Alda Porter

Alda is currently working as a Specialist Autism and Mental Health Mentor at the University of Oxford supporting neuro-divergent students, and sees her role as being positioned alongside individuals and creating a trusting relationship to explore ways to move towards their own goals, placing an emphasis on finding creative ways to work to build on individual strengths and resilience. 

Alda Porter qualified as a Social worker in 2010 after previously working in a variety of community and education-based roles with children with a diagnosis of Autism, ADHD and in some cases associated learning disabilities. Applying for the first year the social worker degree was offered, with a talent for working with people, experience and enthusiasm, Alda thinks had she applied today, she would no longer be accepted onto the same course due to current course requirements for UCAS points. She got a first for her dissertation on The impact of unmet needs on the mental health and wellbeing of autistic adults.

Since qualifying Alda has worked within statutory and voluntary sector community-based settings alongside adults, children, and young people, many of whom are neuro-divergent. This included a role as a Skills coach within a Multidisciplinary team and as a group facilitator at Oxfordshire County Council. 

Alda talks about:

• Finding allies 

• Having lots of ideas and enthusiasm

• The positive experience of being assessed at 24 whilst at university

• Realising strategies students are coming up with can help another student

• Overcompensating on time management - arriving early 

• Intuitive ability to connect people

Please follow the link to the interview

“I can remember having a spelling book, an orange little book and I think the teacher was irritated with quite a few of  us - and I’d spelt spelling wrong and she flung it at me ‘you can’t even spell spelling right’ -  I’m mean that's awful isn't it? To lob a book at someone.”