Neurodiversity Communicator

As a Neurodiversity consultant I help organisations and community groups improve awareness of neurodivergence and provide advice and on developing more inclusive environments for everyone. 

Neurodiversity professional development seminars - presentation and training sessions for employees and managers to develop a greater understanding of neurodiversity in the workplace. Sessions can be held in person or online. Seminars and workshops may be used as part of an organisation or industry bodies continuing professional development (CPD) program. 

Neurodiversity audits and consulting – we can work together to see how your workplace can become more inclusive of neurodiverse employees and customers. There are many small, free and low cost options for businesses to implement that can have significant benefits for ND employees and customers. We can talk about interview processes, induction, office environment and many other areas of your business that can be more ND friendly.

Guest speaking – I am passionate about spreading the good word and dispelling myths about neurodiversity. With greater awareness so many people's work and personal lives can be improved and barriers to participation can be torn down. I want to help change the social environment we live in so that neurodivergent individuals, young and old, have the confidence and joy of being accepted and welcomed as their true authentic selves. If you have a school, conference or group who would benefit from a presentation and conversation on neurodiversity please feel free to contact me.   

Neurodiversity is a term that covers all human brain types. The human experience is hugely diverse, but for some people it can differ a bit more. As a society we like to label things to help us understand them better. Most people fall under the label of Neurotypical, this means your brain and sensory experiences are reasonably similar to the average for the population.  Neurodivergence is a term that  covers several types of atypical brains, primarily: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Dyslexia and Bipolar Disorder. 

Neurodivergent people have brains function in in non standard ways in some areas and whose senses are attuned differently to neurotypical people. Medical terms like disorder have a negative connotation and suggest there is something wrong with a person, neurodivergent, or ND for short, just means different. Estimates suggest that 15-20% of the global population is neurodivergent in some way. It's the impact on the life of the person that is the key issue when considering neurodivergence.

There have been increasing media reports about ADHD and ASD with many people 'coming out' as neurodivergent. This is mainly due to greater awareness of the conditions amongst health care professionals and the public. The percentage of the population recognised as on the Autism spectrum has increased significantly over the last couple of decades, particularly in women. The pandemic brought mental health into focus and many more people have sought help and a diagnosis, for conditions that fall under the neurodiverse banner. 

Neurodivergence is (and always has been) a normal form of evolutionary variation. Academic research suggests many of the negative traits we associate with ND people would have been sought out and incredibly beneficial throughout human history. Until the invention of writing Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia, terms describing challenges with written words, numbers and writing, would not have existed as 'disabilities'. 

High energy ADHD people, who think fast and need movement, would probably be the people that make great hunters. Having people with specific special interest topics, a photographic memory and a strong inbuilt drive to know all there is about a topic would have been amazing resources for information such as edible and medicinal plants and all the other bits of critical information we now store in books and computers.

Neurodivergence has challenges too, such as: strong emotions, executive function problems, sensory issues, energy level regulation and a history of maladaptation and burn out. ND individuals are also more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. 

The good news is that ND people bring a wide array of beneficial skills and traits such as: hyper-focus, high level analytical skills, attention to detail, creativity or a photographic memory. Unfortunately statistics suggest ND people are overrepresented in unemployment, underemployment data, they also are more likely to be overqualified and underutilised in their current roles. Getting ND people into the workforce and keeping them there can have huge benefits for individuals across all areas of their life. 

There is a lot of information available out there on Neurodivergence and a lot has changed in the last few years. Once psychologists thought people outgrew ADHD or that only males could be Autistic. So much wonderful research is being produced at the moment busting myths, focusing on lived experience through social rather than historical medical models of disability.