Paul Taylor Paul Taylor, 35, from Gwynedd is Bangor University’s first honorary university lecturer with autism and learning difficulties. Paul gives regular presentations to students to help them comprehend what it is like to live with an intellectual disability. He also volunteers for the British Heart Foundation and participated in the 2013 Special Olympics in Bath as a member of the Wales football team.
Paul has given presentations to students at Bangor University’s School of Medical and Health Sciences beginning in 2019. In December 2022, he will be formally appointed as an honorary lecturer, making him the first person with a learning disability to join the academic team at a UK university.
Paul’s work provides trainee mental health and learning disability nurses with a unique perspective that he hopes will help them better understand the feelings and needs of patients with learning disabilities. Paul also attends conferences, assists with the presentation of academic papers, serves on student interview panels, and assists with open days.
Dr. Ruth Wyn Williams, a lecturer in healthcare services at Bangor University who works closely with Paul, stated, “It’s actually a crucial learning experience for the students to listen to Paul, because all of us in learning disability nursing must learn to listen to the people we work with and continue to practise listening.”
Paul is pleased with his position at Bangor University “I enjoy public speaking and feel confident when doing so because it boosts my self-assurance. It makes me feel good to know that they can assist others in my situation.”
Paul Taylor is the first person with a learning disability to join the academic staff at a UK university, so his appointment by Bangor University is a significant milestone. His role provides students with an understanding of what it is like to live with an intellectual disability, enabling them to work more effectively with patients who have a learning disability. With Paul’s assistance, Bangor University is gaining a deeper understanding of how to listen to and comprehend people with learning disabilities, and discovering new ways to utilise his experience and knowledge.
