Neurodiversity Celebration Week blog

In Neurodiversity Celebration Week (17-23 March), level 6 student Leanne Flitcroft, who is studying Special Educational needs, Disabilities and Inclusion studies, co-authors a blog post with Zoe Stuart, Senior lecturer in Postgraduate Taught Provision: SEND, rallying a call to challenge stereotypes, embrace our individuality, and do more to be inclusive of our vibrant neurodivergent community. 

Neurodiversity Week was founded in 2018 with the intention of challenging stereotypes and misconceptions about neurological differences. The aim is to reshape perceptions of neurodivergence and highlight the strengths and differences of neurodivergent people. The challenge is to examine our practices and physical spaces to explore how we foster inclusive and equitable cultures that promote a sense of belonging. We are pleased that the university is taking a proactive approach to neurodiversity and challenging stereotypes with a range of events for Neurodiversity Week. We hope these events will help us to continue evolving and to never stand still; inclusion isn’t a destination—it’s a journey. We hope Neurodiversity Week 2025 will support the university’s continuing effort to empower both students and staff to thrive together.

It is important that this week moves beyond raising awareness and seeks to challenge the traditional notion of ‘normal.’ We should recognise the value of a diverse world and acknowledge the natural variations in human nature. Much like biodiversity enriches an ecosystem by contributing a variety of strengths, neurodiversity brings a vibrant range of perspectives and talents to our community. Labels like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia can indicate that someone has unique strengths and differences but they are nothing more than signposts. A label alone does not explain a person’s worth or capture their lived experience. We hope that by engaging with the learning opportunities during this week, staff and students can explore the value in looking beyond a label and see the impact we can have by moving beyond the stereotypes attached to labels.

For many families, including the authors of this piece, neurodiversity is not an abstract concept but a lived experience. One author, a parent of a child with a genetic condition called TLK2, a Developmental Language Disorder, and awaiting an autism diagnosis, experiences neurodiversity as a defining part of daily life. By understanding and embracing neurodiversity, we can positively impact people’s lives, ensuring that children and adults alike are not just accommodated but truly included. The commitment to inclusion should also extend to all areas within society, including further education and universities. By breaking down barriers to learning and fostering an inclusive environment, we can empower neurodivergent students to reach their full potential. To achieve this, every person must be committed to inclusion—whether a lecturer, a security guard ensuring student safety, or a cleaner. Together, we can listen to students’ voices and raise awareness to drive change.

This semester, we have worked together as a student and staff member to explore what we mean by inclusion. In different aspects of our lives, we have both experienced that, too often, what is explained as inclusion ends up being tokenistic—a surface-level concept that is not truly embedded. In our collaborative work in a Level 6 module, we have explored differing perceptions of inclusion and how it is difficult to embed inclusion if we don’t have a shared understanding. We decided instead to explore what it means to belong. What will it mean for our children to belong in a world that is not always accepting of difference? We would both wish for our children to be valued for their authentic selves and feel part of their communities without a feeling of marginalization. Our challenge this semester is to explore where we, as members of the university, feel belonging. Our hope is that during this Neurodiversity Week, you will explore this as a staff member or a student and consider how you feel belonging and how you can contribute to the building of inclusive spaces.