A neurodiverse man embarks on a mission to help others find jobs

Matthew Punter taught himself to read and write after struggling to access mainstream education

Matthew Punter Matthew Punter, looking to the right. He wears a white top and a yellow shirt, and in the foreground are two vague ladies. — Matthew Punter taught himself to read and write after struggling to access mainstream education

A neurodivergent man who says he was once called “the worst child” by his local education authority has been given funding to help other neurodiverse people find work.

Matthew Punter, 26, from Bath, was expelled from more than ten schools because of his behaviour.

He is now doing a PhD at the University of Bath and has been awarded £8,000 to set up EDEN: Employment Devices for Enhancing Neurodiversity.

“There is a huge gap in the market for supporting neurodiversity,” he said.

Mr Punter, who grew up in Leicestershire from the age of seven, has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and pathological demand avoidance.

“When I was expelled, the local authority tried other schools within a 30-mile radius for me, and in my case I was summed up as ‘the worst child,’” he said.

“When I was in primary school, I was put in the back of the classroom and my desk faced the wall.

“When Ofsted came to inspect the school I was sent home for the day,” he added.

Eventually the local education authority withdrew his support and he was not able to read or write until the age of 17.

“I just struggled with it. I didn’t feel like I belonged, which is something a lot of neurodivergent people express,” he said.

Mr Punter says he is now passionate about helping neurodiverse people into work

Matthew Punter Matthew Punter looks at the camera. He wears a light blue shirt and a dark blue top — Mr Punter says he is now passionate about helping neurodiverse people into work

When he realized adulthood was approaching, Mr Punter said he spent five days a week learning through phonics, going from the reading age of a seven-year-old to an adult within 12 months.

After teaching himself enough to pass his GCSEs and A-levels, he was accepted onto an undergraduate degree at the University of Bath, where he is now a PhD student.

Mr Punter said he was inspired to set up EDEN after speaking to his partner, who is also neurodiverse and had problems at work.

“It seemed like there was a huge gap in the market for supporting neurodiversity and the same problems in education are being repeated in the job market,” he said.

The funding will enable Bath-based EDEN to expand and help more neurodivergent people find pathways into employment.