Sweet sixteen

Sixteen-year-old confectioner Louis Barnett has dyslexia, dyspraxia, and his own chocolate factory in Shropshire. Louis started his business three years ago and now supplies major supermarket chains. He and his company Chokolit have already sparked the interest of TV crews from Japan and Russia.

What do you think is the best thing about being disabled?
Dyslexia and dyspraxia force me to look at things differently, forced me to look at careers outside academia and force me into opportunities I need to take.

What makes you angry?
People’s perceptions of chocolate as fattening; good quality chocolate is healthy. Just avoid the stuff with vegetable oil on the label.

What’s the funniest thing anyone’s ever said to you about your impairment?
“You’ll never make it.”

How do you deal with people who barf on about your impairment? Have you any good putdowns?
You were wrong.

What’s the one thing that could be invented to make your life as a disabled person better?
Spellcheck is already on computers; I’m quite happy about that.

What do you most like about being a confectioner?
Product testing.

And what do you not like about it?
Washing up.

Who’s your favourite disabled person ever?
Richard Branson is dyslexic.

Do you have any special or hidden talent apart from making chocolate?
Falconry since I was 11. I was having my hair cut and my barber told me he kept hawks. My parents bought me a falconry experience day and I ended up working at the falconry centre for two years. Now I have my own pet owl to fly and exercise.

If you didn’t have your impairment, which other one would you like to have?
Memory loss. I’d like to live in the second, in the moment.