WHEN Oliver Coatsworth was born with autism, his parents were told he would probably never be able to talk.

But 11 years on, he has proved the experts wrong with his speech – and has won through to the final of a national competition designed to showcase artistic talent in young people with autism.

He even narrates his own video, called The Owl Babies.

Oliver’s mother, Philippa Coatsworth, from Neville’s Cross, Durham City, said: “If there was an award for the proudest mum, I would be up there. I haven’t stopped smiling since they told me he was in the final.”

Oliver, a pupil at Evergreen Primary School, in Bishop Auckland, is the youngest finalist in the Create Art for Autism 2012 competition.

The event is for young adults with autism aged between 11 and 25. There were more than 550 entries, shortlisted to 24 finalists.

In Oliver’s chosen category, digital media videos using an iPad, there are only six finalists and the family will be at the awards ceremony, on July 6, cheering him on.

“We were told when he was three he would most likely never talk,” his mother said.

“That, to me, was a red rag to a bull. I was going to prove them wrong – and I did.”

Mrs Coatsworth, 41, said her son developed speech slowly.

He was five before he uttered his first words, but now has a lot of speech.

When he wants to communicate in a non-verbal way, Oliver chooses to use his iPad.

His shortlisted video started out as a classroom project about favourite things, but was so popular with everyone that teacher Joanne Vest decided to put it up for an award.

Mrs Coatsworth and husband, David, 45, said that since Oliver’s entry was put up on the Create Art for Autism website, they have received many messages from the parents of other children with autism.

“David and I are receiving messages from newly-diagnosed parents saying they have seen Owl Babies and it has given them hope and the lift they needed in their darkest time. The main word we are hearing is inspirational.”

His entry can be viewed on the Create Art for Autism 2012 website or his school website, evergreen.durham.sch.uk