Neurodiversity celebration week is built around challenging the stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences and to encourage schools, universities and businesses to recognise the many talents and positives of being neurodivergent.
Siena Castellon, who founded Neurodiversity celebration week has stated on their website: “I founded Neurodiversity Celebration Week in 2018 because I wanted to change the way learning differences are perceived.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity (or neurodivergent for a singular person) describes individuals who experience various difference related to social ability and cognition such as:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Dyslexia
- Dyspraxia
- Dyscalculia
Being neurodivergent can affect someone in different ways, depending on their condition, what strategies they have developed already and how their difference affects them.
According to the UK Department of Education, 15% of students in the UK have a type of learning difference, additionally it is estimated that every 1 in 7 adults are neurodiverse. These statistics show that almost any workplace, classroom or a lecture hall will have at least one person that is neurodiverse.
Why Celebrate Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
- Bringing awareness to schools and to the public – Showing how important it is to understand that giving a neurodiverse person the right environment to them will show the amazing strengths they have, normally showing a different thought method.
- Empowering the neurodiverse to not be discouraged – According to www.autism.org.uk: “autistic people can be more at risk of being bullied than their peers.”
- Discovering new and different ways of learning – Enabling everyone to learn is critical and that may mean incorporating new and different ways to help neurodiverse people train for work. It can be difficult for some to understand what they are learning.
How can you get involved with Neurodiversity Celebration Week?
- Signing up on Neurodiversity Celebration Weeks website – Signing up on the website will give access to resources related to Neurodiversity. These resources can be used for spreading awareness inside your workplace about neurodiversity.
- Neurodiversity awareness training – This week is a great opportunity to spread awareness throughout your organisation, either virtually or in your office.
- Advertise Neurodiversity Celebration Week – Working with your marketing team to create a leaflet or an email can be a simple and effective way to share the word.
What can I do to help?
If you would like to help by donating to a charity focused on neurodiversity, then please donate to one of the following charities:
- ADHD Foundation – ADHD Foundation is the “UK’s leading neurodiversity charity, offering strength-based, lifespan service for the 1 in 5 of us who live with ADHD, Autism, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, Dyscalculia and Tourette’s syndrome.” If you would like to donate to the ADHD Foundation, then please go to www.justgiving.com/adhdfoundation.
- AchieveAbility – AchieveAbility is a user led charity committed to working with adults who are neurodivergent and dyslexic. They work with their partners to publish research-informed work and by delivering practice in the fields of employment, education, training and more. If you would like to donate to AchieveAbility, then please go to https://localgiving.org/donation/achieveability
- Care Trade – Care Trade focuses on supporting and preparing autistic people for employment within business and organisations, this includes; educating businesses about autism, training autistic people, organising events to bring awareness about autism and neurodiversity. If you would like to donate to Care Trade, then please go to www.care-trade.org/donate/.