Paula McGowan OBE

She/her
Founder of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory training on learning disability and autism for Health & Care

Award category:

Politics, Law and Media

Paula McGowan OBE is a multi-award-winning activist who has dedicated her life to campaigning for the equality of health and social care for people with a learning disability and autistic people. In 1985 she qualified as an early year’s practitioner. She specialised in children who have additional needs, particularly those who are neurodivergent. She is passionate that all children, regardless of ability, are given the correct support to enable them to develop to their full potential.

She is an ambassador for several charities and organisations, including, NHS England, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Anna Kennedy Online, Dance Syndrome and Epilepsy Action.

Following the preventable death of her teenage son Oliver, she successfully launched a parliamentary petition asking for health and social care staff in England to receive mandatory training on learning disability and autism. This petition was successfully debated across all parties and in 2019 the government published the ‘Right to be heard’ document, its response to the consultation on proposals for introducing mandatory learning disability and autism training for health and social care staff.

On 28 April 2022, learning disability and autism training became law and reached Royal Assent as part of an amendment to the government’s Health and Care Act 2022. Since 2019, Paula has been working on The Oliver McGowan Mandatory Training on Learning Disability and Autism which has been co-designed and will be co-delivered with people with a learning disability and autistic people to help health and care employers meet the requirements in the Act.

Her current focus is the design and delivery of the Oliver McGowan Code of Practice, which will make provisions about the nature of the legal training requirements including the content, delivery and ongoing evaluation of the training for health and social care staff. She regularly meets with the Minister of State for Care and Mental Health to provide regular updates on the progress of Oliver’s Training across England.

Paula recently started a second petition asking Parliament to consider an amended version of The Oliver McGowan Mandatory training on learning disability and autism for Education. She worked tirelessly to gather 76,000 signatures. She met with several ministers gaining their support. This petition was successfully debated cross party in November 2023. Paula continues to meet with the Education minister.

Notable achievements include being invited in September 2020, to speak as a witness for The Australian Royal Commission hearing focused on psychotropic medication to control behaviours of concern. In June 2021, she was conferred into the Membership of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of her outstanding service to people with a learning disability and autistic people.

In May 2023, Paula was awarded Honorary University Fellow – University of Plymouth – Faculty of Health. She has been a keynote speaker highlighting the importance of co-production with people with a learning disability and autistic people at conferences hosted by medical schools, hospital trusts, and universities in the UK and Australia.

Notably, major appearances include keynote talks at The Chief Nursing Officer of England’s summit, the launch of NHS England’s conference on psychotropic medication optimisation and the Health Service Journal Mental

We must have it within our own hearts to really want to change a culture that does not accept or value people with a learning disability or autistic people and NOT because we are told to. We all have the ability to change culture, hearts and minds.

Q&A

Paula McGowan OBE
Rise above adversity, remain focused. Don’t let those that say no stop you in bringing about a change in culture, hearts and minds.
My work, The Oliver McGowan Mandatory training on learning disability and autism for Health and Social Care has made law in England. People with a learning disability and autistic people can now be reassured that staff have had appropriate training in really understanding and supporting their needs. Oliver’s training is co designed, evaluated and delivered by autistic people and people with a learning disability who are employed and paid for their time. Oliver’s training is now international with other countries rolling it out to their staff.
My aim is to have an adapted version of Oliver’s training into Education. I stated a petition last year which gained 76,000 signatures, this was successfully debated in Parliament. I intend pursuing this with the new Govornament. After this, my focus will be on rolling it out to our police and prison services. All of the above I intend getting into legislation and law. I am not paid for my campaign work, I do not have an organisation, it is just me.
I go on long walks with my husband.
My greatest joy is hearing neurodivergent people telling me that being employed for Oliver’s training and standing in front of an audience delivering it to health and Social care staff, has given them confidence and a sense of purpose. Many have told me that this is their first ever employment. I have a lump in my throat just writing this.
Dogs
Culture and ignorance
Education. I strongly believe that children from early years should be taught acceptance of disabled people. They should be taught how to value and see them as equal to themselves. Once the public have a better understanding, I believe that this is where real change will happen. We all need to stand together and expect equity for our disabled school children right through to higher education and employment.

Areas of expertise

Children and young people, Community, Disability Advocacy, Education, Employment, Health and wellbeing, Law, Politics, Social Media influencing

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