Insights from the Neurodiversity Celebration Week Conference: Embracing Neurodiversity

Mar 22

As a Neurodiversity Coach and Consultant, I often wonder if I am on the leading or bleeding edge of a new social movement. This week, as I virtually attended the Neurodiversity Celebration Week Conference in London, my hopes soared when I heard that over 143,000 attendees from over 139 countries across the globe had signed up. This groundbreaking event serves as a platform for celebrating the unique strengths and perspectives of neurodiverse individuals. As an advocate for empowering neurodiverse individuals to create change, rewrite narratives, and reframe expectations, attending this conference was an uplifting experience for me as a neuro-distinct person and CEO of Ignite Change Makers. In this blog post, I share my insights and highlights from this transformative event.

Celebrating Diversity of Thought

The Neurodiversity Celebration Week Conference is not just a gathering; it's a celebration of the diverse ways our minds work. From autism to ADHD, dyslexia to dyspraxia, and

Image for a blog on Neurodiversity Celebration Week by Gail Suitor of Ignite Change Makers.

beyond, neurodiversity encompasses a spectrum of neurological differences and presents in over 20% of the world’s population. Throughout the conference, panels discussed the language surrounding neurodiversity, the intersection of neurodiversity and other issues, how embracing neurodiversity differs in different countries and cultures, and changing the use of the word superpower to my neuro-distinction is super powerful when discussing neuro-distinct strengths. Remarkably, many of the UK presenters felt that we no longer had to talk about the strengths of neuro-distinct brains because everyone acknowledges that, and it is time to move on to creating more neuro-inclusive spaces and policies. This realization gave me hope that we can develop that awareness in the United States. Witnessing individuals from all walks of life coming together to celebrate their unique abilities and contributions was genuinely inspiring.

Empowering Voices

One of the most impactful aspects of the conference was the emphasis on amplifying the voices of neurodiverse individuals. The panelists shared their journeys of becoming advocates and experts focusing on creating safe places where people can disclose what they need to do their best work. One of my favorite quotes came from Atif Choudhury, “Shame dies when we find a safe place to tell our stories.” As advocates, they decided to be open with neuro-distinctions to give others an example of the capabilities of neuro-distinct individuals. Attendees were encouraged to embrace their identities, share their stories, and advocate for greater societal acceptance and understanding. At Ignite Change Makers, I firmly believe in the power of storytelling as a catalyst for change, and it was heartening to see so many individuals courageously sharing their experiences.

Breaking Down Barriers

The conference also provided a platform for addressing the barriers and challenges faced by neurodiverse individuals in various aspects of life, including education, employment, and healthcare. Hiren Shukla, Ernst and Young’s (EY) Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader said best: "It’s a two-sided coin. Organizations that build for the majority because this way will accommodate the most people. Then, some organizations desire to be the most inclusive, which selfishly becomes most cost-effective for the company because they no longer have to create separate models or programs because they can create something that serves the whole community.” 

Through insightful discussions, panelists explored strategies for fostering inclusion and accessibility in diverse settings. The key to implementing universal design principles is flexibility: creating flexible models for applying for jobs, assessment processes, onboarding, training, working hours, dress code requirements, and performance management. Designing office spaces promoting neurodiversity-friendly and mobility disability-accessible features to increase efficiency and decrease stress. The application of these changes benefited all employees.  There was a shared commitment to breaking down barriers and creating more inclusive environments through a person-centered approach for all while acknowledging that this is a developing field and sharing what works and what doesn’t work remains imperative as we forge ahead.

Education Reform

Educational topics were covered by several of the panels. Some were on meeting diverse learning needs in the classroom, and others were on laws that support education access. Yet, as my blog readers know, I want new and different education options. Hiren Shukla, Ernst and Young’s (EY) Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader (yup, I know it’s my third time mentioning him; I’m a huge fan) mentioned a NASA study led by George Land assessing the creative genius within a group of 3 to 5 year-olds. The initial tests showed that 98% of these children earned scores of creative geniuses. However, as these students entered the school system, their creativity dropped alarmingly; by the time they were 10, only 30% maintained their creative genius, and by 15 years old, only 12% had attained their creative genius. By adulthood, only 2%  of the population retains this level of creativity. Land believes our school system squashes creativity and innovation through evaluation, requiring the correct answers and ways.

Learn more:
https://yourstory.com/2023/10/nasa-study-creative-genius-educational-impact

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfKMq-rYtnc

Proven Benefits of a Neurodiverse Workforce

During the panel discussions on the benefits of a neurodiverse workforce, participants acknowledged that neurodiverse employees are in every organization. Still, they might need to share that with their employers. Many panelists shared stories of restructuring organizations and making it easier for neurodiverse individuals to apply and thrive in an organization and how this helped its bottom line. We still need to test this on a larger scale. One of the more impressive stories was from Hiren Shukla, EY Global Neurodiversity & Inclusive Value Leader. His department helps EY customers increase profits and returns by utilizing neurodiverse and inclusive policies that improve the company's access to hiring this workforce segment. His department worked with one organization interested in testing the inclusive economy, which increased its profit by 1.8 billion dollars!

Key Takeaways

As I reflect on my experience at the Neurodiversity Celebration Week Conference, several key takeaways stand out:

1. Strengths-Based Approach: Embracing neurodiversity involves recognizing and celebrating the unique strengths and talents of individuals with diverse neurological profiles.
2. Empowerment Through Person-Centered Design: Safe places, self-advocacy, and empowerment are essential for driving positive change and promoting greater acceptance and understanding of neurodiversity.
3. Inclusion and Accessibility: Creating truly inclusive environments requires proactive efforts to remove barriers and ensure accessibility for all individuals in all aspects of life.
4. Build imagination and innovation, not knowledge, because they will feed a thriving economy with exponential growth built by diverse ways of thinking, viewing, and being in this world.

Conclusion

Attending the Neurodiversity Celebration Week Conference was a transformative experience, reaffirming our commitment to championing diversity and inclusion at Ignite Change Makers. As we continue empowering individuals to embrace their authentic selves and unleash their full potential, we draw inspiration from the vibrant community of advocates, allies, and neurodiverse individuals who came together at this remarkable event. Together, we can create a world where neurodiversity is celebrated and embraced as a source of strength, creativity, and innovation.

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Hey There, I’m Gail Suitor

Living and working with a neurodivergent brain can be challenging. I know because I have one, raised three, and taught many over 25+ years.

I help learning disabled people break free from labels so that they can appreciate their unique brains, ignite their brilliance, follow their passions, and become the change makers they were born to be.

My Change Maker Accelerator Program uses Mastermind Pods to help participants learn the 7 strategies of highly effective neurodiverse people so that they can discover their superpowers, develop their Ultimate Change Maker Blueprint, and create the life they want.