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Paul Sandford was teaching students who have autism when he decided to carry out some research into how he could best support them.

The more he delved into the subject, the more he thought the symptoms sounded strangely familiar - leading to Paul being diagnosed with autism at the age of 42.

Here, he speaks to LeicestershireLive about the life-changing news.

The diagnosis

Paul was teaching at a further education college when he started researching autism. He wanted to better understand the condition, because his students included people on the autistic spectrum.

"I found immediately that I identified much more closely with the examples of 'difference' being portrayed, whilst the 'typical' opposites struck me as highly illogical, just like in real life," he said.

Most people who are not on the autistic spectrum, known as neurotypicals, "identify and define things through emotions", said Paul, "whilst autistics tend to do the same through rationale".

"For example, a neurotypical might need to know, 'How did that make you feel?', when an autistic is much more interested in, 'How does that make sense?'.

"It soon dawned on me that I may have inadvertently stumbled into discovery of the root cause of my lifelong difficulties in dealing with people."

Following an appointment with his GP in early 2007, Paul was diagnosed in September of that year.

The impact

The seven-month wait between the two allowed Paul plenty of time to consider the different possible outcomes. His biggest concern became the fear of finding out he was not autistic and how he would move forward from that.

When the diagnosis confirmed his suspicions, Paul's overall feeling was one of relief.

During the debrief with his assessor, Paul said, he described how he had found his childhood and youth difficult to navigate - which he now knew was because of his condition. Autism affects how people interact with others and gives people a different view of the world to neurotypicals. As a result, autistic people can seem 'odd' and difficult to understand by those who do not have the condition.

Paul said his assessor was impressed that he had managed to lead such an independent life given the degree of his autism.

Since his diagnosis, Paul has continued his studies on autism, which he said had taught him an awareness of self and others.

'I'm less judgemental - and more aware of how others see me'

Paul's research has also allowed him to do what he calls a "reverse study into the weird and wonderful world of neurotypicals", which he says has "in turn allowed me to become a great deal more accepting of their weaknesses!".

In fact, Paul says, the intensive research has created a sea-change in almost all aspects of his life.

"I am less judgemental of and more able to accept my own and others’ difficulties/differences," he said.

"I have a great deal more self-esteem than previously, because I now understand that those strengths I undoubtedly have are balanced, rather than diminished, by my weaknesses.

"I am more aware of how others perceive me, and this allows me to temper my comments and behaviours accordingly."

Paul's ability to interpret "the autistic world view to the neurotypical, and vice-versa" allows him, as he sees it, to "provide some value to the world", as a parent, an individual, a training provider, giving support to families, employers of autistic individuals and as a community representative.

The support group

Soon after his diagnosis, Paul and his wife, Jo, sought out groups which offered support and help, and which would enable him to meet people in a similar position. But the couple found there were very few groups with members who were in the same situation as them. Most support groups they found were aimed at parents of autistic children.

They felt nobody properly understood their specific circumstances, and when Paul did reach out, many of the responses they received were not helpful. Some, he said, suggested that he ought to feel lucky as he was not "severely affected".

So Paul and Jo decided to set up their own peer support group, named Translate, "for adults with Asperger's and those who love them".

What is autism? According to the National Autistic society, "Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how people perceive the world and interact with others. "Autistic people see, hear and feel the world differently to other people. If you are autistic, you are autistic for life; autism is not an illness or disease and cannot be 'cured'. Often people feel being autistic is a fundamental aspect of their identity. "Autism is a spectrum condition. All autistic people share certain difficulties, but being autistic will affect them in different ways. "Some autistic people also have learning disabilities, mental health issues or other conditions, meaning people need different levels of support. All people on the autism spectrum learn and develop. With the right sort of support, all can be helped to live a more fulfilling life of their own choosing."

With the support of Leicestershire Autistic Society, which provided the couple with a small grant to start a reference library and a mentor to help facilitate their first meeting, the group's inaugural meeting was at John Storer House, in Loughborough, in June 2008.

"Initially, the group was intended for couples that included an adult with high-functioning autism or Asperger's syndrome, as it was then known, as these were the two areas we had found a lack of support available.

"But, based on immediate requests, we soon extended our remit to any adult on the autism spectrum and their families, friends, colleagues and supporters.

"As a group, we hosted several events in the early years, including awareness-raising evenings, public speaking engagements, leading to a full-blown, all-day conference with local, national and international speakers in 2012.

"But the energy required to sustain such activities was limited to very few individuals."

Because of this, the group’s activities are now concentrated in its monthly, peer support meetings, at which Jo does the meeting-and-greeting and Paul does the more formal aspects, such as chairing discussions.

They average between 15 and 20 attendees per month.

Autism: What is sensory overload? People on the autism spectrum can struggle to process sensory information. Any one or all of the senses may be affected. This can affect the person's behaviour and can have a major effect on the person's life and indeed their families. If an autistic person has a meltdown due to too much sensory information overloading them, this can cause them stress, anxiety and physical pain. This can lead to the person withdrawing from the situation, or a meltdown. There are things you can do to help if someone is having a meltdown, as explained by the National Autistic Society.

In the summer of 2008, Paul made a presentation to the National Autistic Society on the subject of late diagnosis.

He was keen to follow the public speaking/training path, having already gained a degree in social studies and having personal experience of living with autism, he applied for, was accepted onto and graduated from the University of Birmingham with a Master of Education in Special Education (Autism:Adults).

(Image: Getty Images)

Whilst studying, Paul continued to develop his professional activities which included public speaking, the development and delivery of autism training and workplace support to individuals on the autism spectrum.

Then, in 2013, he put together a team, designed a bid for and won the contract to deliver a workforce development programme for the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Partnership, at which point he officially launched his business.

That contract, initially for one year, was extended twice, before a mandatory full procurement process was carried out in 2016, following which, although making a short-list of two, the contract was awarded elsewhere.

Beginner's guide to autism

With Paul's insight into "viewing things from a neurotypical and autistic angle", he struck on the idea of providing a 'Beginner's guide to autism' course aimed at adults who have recently been diagnosed, carers of adults who have recently been diagnosed and parents of children who have had a recent diagnosis.

The three-hour courses develop participants' understanding of autism, and helps them recognise what autism is and how it affects those who have it.

Paul said he believes his training works because he delivers it from the perspective of someone who is autistic, rather than other people's perspectives of what autism is and how it affects people who have it.

(Image: Alex Hannam Photography)

Courses take place at West End Neighbourhood Centre, Andrewes Street, West End, Leicester, in conjunction with Leicester Centre for Integrated Living and the independent living charity Choice Unlimited.

The next training session will be held on Monday, September 16. The cost is £20 per person.

For more information, visit the Translate Facebook group.