actually missing the potential.

Researchers are beginning to start focusing on the positive sides

of autism and actually I've brought along some tests today

to reveal some of those strengths.

-You know what this is?

-Do you?

-I would call it a paperclip.

-Yes.

What else could we use it for?

A recent study asked people to find alternative uses for an object,

'such as a paperclip, and they found people with autistic traits

'were more likely to come up with more unusual uses for that object.'

S, for Simon.

-That was very quick.

-Hang on, hang on.

-Yes.

HE MAKES BEEPING NOISES

-What's that?

-Morse code.

-Morse code. Right.

Dive, dive.

Roll over, roll over.

Yes.

-HE SINGS

-# Dum, do, do, do

# Do, do, do

-# Bound by a key. #

-SIMON LAUGHS

So, I would say that you saw many more uses than most people would.

You demonstrate your creativity. It was almost unstoppable, actually.

That could be another real advantage for an employer.

That was amazing.

'I generally think I managed to impress him in some respects.'

I like that.

He was definitely of the opinion that Asperger syndrome

isn't something that should prevent employers from employing you,

or prevent people from seeing what you can do.

If Ashley could find a job where he could use his very good language,

his fascination with Victoriana

and his presenting skills, that would be really good.

'If I could just get in front of an employer,

'show him what I'm capable of,

'then I think I would have a real shot at getting a job.'

If you put a glass under a tap of water

and it's filling up, filling up, filling up, filling up,

eventually it's going to overflow.

-HIGH PITCHED

-You know?! You know you're going to tick

and you can hold it in for a certain period of time, but eventually...

it's going to come out.

Right, I'm off.

OK, darling. Good luck.

Thank you. See you later. Thank you.

On the advice of occupational psychologist Nancy,

Tom's trying a new career avenue.

-Meow.

-He's starting a two-day trial at a school

to see if he could put his superior verbal comprehension skills

to good use through teaching.

'Having had the test analysis and working out what I was good at

'and what I was better at...'

Morning. You all right?

HE TICS

..a job role, working with children, working with people,

was definitely something she said would be a good career step for me.

So coming here today, I can see how good I am at using those skills.

-I'm a bit nervous...

-HE TICS

'This environment is definitely the unknown.'

-Morning, Tom. Would you like to come along?

-Yes, thank you.

Pauline Carmichael is principal of Walton Hall Academy,

a school for children with learning difficulties.

-You're looking a bit nervous this morning.

-A little bit, yeah.

I've done a timetable for you,

just so you know what today's going to bring for you,

-what time of day things are going to be happening.

-TOM MUMBLES

You're going to be with year seven, mainly. Well, right the way through.

-Mm-hm.

-I'm sure you'll have a fab time.

-I'm looking forward to it.

I'm a bit nervous, but I'm looking forward to it.

For his first day, Tom will be assessed on how well

he uses his skills to give learning support to a class of 11-year-olds.

Good morning, year seven.

-Morning.

-Tom, do you want to say hello to everybody?

Yes, hello, guys.

I'm here today to do a little bit of work with you

and I have a condition called Tourette's syndrome.

The condition makes me make funny noises and things like that,

so if you do hear anything, don't worry too much about it.

I make funny noises sometimes.

Peas in a pod then, aren't we?

If he does have the right skills for the job,

he'll need to return to studying to make it his career.

We're going to name the part of the...chicken, I think.

But this is the first time Tom's been in a classroom

since he left school.

'It was difficult at school with teachers.'

They didn't believe that I couldn't control it.

-RISING PITCH

-You know what I mean? They thought I was taking the mick.

'The teachers used to make me sit on my hands because I couldn't sit still.

'That was difficult.'

When you look back on it. The fact that, ahhhh...

'the people that are there to inspire you, take care of you and give you the best shot...'

didn't do that.

Now I want to show people that I can work and work hard

and achieve in whatever I do.

Tom, what problem have you got again?

-It's like a problem with my brain...

-Yeah.

..and it makes me make funny noises and do funny things,

like funny sounds...

And I can't stop it, I can't, um, control it.

-Funny sounds?

-Yeah, so I might go...

-BLOWS A RASPBERRY

-..or squeak a little bit.

-Have you noticed that one?

-Yeah.

It's a bit weird, isn't it? A bit crazy.

-Yeah.

