‘I had 5 speech impediments at school – when you don’t think people understand, you just stop talking’

Reece, who lives in Doncaster, struggled in lessons due to his autism and speech impediments (Picture: The King’s Trust)

Taking a seat in Metro’s offices in London, 20-year-old Reece Harrison is chatty, confident and very much looking forward to fish and chips in the work canteen.

It’s a far cry from what life was like for him just a few years ago, during his early days at school.

From a young age, Reece, who lives in Doncaster, struggled in lessons due to his autism and speech impediments, which caused his self-esteem to plummet and had a damaging impact on his education. 

‘I had five speech impediments at one stage,’ he tells Metro. ‘It really affected my confidence as no one ...