A PUDSEY woman has turned her experience of autism and ADHD into stand-up comedy – and has made it to a national talent show final.
Koah Jude Fulton, a 32-year-old resident at independent supported living provider Eden Futures in Pudsey, has found laughter and acceptance of her autism and ADHD diagnosis through stand-up comedy.
And now Koah has the chance to win £5,000 when she performs a sketch at the national Care Sector’s Got Talent Grand Final on Wednesday, 7 October.
Eden Futures delivers 24/7 care and support to the people living there and Koah credits its staff for helping her develop the confidence to pursue stand-up comedy.
Having submitted an audition tape, Koah beat off stiff competition from around the UK to reach the final of the annual talent competition run by Championing Social Care to celebrate the talent, creativity and personality of people working and living in social care.
Koah – diagnosed with autism in 2018 and with ADHD only a few months ago – has centred most of her comedy around being neurodivergent.
She said: “There will always be parts of my neurodivergence that I find difficult and, quite frankly, debilitating at times. It’s been a very long journey of understanding myself, what my triggers are and how my brain actually works. With that comes some acceptance that I will always be autistic and have ADHD. It’s a part of me and I must learn to work with my brain rather than against it.
“I’ve always coped with this is by making light of my situation and turning stressful situations into humour. Obviously, I don’t make fun of autism or ADHD or speak for anyone else’s experiences. I simply take my own experiences, look at them in a ‘newly discovered’ autistic light and help myself and others understand them through humour.”
Koah has benefited from supported living at Eden Futures for over four years, during which time she has seen huge improvements in her physical and mental health.
“As late diagnosed autistic and ADHD, I really struggled with my mental health, emotional regulation and confidence before moving into my flat at Eden Futures,” she said. “But thanks to the help from the staff, my therapist and my own self-awareness and motivation, I’ve started to cope better, unmask and become more myself.
“The support I’ve been given has allowed me the confidence, time and energy to develop comedy as a hobby. Now I have the chance to showcase my skill and show what living in a care setting can do for a person!”
Koah took the plunge into comedy in October 2025 when she took part in a six-week stand-up comedy course run by Paul ‘Silky’ White in Chapel Allerton.
She said: “I immediately fell in love with stand-up. At our graduation show we performed a comedy set in front of 100 people. It was the scariest but most amazing experience. Since then, I have done several open mic nights in and around Leeds, all of which have increased my confidence, social skills and most importantly my self-esteem.
“My comedy is mostly centred around my experiences of being neurodivergent. Traits about myself that I used to hate or not understand can now be a source of joy and entertainment.
“I love advocating and spreading autism acceptance, which I also do in my day job as a trainer, and what better way to do this through entertainment and comedy. I feel my comedy is inoffensive, relatable and observational. I use my unique lens in life to set up stories and scenarios which usually get a good laugh!”
Koah’s audition has secured her a place among just eight finalists who will perform at the Care Sector’s Got Talent Grand Final at Care Show Birmingham at the NEC Birmingham on Wednesday 7 October. If she wins, Koah will take home £5,000 in cash to spend however she chooses.
The Grand Final will bring the eight finalists together in front of an audience of 500 care sector colleagues, friends and supporters, with the event celebrating the people who work in social care and the talents they bring to their workplaces and communities.
Angela Boxall, Co-Chair of Care Sector’s Got Talent, says: “Care Sector’s Got Talent is all about celebrating the people behind social care and showing the hidden talents, passions, humour and individuality that exists across our sector. Reward is a great example of that, and I can’t wait to see him rap live on stage.”
The Care Sector’s Got Talent Grand Final takes place on Wednesday 7 October at Care Show Birmingham, NEC Birmingham.
Tickets to the live final are free via Eventbrite, with places limited to 500. For those unable to attend in person, the full final will be broadcast on the Care Sector’s Got Talent’s YouTube channel on Friday, 9 October at 2.30pm, giving care homes and organisations across the UK the opportunity to watch together.
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