-Crazy, crazy, crazy.

I'm glad I haven't got the problem that Tom's got.

Yeah. It's a bit of an odd one, that's for sure.

-Can't be helped though, Tom.

-No, it can't be helped,

you're right, mate. You're absolutely spot on.

'The kids are absolutely amazing.'

-HIGH PITCHED

-So...

so friendly, so welcoming, the staff are as well.

'I hope I'm doing a good job at the moment.

'I feel like I'm giving it as best I can, trying to get stuck in.'

I've spoken to the staff that you've been supporting.

-Yeah.

-And you've had empathy with the students,

-you've supported them, so it's been really positive feedback.

-Good.

-If we can put you in a slightly different role tomorrow...

-Yeah.

..what I would like to do is to take the year seven PE session,

do the whole lesson, you would need to plan that.

-Yeah.

-I don't expect you just to go in there and do it.

-Right, OK.

Running a PE lesson will help Tom decide

if a career in teaching is really for him.

-Hello.

-Hi!

-How did you get on?

-It was really...eye-opening day.

It's totally different.

-TOM TICS

-Yeah, yeah, for sure,

just a totally different experience.

I've got a bit more of a challenge tomorrow, so...

-What are you doing tomorrow?

-Um...

-TOM TICS

-..taking PE lesson.

I've got a few ideas in my head, but I don't know yet.

I need to sit down and write it, I'm not a person who can...

I need to write it down, I can't just think of it in my head

and tell people what I'm thinking, I've never been able to do that.

It is a big deal, cos it's not something you've ever done before.

-It's quite a big responsibility.

-Mm.

So, I've got to get it right.

'I think it's important that Tom gets his foot on the ladder

'for a career path.

'I'd like him to really fulfil his potential,

'because if he doesn't, he's going to be doing work that I think'

-will frustrate him...

-Mm.

..but he is very anxious, very wound up,

it's a side of Thomas that very few people see,

because he keeps it very well hidden.

Yes, I think that's true.

He allows sometimes those little nerves to get in the way

of what is a very talented young man.

Fucking hell.

What sort of job would I NOT want to do?

Erm....

Well, if it were something to do with adult entertainment,

then no, I would not be comfortable in that at all.

Following Professor Baron-Cohen's advice, Ashley's targeting

local businesses that would benefit from his creative mind

and obsessive interest in Victorian history.

Good day, sir.

All right? Good day to you.

I'm sorry to trouble you, this may seem awkward,

but I have a passion for all things old and antique.

I've been a admirer of the Victorian era

ever since I was very little.

'Sometimes I think it is a little hard to sell myself'

'because I don't always know...'

which strengths I need to focus on.

I've always been a big lover of literature.

In fact, I hope to be a professional author some day.

-I'm very happy to have a look at your CV.

-Oh, thank you very much.

A local auction house is high on Ashley's list

of potential workplaces.

-Hello, sir.

-Hello.

Would you think you would have an interest working in an auction room?

Ever since I was very little, I've had an interest in older things,

particularly from the Victorian era.

I have a small collection

of antique-styled furnishings in my house.

OK, so you know, perhaps a little bit about it.

-Tell me a little bit about yourself.

-OK.

I have Asperger syndrome. Do you know what that is?

-I don't, but that really won't...

-It's a neurological condition.

-I'm not ill...

-No...

-..it's just my brain works slightly differently.

That's not a problem. How are you physically for lifting objects?

I'm not...no circus strongman,

but I don't have arthritis or a bad back or anything.

No, good, that's quite important because the days do start

at 8.30 in the morning and we finish at 4.30 in the evening.

-When do you start again?

-8.30 in the morning.

-Ah, right.

I think what I'd like to do,

I'd like to have you with us for a few days to see how you get on.

-Yes, I would be very amenable to having some work experience.

-Right.

If you give me work experience here, I will become determined

to do the very best I can at it.

OK. All right, well, I don't think we could ask any more than that.

If you present yourself here tomorrow morning at 8.30,

we'll see how we get on...

8.30, right.

This will be Ashley's first step into the world of work

and if he impresses, it could lead to a regular job.

I don't think we've ever advertised for anybody.

Everybody here, they just come in looking for jobs.

I quite like people like that,

because they've made the decision to go out to work, to find something.

