Photograph: Kev Howard

Stories from the Spectrum: Ella Sanderson

We chatted to Ella Sanderson, an autistic poet. Ella uses poetry to express her experience of life on the spectrum. She started her poetry journey as a member of the Ilkley Young Writers and recently she took part in a BBC words first workshop with Malika Booker. Here she writes about the inspiration behind her writing, and taking her poetry from page to stage.

Everyone tells me that being on the autistic spectrum can be positive, and in some ways they are right. However, there are some aspects of life I really struggle with. My brain works differently to other people’s and this causes many arguments. I feel I live in a world that is not designed for me. Being on the spectrum means I have had to be very brave. As a result, I have overcome many difficult things. Life doesn’t come easily to me, so if I didn’t try at all I would get nowhere.

I have always enjoyed doing English Literature at school but I didn’t start writing poetry until I joined Ilkley Young Writers. This experience changed me from being a shy girl to someone who could read and perform her poetry anywhere. I learnt so many skills, such as how to write, perform and capture an audience. I now love performing my poetry as it makes me feel free. In terms of poetic inspiration, I particularly enjoy Simon Armitage’s poems (who I worked with as part of his Stanza Stones project). I also love Hollie McNish.