Award recognises battle against odds | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

A struggle against the odds didn't make for an easy path for young Napier woman Gabrielle Hogg. But her determination and success in overcoming expectations placed on her disability has seen her win this year's "Attitude Youth Award" for her contribution to improving the lives of other disabled people.

Ms Hogg didn't speak for much of her childhood. Diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) when she was 12, she suffers from severe sensory overloads as well as anxiety, which can leave her mute, but she still manages to make her voice heard.

She found a change in diet and taking supplements helped her start to catch up with other children.

"Before I started the gluten and dairy free diet I had sleepless nights - the maximum of sleep I had was four hours a night," Ms Hogg said. "I couldn't concentrate on my studies, I couldn't look you in the eyes, sometimes I even chucked up once a day."

She was told at an early age that she was eight years behind developmentally in school.

"When I was going to school everyone thought I would leave school early and never get anywhere in life, but I never gave up and am now studying at university and passing the papers."

She is currently studying towards a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and rehabilitation studies and hopes to achieve a Masters in applied behavioural analysis, working with individuals with ASD.

It will allow her to work with people who have ASD and cerebral palsy, and give support to parents and those who live and work around young people living with disorder.

She spoke at last year's National Autism Conference and, as a member of the NZ Autism Expert Advisory group, counsels government officials on policies affecting individuals with ASD.

Her experience has shown there is always belief.

"I think a lot of the times when psychologists and specialists diagnose autism they give you a sentence - that it's a really big disorder to have."

Ms Hogg said when she was diagnosed her parents were given no hope and were told - "she's got this ... , she's got an intellectual disability, she'll be dependant and never be able to go to school".

"Here I am doing presentations, talking to people, living by myself and I love it. My parents see the hope I have given to them, which is really cool."

As part of her award Ms Hogg has won $10,000.

Attitude TV executive producer Robyn Scott-Vincent said the awards highlighted people with inspirational stories and achievements.

"Our aim is to help create more awareness and support of people who live with disability," Ms Scott-Vincent said.

The Attitude Awards have grown out of the Attitude TV series.