NEURODIVERSITY CELEBRATION WEEK 2026

Camel

Camel

Well-known member
Good Morning Everyone,

Just in case you had missed it, next week is “Neurodiversity Celebration Week”.

Obviously, every week we should be celebrating neurodiversity, or more particularly celebrating being neurodivergent. (I’m strangely troubled by the “neurodiversity”…..everyone, ND and NT are neurodiverse, we are neurodivergent. So are we just celebrating every neuro type or are we highlighting neurodivergent people?)

I digress into linguistic niceties too often…..I do like a solid definition. It makes me feel safe.

So, this week is the chance to celebrate your fantastic different brain, all 86 billion neurones and 100 trillion connections and the truly amazing stuff they can do. We are so often described in terms of deficits and pathology, this is your chance to explain to someone that being neurodivergent is positive. I wouldn’t want to be any other way!

Just Google it to see what’s on in your area. Talk to people about the positives. I’m going to visit Manchester Museum on Wednesday when they are having a neurodivergent friendly Calm Night with work shops and sensory experiences……I’m hoping to stroke a Dinosaur!🙂

Hope to see you in the mentee (2025) meeting tomorrow. Let’s talk about the good things. Remember, celebrate, be positive!

Wade
 
Well I live in Berkshire and I think this is a tick box exercise - that will largely go unnoticed. Is of interest to those who already have an interest, much like the other "this week is.." which I don't like the majoriy take much notice

I mean NHS Berkshire have shut the door indefinitely for ADHD referrals - so to me that ain't worthy of "celebration"
 
Unless multiple NDs within the business are willing to write anything positive on what support they have within the workplace - and can be honest about any difficulties either they have dealt with or even are ongoing - then I suspect its corporate PR department spin

I may be cynical - but I do speak to other NDs in my workplace occasionally, so I know the reality often differs from what is presented externally
 
bluelyn said:
I do wonder what the actual purpose of the week has been, because content I've seen hasn't really been celebrating difference in the way I would expect

We have a whole month in April of Autism awareness and I don't think it will be any different

To few businesses are really making changes to encourage autistic people to work for them

I would like to see good examples of how businesses are making a difference, baring in mind the statistics say only 30% of autistic people are in work, if that's true as a society are we happy to write of 70% of people who are autistic
Click to expand...
We had a work training session on neurodiversity in October. At the time I knew very little and had no idea I might be neurodiverse. My boss said at the meeting that he was required to manage ND people and needed to understand how to do it better. Several others made very helpful comments about relatives with neurodiversity etc. I have since been diagnosed and I've been able to be totally honest with my boss who has been very supportive.

I think we have to openly talk about things otherwise attitudes will never change. Yes there are lots of large corporate companies who pay lip service, but I do think things are moving and it's good to raise the profile of neurodiversity. It is shocking how few autistic people are employed, especially given many are highly intelligent and well qualified. This needs to change. I don't think it's helped by the general mental health crisis and the lack of NHS support available. We can be cynical about such weeks or we can hope for better.