'I was surprised when he invited me to start tomorrow.'

Actually, I'm a little worried about that, cos I have to be here at 8.30,

and...I'm not used to, frankly, I'm not used to getting up that early.

To find out if teaching is the right career for him,

Tom's been given the task of taking today's year seven PE class.

And he's spent the night preparing for it.

Get out of town.

-TOM TICS

-I went to bed stressed...

and then woke up stressed...

'Does make the Tourette's a bit worse, because...

'stress and Tourette's don't go hand in hand.

'You worry too much, you overthink things.'

As long as his Tourette's doesn't interfere,

PE teaching could utilise Tom's verbal and visual spatial skills.

-Do you need anything else?

-No, I've got everything else that I need.

-Yeah.

-You want me to run you through what I was going to do?

-Yeah.

So, I'm going to get them into two groups,

one starting on each set of mats...

'There's an underlying anxiety issue with Tourette's.

'I don't want to slip up, or shout, "F off",

'that kind of stuff, in front of a load of kids.

'Definitely have to think about suppressing ticks, if you think something rude's going to come out,

'or you're going to swear, or, whatever,

'you have to be very careful what you say and where you say it.'

-Who's teaching us?

-I'm teaching you this lesson.

We're going to do a game, you said you wanted to do a game,

-so we're going to do some games today.

-Brilliant!

-Yeah?

What I want you guys to do, one behind the other, is line up.

What the person at the back of the line is going to do is to go,

crawl between the legs of everybody else

and when he gets to the front, he's going to stand up...

Tom is expected to lead the class

for the duration of the 50-minute session.

And it's the first team to get all their team members

to the end of the mats, all right?

One, two, three, go!

That's it. Careful, Isaac. Nice one.

Nice one. No, wait. Like this, like this.

No, stand in the front, stand in the front, stand in the front.

-Just there. Just there.

-Can we start again?

-What's up, mate?

-Because when people come through, but then...

-The person...

When everyone's been, you start again.

I should have explained it better.

-OK.

-Just play another game cos I've already had a go.

Ten minutes in and the lesson isn't quite going according to

Tom's carefully prepared plan.

It's hard to think on your feet cos 90% of the time,

I'm concentrating on no... No... Not ticking and getting my words out,

so people understand what they've got to do.

It's hard to think about everything else that comes with running a lesson.

We'll play a different game. I've got another plan.

Rhys wants to play another game.

So, what I want everyone to do is make a circle for me.

Make a circle. OK. So, move your arms over each other.

'Cos the condition is so intrusive in the mind...'

This hasn't worked as well as I thought it would.

..and you end up having like a brain overload

because you've got so much to think about.

As well as trying to control the ticks.

That is way harder than it looks, mate. Totally different scenario.

Oh...

Tom has managed to complete the lesson

and control most of his ticks, but it's left him exhausted

and questioning whether he could do this full-time.

It's very, very difficult for me. It wasn't an ideal situation...

HE TICS

I really need to go away, do some more delving into

what my options are, make sure that I follow the right career path.

Morning.

How are you?

Terrible.

It's nearly eight in the morning

and the first day of Ashley's work trial.

He needs to be there in just half an hour.

Let me just get my socks on.

If he performs well, he could prove that he is ready for employment

and make that first step to a full-time job.

-Thank you.

-Hey. Are you OK?

-No, not really.

-Good morning, Ashley.

-Good morning to you, sir.

-How are you doing this morning?

-Not very well.

I didn't get much sleep last night.

Just don't know if I'll be able to function.

Like many people with Asperger Syndrome,

Ashley is often brutally honest.

Nobody has actually ever said to me within three minutes of being here,

"I'm tired," and quite obviously doesn't feel up to working today.

Doesn't go down terribly well.

Well, at least working here, there's no shortage of chairs.

Today, Ashley is joining a removal team to help clear

a flat of possessions to be auctioned off later in the week.

-I have to ask, where did you get that hat from?

-I...

I don't remember.

Reminds me of, er...

-Sherlock Holmes.

-Sherlock Holmes, yeah.

Well, that's the hat Sherlock Holmes wore,

but they're called deerstalkers, not Sherlock Holmes hats.

Each item must be assessed for value and catalogued.

But Ashley's condition means that he can lack initiative

in certain situations and he struggles

without direct instruction.

