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Gloucestershire's Neurodivergence Celebration Week 2024
Monday 18 March: What is Neurodiversity?
This year, Gloucestershire is taking part in Neurodiversity Celebration Week (18 – 24 March 2024), a worldwide initiative that challenges stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. It aims to transform how neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported by providing schools, universities, and organisations with the opportunity to recognise the many talents and advantages of being neurodivergent, while creating more inclusive and equitable cultures that celebrate differences and empower every individual.
During the week, we’ll aim to raise awareness by signposting to resources, updating you on activities across Gloucestershire, as well as celebrating the differences of local neurodivergent individuals. We've rebranded the week to 'neurodivergence celebration week' to keep the focus on neurodivergent conditions. All content has been coproduced by local neurodivergent colleagues.
Today’s theme is all about increasing our understanding – so ‘What is Neurodiversity?’
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National Campaign - Today's Resources |
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What’s going on today? Interactive Online Events are happening at the times below:
9.30 – 10.30: An Introduction to Neurodiversity
11.30 – 13.00: Neuroinclusive language & Communications
13:30 – 15:00: Neurodiversity: We don’t All Fit Into One Box!
15:30 – 17:00: Neurodiversity in Higher Education
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Definitions - Myth busting |
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Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity refers to the neurological diversity of all people and is used to describe different thinking styles that affect how people communicate with the world around them. It's who we are to each other, without any labels or assumptions. The term 'neurodiversity' has commonly been used as an 'umbrella' term, which means a word to sum up a lot of neurodivergent conditions such as Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia and Tourette's. However, it recently has been used to refer to both neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals. Neurodiversity is about understanding that every person is different. We should celebrate those differences, rather than try to change them.
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Neurodivergence / Neurodivergent
Neurodivergence is a term to describe when the brain processes things differently to what's considered 'typical'. It refers to variations in neurological functioning and brain development that result in differences in cognitive processing, sensory perception, communication, and behaviour.
Neurodivergent is used for people who have a neurodivergence. This includes the conditions mentioned above, as well as any other condition that affects brain function and behaviour.
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Neurotypical
Neurotypical is used to describe individuals whose brain functions, ways of processing information and behaviour align with typical or expected patterns in society. It refers to people who do not have neurodivergent or other conditions that affect brain function and behavior.
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What's happening in Gloucestershire? |
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Local Initiatives
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The Neurodiversity Network is a user-led network of activity providers who are committed to being inclusive of neurodivergent children and adults in Gloucestershire. Click here to find out more.
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Life in the MiND is a multimedia project dedicated to validating the reality of neurodivergent life through personal experience. A small team of neurodivergent folk sharing their experiences and the experiences of others. Watch and/or listen to the Life In The MiND podcasts here.
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The Your Voice project is funded by NHS England. The team are employed by Inclusion Gloucestershire, and are part of the South West Learning Disability and Autism Programme Team. For more information on the Neurodiverse Your Voice group, click here. |
We'll be sharing local neurodivergent experiences throughout the week. Some of these experiences will be centred around celebrating Special Interests. Andrew (our Autism Partnership Board Chair) explains more.
Local quotes from neurodivergent people and/or their family members
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- “It means my brain works differently to everybody else, but not in a bad way. For me I feel like it’s both a blessing and a curse. It helps me see things in more detail but there’s challenges with it.”
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- “We have different skills; neurodiversity makes me very special.”
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"His moral compass and need for equity and justice in the world is beyond what I have!"
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Neurodivergent Experience Spotlight - Dyslexia |
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Dyslexia and working memory
Working memory is one of the brain’s executive functions. It allows individuals to work with information without losing track of what they’re doing. It works a bit like a post-it note in your brain, holding new information so it can be worked with a connected with other things. Many individuals with dyslexia have working memory difficulties, finding it hard to filter and priorities resulting in becoming overloaded and ‘crashing’ like a computer getting overheated.
What can Dyslexia and Working Memory Weakness Look Like?
- Difficulty with spelling and writing while listening to a speaker e.g., minute taking and writing notes during meetings.
- Struggle to remember information read, this can include ‘cramming’-style revision and a weak information recall.
- Knowing how to spell or pronounce something one day and not being able to the next
- Forgetting how to complete a task you’ve just been shown how to do.
None of this means that dyslexic individuals are not capable or bright, it’s just means that they must work so much hard and develop strategies to be at the same level as none-dyslexic individuals.
Resources
A Poem
Beware all Ye who stray into the forest
The Free Miners be about
Him will pop out of his mine hole and drag you down
Down into his deep dart tunnels
To the coal face you will go,
To hew coal for a year and a day
But then it’ll be to late becaue you’ll be just like they
All sarcastic and covered in clay
Grey from head to toe and fully of hope
Head lamps shining brightly
Cant wait to get back down the hole
Digging coal.
Geoff Newton November 2023 [local person with lived experience of dyslexia]
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If you want to receive the Autism in Gloucestershire newsletter directly to your email address click here and you will be able to sign up to receive these updates.
Got something to share or want more information? Email: neurodiversity@gloucestershire.gov.uk.
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