Last night truly showed thar this whole stereotype of autistic people not having empathy or relating with feelings is RUBBISH! When bella struggled both back stage and on stage with stage fright and anxiety in general we were happy to be in a building filled with neurodiverse people that showed more empathy, encouragment and compassion than ive ever seen at events I’ve performed at.
The pep talks, the reassurance that if she wanted another sound check or to start again half way through the performance, then that was okay too… the words of encouragement and sense of unity was unreal.
Then, when we finally got her on stage with me hidden in the shadows, people were not afraid to sing out loud to help her out when the nerves made her stumble. The clapping and cheering and standing ovation purely because everyone in that room knew how it felt to be afraid to fail. She felt seen and loved by a group of people she had never met before!
I was terrified she was going to faint or vomit due to how badly the nerves were getting to her but she bounced off that stsge with the biggest smile and beamed every time someone congratulated her on her perseveerence.
Thank you Anna Kennedy , for creating such a inclusive welcoming space filled with love and the want for every single person on that stage to win!! It’s rare in the entertainment industry and in life in general, and to see Bella feel so loved and accepted made my heart swell. Particular thanks to Lisa Robins and her daughter Taylor for getting Bella through the whole day and performance, particularly Taylor not being afraid to sign the song at the top of her lungs and lool silly to encourage Bella to belt it out! And to the lovely Jess whose pep talk in the wings gave Bella the push to go on when she was considering backing out! Thank you also to Macauley Elvin for such a lovely introduction to the stage. You are all amazing people. Thank you so much for giving her such a positive experience and allowing me to witness her confidence and self-esteem blossom before our eyes as she left the stage.