Er...

-Shall I show you how to do this, Ashley?

-Do what?

We have to go round and make a detailed inventory

of everything in the house that we're taking.

So the next number would be number 10. A canteen of cutlery.

That sticker then goes on to the front of the canteen.

-So, up here?

-That'll do, fantastic. Yeah.

The next one can be...

It's going to be number 11, which will be the chairs.

Pair of chairs...

OK.

Luckily for Ashley,

his condition brings with it a gift for attention to detail.

-Black leather reclining chair.

-Brilliant.

Perfect for categorising furniture.

A black square chair.

-Black and chrome chairs.

-Black and chrome chairs, that's perfect.

'There's something satisfying about following the rules,

'knowing exactly what to do.

'There's something calming in following procedure.'

This morning, I thought, he's not going to do anything at all today.

What's he doing here?

Suddenly, he sprung to life on site and he's getting stuck in

with all the other staff and he's enjoying himself.

'I'm feeling useful, doing something productive, and the fact that'

it's not hugely mentally taxing, maybe that's a good thing.

How did you find that?

Oh, it was OK, I suppose.

Bit of hard work.

After a tough start to the day,

Ashley has four hours left to make a good impression.

All the items you can see are going to be sold in our next auction

and I want you to put your best description that you can on items.

The better the description, the more chance you have of selling it.

All right.

My legs are aching.

With his talent for creative writing

and obsession with Victorian objects,

this task could be better suited to his strengths.

You haven't done bad at all there.

Wooden wicker end table with matching chair

in a very good condition, medium brown wood.

-That is fantastic.

-Yeah, but I've no idea what era it's from.

Don't worry about that. It doesn't matter. These are good descriptions.

He's put - perfect for an elegant afternoon tea party.

That's just a nice touch.

-What about this?

-That's a decanter. Still contains the liqueur.

Do not buy this if you plan on driving!

HE CHUCKLES

As part of his trial,

Ashley has been asked to open tomorrow's auction.

The audience will be down here.

We'll say it's this.

-Mm-hm.

-What do you think you should do first?

-Um...

-Well...

-I would say, "Shall we start the bidding at £5?"

So someone puts their hand up and you would then say...

I have £5.

-That's it. Is there six anywhere?

-Is there £6, anyone?

-And then somebody else will put their hand up.

-Hopefully.

-Hopefully.

-And then...

-I have £6.

-That's it.

And the bidding stops, what do you say then?

Going once...

Going twice...

-Going, going...

-BANGS GAVEL

Sold for £24 to the little gentleman over there.

LAUGHTER

Don't say that!

It's your bid, madam. Your bid, sir.

-Because people can get quite offended.

-OK.

You can practise this at home tonight.

It should build his confidence because it is such a scary thing to do and he'll be scared,

he should be, I was scared the first time I did this. I was terrified!

Yeah, I think I need to go through the pros and cons of it.

After two days on the job as a teacher, Tom has a lot to consider.

What is it about the actual teaching side of things that you don't like?

Because, I mean, it sounds as though actually

what you did in the lesson went down very well.

-Well, yeah. It's just... Not being able to switch off.

-Mm.

The standing up in front of people is not something

I'm particularly comfortable doing, given I have Tourette's and...

-HE TICS

-Wah... I don't want the stress and strains of it.

-I'd rather...

-You want to do the practical side...

Yeah, and be able, when I go home and close my front door,

-close my front door.

-Mm.

-And not...

-HE TICS

I've still got two hours' work to do tonight.

So, what it comes down to is... stress.

-Eventually, I would just be a mess.

-Yes, you would.

-You know?

Then I'd be too tired and I wouldn't be able to function properly

-and wouldn't be able to do my job properly.

-No. I get that.

-I can see that in you as an individual.

-Chicken, chicken, bah!

Which is why I also need something where, you know,

there's not a huge amount of pressure on me to achieve it.

-Target industry roles are not going to be good for me. All that kind of stuff.

-Mm.

It's more about being physically engaged in what I'm doing, so I don't tick so much. Nah...

-Which does help in the long term because I don't get so tired.

-Mm.

Over the years, Tom has discovered that the only thing

that helps reduce his urge to tick

is to concentrate on a physical task,

like riding his motorbike.

