Oliver McGowan Training – meet our trainers

Aidan is AuDHD and values the chance to deliver training that can challenge people’s understanding of learning disability and autism. For him, it is not just about recognising the difficulties people may face, but understanding their strengths too.

He often trains people who already have a great deal of experience. What matters is making sure everyone has a shared understanding of learning disability and autism, and of how differently this can look from one person to another. That gives people a stronger basis for challenging poor support when they see it.

Aidan is particularly proud of seeing co-trainers grow in confidence, from understandably nervous interviewees to confident facilitators sharing their experiences with whole rooms of people.

Outside work, Aidan has had two books published and is working on a third.

Maria values seeing co-trainers with lived experience connect with the people in the room. For her, their voices are often the most powerful part of the training, and she sometimes describes herself as the warm-up act.

She wants people to understand how much difference small adjustments can make. Listening properly, being inclusive and taking the time to understand someone can change their experience in ways that really matter.

Maria is proud to work alongside co-trainers and see their confidence grow as they share their experiences. She also values working for an organisation where those principles are reflected in practice, not just written down.

Outside work, Maria has run the London Marathon 10 times. She also has a dog called Kevin McCalister, named after one of her favourite Christmas films, Home Alone.

Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training Facilitator

Oliver McGowan Tier 2 Training Facilitator

Laura is a lived experience co-trainer who wants to make sure people with disabilities are heard. She brings her own experiences to the training and is good at putting into words some of the frustrations people can face.

One of the things Laura most wants people to understand is that there is no one size fits all. Everyone is different and having a disability does not mean someone is broken or needs fixing.

She is proud to be doing the kind of work she has always wanted to do, using her experience to speak up for an underrepresented group. Outside the training room, Laura has a busy life with work and friends, and wants people to look beyond assumptions about what life with a disability looks like.

Julie is a trainer who really values working alongside people with lived experience and hearing them share their stories in their own words. For her, that is what makes the training feel real and helps people connect what they are learning with the people they support.

She wants people to leave the training thinking differently about the assumptions they may carry with them, and remembering to see the person before the diagnosis. Everyone is different, and good support starts with listening to what matters to that individual.

Julie is proud to see the training reaching people across different organisations and sectors, and helping to build a better understanding of learning disability and autism.

Outside work, Julie enjoys baking and trying out new recipes on family and friends.

Nicola loves being part of training that keeps Oliver’s story alive and makes sure his voice continues to be heard. Working alongside co-trainers with lived experience is a big part of that. Their honesty and confidence bring something to the room that is hard to replicate in any other way.

For Nicola, the training is about listening properly, challenging assumptions and seeing the person before the label. It is about making sure people with a learning disability and people on the autism spectrum are understood and supported in ways that respect their needs, choices and wishes.

One of the things Nicola is most proud of is seeing those messages reach people in different sectors and start to shift the way they think about support.

Outside work, Nicola is mum to nine-year-old twin girls who both have autism spectrum disorder.

Leeroy enjoys the energy of a busy training room, the discussions, the different perspectives and even the competitiveness when there is an activity involved. What matters most to him is seeing people open to learning and having the chance to interact with people with lived experience as individuals, rather than only through their role as a support worker.

For Leeroy, the training can reinforce what people already know, but it can also help them think more carefully about why their decisions matter and why support should always be in the individual’s best interests.

Leeroy is proud of trusting his own abilities and of the choices that have led him to work he finds meaningful.

Something you might not know: Leeroy once supported someone to complete a Guinness World Record, travelling from John o’Groats to Land’s End in a powered wheelchair over 22 days while Leeroy cycled alongside them. He is also a poet and writer.

Leeroy enjoys the energy of a busy training room, the discussions, the different perspectives and even the competitiveness when there is an activity involved. What matters most to him is seeing people open to learning and having the chance to interact with people with lived experience as individuals, rather than only through their role as a support worker.

For Leeroy, the training can reinforce what people already know, but it can also help them think more carefully about why their decisions matter and why support should always be in the individual’s best interests.

Leeroy is proud of trusting his own abilities and of the choices that have led him to work he finds meaningful.

Something you might not know: Leeroy once supported someone to complete a Guinness World Record, travelling from John o’Groats to Land’s End in a powered wheelchair over 22 days while Leeroy cycled alongside them. He is also a poet and writer.