16/03/2026
Neurodiversity Week!
I have to confess, when I first started the community group, Neurodiversity wasn't really something I fully understood. All I knew was that I wanted the club to be inclusive for everyone. It wasn't until we started researching into neurodiversity for our eldest daughter that I understood just how vital a part neurodiversity had to play in both my life and the community group. Back in school my dyslexia was ignored, I was just condemned as stupid, my difficulties with learning were pushed to one side and I was demoted to the class with all the other 'difficult kids' because it was easier to be out of sight out of mind, than for them to put the extra effort in to help me thrive. Looking back there are so many obvious signs of my neurodiversity, but the ignorance of the world meant that it went ignored. It was only as we saw our own daughter struggling to fit into the square peg hole society wanted her to fit into that we truly started to understand the lack of support, understanding, training and embracing of the neurodiverse community. It's become something that I'm desperate to advocate for and provide the safe inclusive space that allows those with neurodiversity to feel welcome and supported. The way the world approaches neurodiversity has a direct impact on individuals mental health, the two are so closely entwined, is it really any mystery that trying to push a child/adult to do things they struggle to do damages their mental health, if we just stopped and looked at what they can achieve and their strengths, instead focusing our efforts on embracing those imagine how different the impact to their mental health would be.
Neurodiversity is a topic very personal to me, we've fought and are still fighting so hard for our daughter's needs to be recognised, we've been failed by so many of the services meant to support us, so we are determined to be a community group that helps fill that gap. So please know, no matter what your neurodiversity is, you will always be welcome and we will always try and help adjust things to meet your needs. We see you and we know just how hard this society makes things for you to thrive.