Because I'm so conscious and so focused on staying safe

and watching the road, changing gear, braking,

I'm always thinking about what I'm doing, I don't actually tick. Ah...

I'm like anybody else! I'm normal, in a way.

I mean, as soon as I get off the bike, take my helmet off,

I'm on again. But when I'm riding, it's fine. No problem at all.

To be able to find something sort of physically engaging,

something where I can actually get my hands stuck in and do it,

helps mitigate the Tourette's, it helps to sort of stop me

ticking so much and that would be an ideal situation for me to look into.

Ahead of Ashley's big day at the auction house,

and the culmination of his work trial,

his mum is treating him to a new outfit.

-We need a suit.

-A suit? Right, we can sort that out, definitely.

I don't really like modern-day suits.

Have you got something a Victorian gentleman might wear?

I haven't, actually, to be honest. No.

-Do you like that?

-Er...

-No?

-Try it with a shirt, would look much better.

-No.

Why?

SHE TUTS AND SIGHS

I am hating this. This is so awkward!

I'm just standing around here.

I can't think of anything to say to this man and...

Let's go then cos I don't like anything in here.

-You can order one.

-No!

It's not the colours, it's the shape, the style.

Appals me.

SHE SIGHS

'All his life, it's been difficult to buy shoes and clothes.'

It's all too much, too new, to think about.

I don't like it.

Don't like it.

He takes everything very seriously and got to do it properly.

If we give him his own time and his own space,

he might choose something.

-OK, right...

-Wow!

Let's have a little look at that one. There we go.

-Hee-hee!

-Yes, I think it's pretty good.

-Really smart.

-Yes, it is. You've already said that.

-Right, ready to go.

-Thank you very much for your help.

You're very welcome, no problem at all. Thank you, OK.

-After deciding not to follow a career in teaching...

-Meow!

..Tom is on the hunt for a more practical profession

that could focus his mind and use his strengths.

I remember Nadia saying to me

that not only did I have good verbal comprehension,

but I had the spatial awareness and the physical...

You know, doing things was quite high on my IQ test,

so doing a job where I can use those skills, that would be ideal for me.

Fuck off.

Tom's arranged to meet a friend whose job as a tree surgeon

relies heavily on strong visual spatial skills.

-Hey up.

-Hey up. You all right?

-Yeah, you?

He wants to find out if he could stand a chance in the industry,

despite his physical ticks.

Fish tights.

Sorry.

-It's not the best way to start.

-THEY LAUGH

Do you think you'll be OK with chainsaws and chippers

and machines and all the equipment you'll start using?

Cos at the end of the day, safety's a massive factor

and if they think safety's going to be compromised...

The way people might think my condition might affect it -

imagine with a chainsaw ticking all over the place -

when I'm doing something where I'm absolutely like...

If you're concentrating...

It's like, because I'm not ticking because I'm occupied, it's like..

I'm like... I've not got Tourette's any more. It's weird.

-I can understand people being a bit wary of that.

-Absolutely.

-At the end of the day, they're liable for...

-Exactly.

-..any issues that arise.

-I think that's the issue

I have to try and get past with them, isn't it?

The only way for Tom to know

whether tree surgery would be a good and safe option for him

is to convince someone to let him try it out.

Contacts page... Fuck off.

Fuck off.

Like I say, some employers might not be so relaxed.

That's why I've recommended those two.

Yeah. For sure, for sure.

'The chat I had with Matt really sort of like solidified

'the fact that this is something I'm really interested in.'

'To convince an employer that Tourette's isn't really an issue,'

that's going to be his major setback.

It's difficult for him to persuade somebody

without a reference from somebody

that it's not going to be a problem.

It's 29-year-old Ashley's final day at the auction house.

Ladies and gentlemen,

our next item up for bid is this lovely 18th-century lamp.

He's preparing for today's trial on the rostrum.

Going, going...gone.

A little concerned, yes.

The auctioneer is the focus of any auction.

I'm afraid that the actual bidding, raising of the hands,

will go too fast for me to follow and I'll lose track of where I was

and I'll look embarrassing and unprofessional in front of everyone.

There's a lot at stake for Ashley.

After struggling on his first day, it's a chance for him

to prove to his boss John, and himself, what he's capable of.

When you get on the rostrum, very important to smile at people.

That means you've got confidence in what you're doing

and it gives them confidence to bid.

