Lived Experience Forum

[tyme]

This week, 21^st to 27^th March 2022, we will be celebrating Neurodiversity as part of Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022.

Each day, we will be posting a segment for members to contribute to. Here is a run-down of the week:

Monday 21^st: Introduction to Neurodiversity

Tuesday 22^nd: Celebrating Autism Spectrum Disorder

Wednesday 23^rd: Celebrating Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Thursday 24^th: Celebrating Dyslexia

Friday 25^th: Celebrating Dyspraxia

We invite you to join us for an open community discussion to celebrate what neurodiversity brings to the society.

A question for the community:

What do you know/don't know about Neurodiversity?

[tyme]

Introduction to Neurodiversity

What is Neurodiversity?

Neurodiversity recognises that all brains are different. Everyone has a differently-wired brain and their own unique way of thinking, interacting and experiencing the world. Labels are sometimes given  to this different-wiring including:

• ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
• ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
• Dyslexia
• Dyspraxia
• Tourette Syndrome

Does this mean these individuals are ‘abnormal’? No! This is why we are united in celebrating Neurodiversity Celebration Week 2022.

What is Neurodiversity Celebration Week?

Neurodiversity Celebration Week was founded with the purpose of helping the world understand, value and celebrate the talents of neurodiverse minds.

This worldwide initiative:

- challenges stereotypes and misconceptions

- aims to change the way neurodivergent individuals are perceived and supported

- recognises the many talents an advantages of neurodiversity

- creates a more inclusive and equitable culture that celebrates differences

- empowers all individuals

As a celebration of Neurodiversity, each day this week, we will be

changing the narrative

to focus on the strengths of neurodiverse individuals

@wellwellwellnez @TideisTurning @flybluebird @cloudcore @Appleblossom @AFK @Jynx 

[tyme]

Celebrating Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

What is it?

A condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, interacts with others, and experiences their environment.

- About 2% of the population is autistic.
- Autism affects how a person perceives the world and interacts and socialises with others, making it difficult for them to pick up and interpret social cues.
- Autistic people are very sensitive to lights, noise, touch and smells, which can sometimes cause them pain and distress.

Strengths to be celebrated:

- highly logical and good at absorbing and remembering facts

- attention to detail, and recognising patterns.

ASD successes:

Greta Thunberg - Environmental Activist

Albert Einstein - Scientist, Mathematician

Bill Gates - Co-founder of Microsoft

Elon Musk - Entrepreneur, CEO of Tesla Motors

N.B. Information sourced from https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/  

For the community:

What strengths have you noticed in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

@TideisTurning @flybluebird @wellwellwellnez @Shaz51 @cloudcore @Appleblossom 

[TideisTurning]

I love this idea of celebrating and focusing on strengths! Thank you so much @tyme for encouraging and creating a space for this. 

As far as ASD specifically, I know of many people on the spectrum who are incredibly smart and articulate, creative and who possess a wealth of empathy, sometimes feeling as if they are the person rather than feeling with them (to borrow from a close loved one who identifies as being on the Spectrum).

A few other examples of people on the Spectrum not only doing amazing things but creating content based on or inspired by their own lived/living experiences are Helen Hoang and Kay Kerr (novelists), Hannah Gadsby (comedian) and Alex the Astronaut and Sheldon Riley (musicians/ singers). There's some great stuff out there, and I'd encourage everyone to go explore and engage with some own voices content if you want to/ haven't already! 😊

[tyme]

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

What is it?

A condition resulting from differences in brain development and brain activity. This can affect one's ability to sit still, focus, and have self-control. 

- About 4% of the population have ADHD.
- ADHD affects a person's ability to focus. It can cause inattention, hyperactivity and impulsiveness.

Strengths to be celebrated:
- Think outside the box

- Highly creative thinkers

- Calm under pressure

- Bring energy and new approaches to projects

ADHD successes:

Thomas Edison - Inventor

Emma Watson - Actress and Activist

Justin Timberlake - Singer & Actor

Scott Kelly - Astronaut

N.B. Information sourced from https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/  

For the community:

What strengths have you noticed in people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

@TideisTurning @wellwellwellnez @Shaz51 @flybluebird @cloudcore @Rhye 

[Paula1958]

We are all neurodiverse in our own way I think. No two people experience the world in exactly the same way. We all bring very differing skills, experiences, genetics with us to any given situation. I think school years can be quite a challenge for the more extreme neurodiverse amongst us.

[tyme]

Dyslexia

What is it?

Dyslexia is a condition caused by wiring variances in the brain and affects the part of the brain that processes language.

- About 10% of the population are dyslexic.

- Dyslexia is a language processing difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling. 

- It can cause difficulties with processing information quickly, organisation, sequencing, spoken language and motor skills.

Strengths to be celebrated:

- Dyslexic people can be very good at creative thinking, problem solving and verbal communication.
- About 35% of entrepreneurs are dyslexic. For example: Richard Branson, Jo Malone and Jaime Oliver.

Dyslexia successes:

Tommy Hilfiger - Fashion Designer

Keira Knightley - Actress

Leonardo da Vinci - Polymath

Robin Williams - Comedian

N.B. Information sourced from https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/  

For the community:

What strengths have you noticed in people with Dyslexia?

@TideisTurning @wellwellwellnez @Shaz51 @flybluebird @cloudcore @Rhye 

[tyme]

I agree with you @Paula1958 .

As 'inclusive' as school's try to be, I know first-hand how excluded many children are - particularly if they shows signs of neurodiversity.

Hence, I think it is great to be able to focus on the strengths of neurodiversity so that schools, workplaces and society in general, will learn to embrace people for what they can contribute to society.

[tyme]

Dyspraxia

What is it?

Dypraxia is a condition affecting the part of the brain involved in carrying out motor skills.

- about 6% of the population are dypraxic.
- dyspraxia affects physical coordination.
- dyspraxic individuals are seen as extremely clumsy because they often trip, accidentally bump into people and things, and frequently drop things.
- dyspraxia can affect fine motor skill, such as handwriting, ability to tie shoe laces and doing up buttons.
- It can affect gross motor skills, such as being able to catch and kick a ball, run and ride a bicycle.

- dyspraxia can also affect your ability to organise yourself.
- many dyspraxic students dislike PE class and sports, because their poor motor skills sometimes causes others to laugh and make fun of them.

Strengths to be celebrated:

- Dyspraxic people are creative, determined and really good at developing their own strategies
to overcome difficulties.

- Problem-solvers.

- Highly-motivated.

- Strategic.

Dyspraxia successes:

Daniel Radcliffe - Actor

Cara Delevigne - Model

Florence Welch - Singer

David Bailey - Photographer

N.B. Information sourced from https://www.neurodiversityweek.com/  

For the community:

What strengths have you noticed in people with Dyspraxia?

@TideisTurning @wellwellwellnez @Shaz51 @flybluebird @cloudcore @Rhye 

[LizzieLou]

I to agree, @tyme, at least two family members of mine had problems at school with probable dyslexia, not really recognized.