‘They locked me in cupboard because I asked questions’

DAVID Moore was not diagnosed with Asperger syndrome until he was 31.

When he was younger, it was suspected he had dyspraxia. But after seeing an occupational therapist, he was referred to services to see if his condition was on the autism spectrum.

“I had a bit of bother at school. The headteacher would accuse me of talking too much and their solution on one occasion was to lock me in the headmistress’s office,” Mr Moore said.

“I have also been locked in cupboards for that reason. Because I asked questions. That was their solution.”

He did well in his Standard and Higher exams, going on to do a librarianship degree.

But since then he has mainly been doing temping and voluntary work. Mr Moore, from Edinburgh, said he felt he sometimes had problems coming across well in interviews.

“Now I think it is also down to the economic climate as well, but I am still plugging away to see what comes of it,” he said.

The 33-year-old said since diagnosis his life had improved, including taking part in social events at the Number 6 drop-in centre for people with autistic disorders in Edinburgh.