But due to his Asperger syndrome, Ashley finds it hard

to show socially appropriate emotions on cue.

"Good morning," and a nice pleasant smile.

It's hard keeping this one up, though.

Think of something funny.

-Smile. Smile?

-I'm thinking, all right?!

Smile! Do a smile!

That's it, that's it, that's good.

Yeah, bigger one.

That's it! Yeah!

The rostrum is a little bit like a boxing ring.

You're up there by yourself, there's no-one to help you.

It's real money people are spending

and he's got to do as well as he can

to get as much money for them, for the vendors.

Ashley's mum has arrived

to watch him take a position of responsibility for the first time.

Yes, that's fine.

On the piece of paper, you've got lot 300, whatever it is.

ASHLEY CLEARS HIS THROAT, BANGS GAVEL

Right, there we go, lot 426.

Ladies and gentlemen, lot 426, a vintage toaster.

Missing a handle and currently not working,

but possibly convertible to modern electrics, thus restoring it to use.

We'll start the bidding at £5.

Do I hear £5?

£5 here.

Do I hear £6?

£6? £6 over here.

7? £7.

£10, do I hear £12?

14?

14, I have £14.

Now 18, shall we make it 20?

£22, he certainly wants that toaster!

£22, going once...

£22 going twice...

Going, going,

gone.

A parcel of ladies' hand fans, if you would hold it up, please.

We shall start the bidding at £5. Do I hear £5?

£16 for the box of hand fans.

Very good.

£18, going, going...gone.

That's a step forward.

APPLAUSE

-That was brilliant.

-Really? Why was it brilliant?

Because it's a very scary thing,

it's very difficult to get up in front of people.

People enjoyed it and people enjoyed seeing you up there and you smiled!

I didn't get as much as I'd like to on that mirror, though.

Hello! You did really well!

That was fantastic! It was very professional.

You've got to do something about your hair, though.

-I only brushed it this morning.

-Hmm.

After Ashley's first step into the world of work,

John wants to talk to him about what his next move could be.

My view is it's been a great experience for you

and it's been a great experience for us

and I have to say, it's been a pleasure having you here.

If you would like to come in, say, half a day a week,

you are very welcome to do that.

Do you think that would put you under stress a little bit?

I would say yes, I think it would,

but I don't know if I would get used to it maybe after a while.

I think that... that would not be surprising,

that you got tired by working,

but that's something you do get used to.

It's interesting being around all this old antique stuff

and I could definitely use work experience.

It would give you a track record

and it's a stepping stone to getting a job that you really do want.

-Thank you for having me.

-Do come and see us

and they're not empty words, I really mean that.

Thank you.

Apparently, I did it really well.

They gave me surprisingly good feedback, all things considered.

People who have the label of having Asperger's syndrome,

they are not write-offs.

I just want to say, it's been an absolute pleasure working with you,

Ashley, it's been great over the last two days.

Thank you very much.

I would be prepared to give it a go with him on a part-time basis.

It would be a good chance to meet people,

maybe get better acquainted and maybe make some friends.

-The door's open, come and see us any time.

-OK.

Thank you.

Employers must open the doors

and find out what they CAN do, not what they can't do.

People hear "learning disabilities"

and they think we're damaged goods.

I will show that we, the Aspergi, if that is the plural,

can do things, all right?

We are not helpless.

-ON PHONE:

-'And look forward to seeing you, mate.'

Brilliant, look forward to seeing you too.

I'll see you about 10.30 this morning.

Thanks to his friend's contacts,

Tom has managed to secure a day working with a tree surgeon.

They're going to be a little bit on the back foot

because, obviously, you're handling chainsaws,

you're handling saws or whatever, they'll be thinking,

"Well, how is that going to affect...?"

-TOM TICS

-We shall see.

Tom's trial is with a local tree-surgery team, clearing woodland

and removing dangerous branches high in the canopies.

I am a little bit nervous.

There is a definite danger factor to it.

You know, people might worry if I have physical tics,

that I might throw a chainsaw around or whatever.

It's going to be normal for people

to be a bit hesitant about someone with Tourette's.

People do get hurt and you don't want that

to happen to you or anybody you're working with.

Nice to meet you, man.

Yeah, nice to meet you, mate.

