My training career started in 2005 at the Centre Of Excellence for ASDs at Norwich City College. I started attending the college before it gained its status which was awarded by the LSC (Learning and skills counci)l.

I had been quite reluctant to attend a social group for other people with Asperger's. I didn't know much about it and felt that if I somehow learnt to do the things I found difficult I wouldn't be me anymore. However, over time when I learnt more about Autism, I learnt this was not true.

To begin with, a  social group was set up and a discussion was held about the needs of ASD students. We needed our own quiet space and we also all agreed that staff needed to know about Asperger’s syndrome. In a mainstream college this is probably likely to be the most prevalent ASD, and other conditions, such as SPLD (Semantic pragmatic language disorder), share characteristics with AS. Therefore, understanding AS with an open mind will help to understand other ASDs.

Three students, myself included, put together a training programme and delivered it to staff. Staff were very responsive and positive. Quite a number asked if their colleagues could come to the next session since he/she couldn’t attend the session. This was a pleasing result; as many of you will know, voluntary staff training isn’t always popular.

Upon leaving City College and moving to Manchester, one of the key figures at the Centre of Excellence, Dr Danuta Lataskiski, suggested that I could become a professional trainer.

I have a catalogue of other disabilities, including physical ones and I came to the point of being unable to complete my college studies and work part-time in retail industry. I tried for a year but found the physical demands too much.

I needed some kind of income and thought back to what I'd been told in the past. I had a few contacts in the North West already, so I phoned them and volunteered myself to train their staff. I got two initial training sessions. One was in a school in Manchester, obtained from cold calling. Thirty  minutes after leaving, I got a call from an affiliated junior school, who invited me to come and train their staff. The following day the city council called to ask me to do a training session for their autism interest group.

In 2007 I moved to Cambridge. I started mentoring young people and I won the Charlie Bayne Travel Trust award through Cambridge University. I have appeared on Channel 4 News and BBC News 24 , NHS choices video, been interviewed by the Guardian and was shortlisted for the RADAR Human right awards.

In 2009 I moved to London.I am now mentoring clients and running regular training sessions.

I have an annual speaking tour to the USA and in 2010, I visted Australia and toured with Dr Wendy Lawson.

I've also had an article in SEN magazine, been filmed for the National Audit Office's report into adults with autism. I have also been a consultant on a NAS (National Autistic Society) and CFEB (Consumer Financial Education Body) managing money project.

I am on the Learning and Development consultation group for Wandsworth social services, as well as being on the Autism diagnostic pathway group. I am a member of the steering group for the PAsA Trial and the sub select committee for the psychology doctorate at the University of East Anglia.

I am also part of the Autism Action Network. See the video below.

 

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