Leila
Content Warning: These stories are about violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation and may include references to suicide or self-harming behaviours. They may contain graphic descriptions and strong language and may be distressing. Some narratives may be about First Nations people who have passed away. If you need support, please see Contact & support.
Leila is autistic and has a hearing impairment.
School was tough, she told the Royal Commission, as ‘they didn't really understand what autism spectrum disorder was’.
The private school had a deaf integration unit, which Leila attended for all her schooling.
‘They help you with your homework. I'm willing to do some classes at lunch time … But there was a teacher who didn't want me to learn, because I was too slow or whatever. It was just a small class … and I think that she should know … children learn at different paces.’
Other students bullied Leila.
‘One thing is that I found a discrimination with racism … and disability.’
She ‘didn't particularly do as well in school’, she said, because she was ‘traumatised’ after another student sexually assaulted her.
‘And [the school] did not support me in any way shape or form,’ she said. ‘The principal … she didn't really make an effort at all. There wasn't like anyone that was there to support me and the teachers were just annoyed about it and they didn't really understand.’
Leila turned to a school counsellor for help, but even they took ‘no action’, she said.
‘They didn't try to decipher what I was trying to say … Or make an effort to help me understand what happened to me.’
For the next couple of years, Leila had to study with the person who had assaulted her.
‘Then the student was expelled from school … They could have stopped her earlier from doing these things. Instead of having these behaviours and repeating it and stuff like that, you know.’
Leila went on to TAFE and university and graduated. Now in her 30s, she struggles to find permanent work.
‘I do technology roles … I think the majority of the employers that I've had aren't properly trained in neurodiversity or hearing impairment and, you know, just giving reasonable accommodation.’
In one office, she thought her employer had taken her needs on board, but they never gave her any supports.
‘So you do have to go it alone quite a lot. That's not satisfactory from my side. I felt kind of exploited.’
Leila had to leave after a couple of years because ‘it was just difficult to keep up’.
Leila thinks the lack of ‘diversity and inclusion’ at school have led her to miss out in the workplace too.
She lives with her parents as she can’t afford to live independently on the Disability Support Pension.
‘When I'm not doing full-time work … I do stuff on not-for-profit organisations, just – yeah, just helping out.’
Disclaimer: This is the story of a person who shared their personal experience with the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability through a submission or private session. The names in this story are pseudonyms. The person who shared this experience was not a witness and their account is not evidence. They did not take an oath or affirmation before providing the story. Nothing in this story constitutes a finding of the Royal Commission. Any views expressed are those of the person who shared their experience, not of the Royal Commission.