This time last year, 11-year-old Joshua Lee had been out of school and isolated for two years after being turned away by four separate provisions for autistic children. Now, he's attending school full-time and has thousands of people following him on TikTok.
Joshua and his family had gone on a trip from their home in Leeds to the infamous Wakey Wines earlier this year when they decided to make their very first TikTok with owner Mohammed Azar Nazir. They were left in disbelief when the video, which shows Joshua with his Prime and sweets purchases, went viral with 2.5 million views.
Joshua has autism and Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA), which means everyday demands and expectations can cause him extreme anxiety. But his newfound social media fame (his account currently has more than 17,000 followers) has enabled him to build a space to express himself and build his confidence, and raise awareness of what it's like to have PDA.
