The idea that there is one “normal” or “healthy” type of brain or mind or one “right” style of neurocognitive functioning, is no more valid than the idea that there is one “normal” or “right” gender, race or culture
Nick Walker, Neurocosmopolitanism
Neurodiversity
We believe that we need to stop pathologising differences such as autism, dyslexia, Dyspraxia and ADHD. In fact, rather than “suffering from” such conditions, we believe the suffering comes from the perceived need to hide and mask such diagnoses. Moreover, our core belief is that people with brains that are wired differently have huge gifts to bring to the workplace. In an increasingly competitive landscape, innovation is going to come from the edges.
A strategy to widen the diversity and inclusion of any company, must also consider neurodiversity. In the creative and tech industries, evidence is mounting that people who are not neuro-typical are actually over-represented. However, many of these people are ‘masking’ and ‘hiding’. A neurodiversity strategy will drive awareness of the gifts these people bring to the workplace, an awareness of their strengths and challenges and build confidence across the whole system to support them to show up as themselves. It would also be remiss of us not to mention the mental health challenges associated with ‘masking’ and how an inclusive culture can feed in to your overall well-being programmes.
The exploration of challenging feelings such as grief and shame has played a critical role for me in moving through them and reaching acceptance of my son’s diagnosis. I see how disability is created largely by a culture which has created a ‘normal’ way of being.
Diverted: A journey of resilience to the newest frontier of inclusion by Roxanne Hobbs
Roxanne and her husband were blindsided when their son’s schoolteacher suggested that their five-year-old was autistic. In a five-minute meeting, the shift from confident parents of a ‘normal’ child to parents who had a son with suspected special needs was all too sudden. Roxanne, with all the coaching tools and training at her disposal, found the transition to acceptance challenging. In this book she bears witness to the family's experience from shock through to acceptance through to being key champions of the neurodiversity movement. She draws upon key resilience frameworks meaning the book is not only helpful to parents of autistic children, but to anyone facing unexpected change in their lives.
Unleashing the Power of Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity will exist in your organisation – people's brains are wired differently. However, many people feel that they can't talk about their own difference – meaning that they mask, put themselves under pressure and don't receive the support that they may need. Our journey to a more diverse and inclusive workplace means accommodating and celebrating all kinds of differences. This session will explain the neurodiversity movement and teach about different types of neurodiversity in the workplace - ensuring everyone has the language to be able to communicate with confidence. Understanding neurodiversity can help us support neurodivergent individuals to thrive in our organisations.
Talk
60 minutes
up to 100 people
Coaching Neurodiversity, a Paradigm Shift
Line manager training to enhance confidence in managing neurodiverse teams. We create an understanding of what neurodiversity is, what the benefits are to the workplace and teach a coaching approach that is particularly beneficial to neurodiverse teams (and that is also helpful for EVERYONE).
Coaching
2 hours
up to 12 people
Executive Coaching for Neuro-Minorities
Executive coaching for those who self-identify as neuro-different.
Coaching
6 sessions
individual 1:1 coaching