Neurodiversity Celebration Week
18 – 24 March 2024
Neurodiversity Celebration Week is 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.
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the different ways a person’s brain processes information.
The following are types of neurodiversity:
Autism, or Autism Spectrum Conditions
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder
Dyscalculia
Dyslexia
Dyspraxia, or Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD)
Resources
There are many ways to get involved with Neurodiversity Celebration Week and there are some great resources to download here including a School Pack which includes great posters, PowerPoint presentations and other resources.
Events
There is a great programme of panel discussions with inspirational speakers from a range of backgrounds and professions. The discussions will focus on key neurodiversity topics, and aim to educate while inspiring conversations about neurodiversity. Take a look at the programme and register.
Blog – Who is Siena Castellon?
Neurodiversity Celebration Week (NCW) is a worldwide initiative, which began in 2018, driven by the experiences of one autistic teenager with ADHD, dyslexia, and dyspraxia. Siena Castellon, founder of NCW, had a desire to change the way that learning differences are thought about.
Guest Blog – Supporting dyslexia with Scanning Pens
In Primary school Sophia was always so excited about nursery rhymes and songs, but she just couldn’t get her head around the words. She would try to remember them and forget half, or just get them in the wrong order. She couldn’t understand how everyone else could do it so easily. In Year 2 Sophia’s teacher recommended she had a dyslexia assessment.
Case Study – Daisy
CENMAC supports many neurodiverse students with assistive technology to support their communication and access to the curriculum. Take a look at a recent case study featuring Daisy a chatty and bright student with a diagnosis of ADHD and Autism. Daisy is currently enjoying 6th form at Burlington House.
Empowering Potential with Arran Smith
In this video Arran Smith, Dyslexia Consultant, talks about assistive technology which has been brought into mainstream use enabling teachers, students and dyslexic people of all ages to access the inbuilt assistive technology anytime anywhere.
CENMAC Training Events
Part of the support that CENMAC provides is to train teachers about the assistive technology we use to help them access the curriculum and to communicate. For example our team attended The Inclusive Technology Teaching Conference at Shooters Hill Sixth Form College. This event was an afternoon of focused CPD for the teaching staff and support staff where we demonstrated some of the best accessiblity tools to support students with neurodiversities such as dyslexia.
CENMAC’s Thursday Thirty Online Training
Throughout term time CENMAC provides live online training sessions on Thursday afternoons to show how a wide range of assistive technologies are used to support learning and communication.
Books
Puffin books has a nice selection of children’s books featuring neurodiversity. It’s important for children to see themselves and others in the books they read. Introducing children to different lived experiences helps them develop empathy and understanding, as well as an appreciation for others who may not be the same as they are. These books will help to explore neurodiversity and give those who may be neurodiverse a greater sense of self as they read.
Jessica Kinglsey Publishers have good selection of books to support neurodiverse young people including The Awesome Autistic Go-To-Guide, The Spectrum Girl’s Survival Guide, The Young Autistic Adult’s Independence Handbook and The Asperkids’ Secret Book of Social Rules.
Mary Long’s Book Recommendations
Here are some of CENMAC’s Mary Long’s top book recommendations to help celebrate and understand neurodiversity:
Aphantasia: Experiences, Perceptions, and Insights by Alan Kendle
Neurotribes: The Legacy of Autism and How to Think Smarter About People Who Think Differently by Steve Silberman
Speechless by Fiacre Ryan
The Autistic Brain: understanding the autistic brain by Temple Grandin and Richard Panek
Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin (Author)
Wonderfully Wired Brains: An Introduction to the World of Neurodiversity by Louise Gooding and Ruth Burrows
