Neurodivergent Man Launches Employment Support Initiative

A neurodivergent individual, who states he was previously labeled “the worst kid” by his local education authority, has received funding to assist other neurodiverse individuals in securing employment. Matthew Punter, a 26-year-old from Bath, experienced expulsion from over 10 schools due to his conduct. He is currently pursuing a PhD at the University of Bath and has been granted £8,000 to establish EDEN, which stands for Employment Devices for Enhancing Neurodiversity. “There’s a huge gap in the market for neurodiversity support,” he stated. Mr. Punter, who spent his formative years in Leicestershire from the age of seven, lives with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and pathological demand avoidance. He recounted, “When I was kicked out of school, the local authority tried other schools within 30 miles for me, and in my case I was summarised as “the worst kid”.” “When I was in primary school, I was put at the back of the classroom, and my desk was turned to face the wall,” he added. He further explained, “Then, when Ofsted came to inspect the school I was sent home for the day.” Ultimately, the local educational authority ceased its support, leaving him unable to read or write until he reached the age of 17. “I just struggled. I didn’t feel like I fitted in, which is something a lot of neurodivergent people express,” he commented. Upon recognizing the approach of adulthood, Mr. Punter stated he dedicated five days a week to learning through phonetics, progressing from a seven-year-old’s reading age to an adult’s within 12 months. After independently acquiring sufficient knowledge to pass his GCSEs and A-Levels, he gained admission to an undergraduate degree program at the University of Bath, where he currently pursues his PhD. Mr. Punter indicated that his inspiration to establish EDEN stemmed from conversations with his partner, who is also neurodiverse and was encountering workplace difficulties. He observed, “It seemed like there was a huge gap in the market for neurodiversity support and the same problems in education repeat themselves in employment.” This funding will enable EDEN, which is based in Bath, to expand its operations and assist a greater number of neurodivergent individuals in securing employment. Readers can follow BBC Somerset on Facebook and X, or submit story ideas via email or WhatsApp at 0800 313 4630. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding their approach to external linking is available.