The person Tom really needs to convince today is boss Steve,

who can give him the reference he needs to get into the industry.

But only if Tom can prove that his physical tics

won't be a hazard around the dangerous machinery.

Do you experience a lot of tics, do you?

It's only when I'm not doing anything.

If I'm on the ground and standing around, I would tic.

So, focus sorts that out, does it?

Yeah, as long as I've got something to do

and I can focus on what I'm doing.

-So you are happy, yeah?

-Yes, I'm fine.

-You're happy, I'm happy.

-We'll get everything put in place and we'll give it a go.

-Cool.

The first plan of action is,

if you can stack that wood up there as Danny cuts it.

Get the odd branch towards the chipper for us.

Whatever you do,

don't get anywhere near the loading point of the machine.

And then me and Graham will set this tree up for you later on

to do a little bit of climbing work.

CHAINSAWS BUZZ

Tree surgery is one of the most dangerous jobs in the country.

Today is a trial period where we can see if Tom can cut it.

The added uncertainty, of course, is the Tourette's.

It's important, at this stage, that he is monitored.

Let's see if he does appear to get tics under stress.

Have you got another handsaw there, mate?

Just bring yourself over here, then, mate.

Come over here, Tom.

The arborist's saw is a tree surgeon's most important tool.

Be aware that's very sharp.

You can just put your finger on there and it can puncture you.

Tom needs to show that the focus required to use the saw

will be sufficient to suppress his tics.

This is a situation of proving myself because I'll be concentrating

so hard on what I'm doing because it's obviously dangerous.

Hopefully, the tics will stop.

Just take a bit off, make it a smaller...?

Yeah, exactly, yeah.

Go for it.

Hang on.

These are the sort of things where you're really concentrating

-and you don't get no problem with the Tourette's at all.

-No.

OK, yeah.

Sawing at ground level is one thing,

but tree surgeons need to be able to work at great heights.

Steve wants to see if Tom is up to the task

of removing branches 30 feet up.

And what I'm probably going to get you to do

is get up the top of that sycamore.

Once you get set up there, a few pieces of dead wood,

the larger ones that are prone to dropping on people's heads,

would you be comfortable doing that?

I'd give it a go, yeah. I've not done it before, but...

This is probably as dangerous as it gets.

You need to be on it, concentrating on what you're doing,

listen to people when they tell you to do stuff a certain way,

you need to do it the right way and be health-and-safety conscious.

Things can go wrong and do go wrong.

That's it, mate.

One thing that just concerns me a little bit,

you don't think you'll get a bit nervous and the tics might come on?

What I've done so far seems to be all right, going pretty well,

so as long as there's focus on what I've got to do

and get it done, I think it'll be all right.

-Yeah, confident?

-We'll see, won't we?

Yeah, just get up there and give it a go, mate.

Keep to the left a bit.

-Hang on, mate, you've got...

-Got the wrong end?

You've got the wrong end, mate.

Yeah.

Tom is most at risk of tics when he is tired or stressed.

My arms are fucking shot, I can't get up here.

And the higher Tom gets,

the more tiring and stressful the climb becomes.

Come on, leg. Fucking hell!

Are you OK to go on?

-Yeah.

-Yeah?

We have a secondary rope on Tom.

If he has a tic while he's got a saw in his hand,

he just might cut through the rope with the saw.

That was so satisfying.

What about the Tourette's side of it, mate? Nothing's kicked in, no?

-I haven't had anything, have you?

-Absolutely nothing, mate.

-Right.

Not a single tic.

For the first time, Tom has got through a whole working day

without his Tourette's showing at all.

I don't think I ticked once, which is quite nice.

I suppose it's like a temporary cure.

-I think there's a future in this game.

-Wicked.

-I think it may be possible, some work with me.

-Wicked, wicked.

You know, the contacts I've got, certainly, with some other people

and I think...for your first time out,

I think you did a really good job.

Cheers, thank you very... Well, thanks for the opportunity.

Today was such a good day, a perfect environment for me to be in.

I feel quite comfortable here, I don't feel exposed.

I like the manual side of it, I like the climbing the tree side of it.

It's nice to finally find something that suits me

and that works with who I am and what I have, so I can go on

and hopefully pursue this as a career, which is quite exciting.

Fast as you can, fast as you can, fast as you can.

Three, two, one, stop.