Celebrating Neurodiversity

Last week was Neurodiversity Celebration Week. A worldwide initiative to challenge misconceptions, encourage inclusivity and celebrate neurological differences.

It fills me with joy to see the words ‘neurodiversity’ and ‘celebration’ together.

I have been reflecting a lot on my understanding of neurodiversity through my 30 year career and raising 4 children.

I wanted to share some thoughts and observations that have been running through my mind…..

Whether you, your child, a colleague, friend or family member are neurodiverse, what quality do you most appreciate or admire?

When I think back to my time as a primary school teacher in the 1990s, there was so little understanding of neurodiversity (I never even heard the term) and I barely had any training around how to support pupils with learning challenges. Parents back then were terrified of ‘labelling’ their children.

In recent years, I am enthused to see how the level of awareness and support has really exploded.

However, the school system is no longer fit for purpose with its ongoing emphasis on Victorian rote learning and unrealistic expectation that children can sit at a desk for hours at a time and just follow instructions.  In my view, the focus should be on nurturing values and life skills not exam results.

Last year, neurodiversity was hands down our most popular subject for corporate talks especially the topic of ‘Neurodiversity & the Parent Experience’.

Services are incredibly stretched, meaning many families are sadly struggling to get a diagnosis for their child and for themselves.

Most neurological conditions are genetic. What I observe and hear time and time again is that when parents go through the assessment and diagnosis process with their children, the penny drops and they start to appreciate why they themselves struggled so much at school and perhaps at work too.

Many neurodivergent colleagues struggle at work – deadlines, tasks and environments that are geared towards the neurotypical.

We all benefit from diverse thinking.

If you want to address this topic at work, here is a summary flavour of corporate talks we provide.

Neurodiversity: Adults

Neurodiversity: Children

My second child is currently writing a dissertation on ADHD in females.

Last year she did a placement at Bristol prison, working in their education unit. She observed that many of the prisoners were likely to be neurodiverse and extremely uncomfortable in a learning environment.

I can’t help thinking, how different their life experience might have been if they had been better understood and supported as children.

3 of my 4 children are neurodiverse with various combinations of ADHD, slow processing speed and dyslexia. Despite my teaching background, it took me too long to appreciate the extent to which they were struggling. I mistakenly thought the issues were mainly down to maturity, requiring more self-motivation and better study habits.

Turns out, they experienced difficulties such as: overthinking, procrastination, perfectionism, trouble prioritising, focusing and structuring thoughts, organising and time management.

My daughters in particular were very good at masking and navigating their challenges.

For my own children, receiving their diagnoses and gaining a deeper understanding of how their brains work and what they need to thrive and reach their full potential, was a complete and utter game changer for our family.

🔐It was like being given a code to unlock their struggles.

I recently spent a few weeks in Israel on a volunteering mission and met some real life super-heroes.

The farmer who drove (unarmed) back and forth from the Nova Music Festival on 7 October and over the course of 48 hours saved 750 young lives from rape, murder and kidnapping.

Only to return home and discover his own 18 year old niece had been murdered.

The 39 year old dad of 2, who on receiving desperate calls from people locked in a shelter on a kibbutz, defied orders and drove down directly to the border. He jumped into his car so impulsively that he wasn’t even wearing shoes. He showed me what he thought would be his last video message to his 7 and 4 year old children, as he was expecting to die. Yet he ended up preventing 40+ terrorists from entering a peace loving kibbutz.

I heard from a number of mothers whose sons had lost their lives, attempting to protect young and old. Sons the very same age as mine.

What did all these selfless, unfathomably brave people have in common? They were all neurodiverse. They spoke about being thrown out of school and not meeting expectations or fitting the mould.

Yet they were the ultimate risk takers, problem solvers and creative quick thinkers who saved countless lives.

"If we want to include everyone, we have to help everyone develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community. That's what inclusion means - everyone contributes"

Maya Angelou

Neurodiversity is not a disorder, it is a neurological difference. It comes with a very unique way of thinking and qualities, skills, strengths and perspectives to appreciate.

We need to:

💜Understand

💜Include

💜Accommodate

💜Celebrate

So that neurodiverse people really thrive at home, in school, in the workplace and society at large.

Would 💖to hear from you

What are your thoughts and experiences of neurodiversity?

What are you celebrating?